The Weirdness of Destiny and Family

Where to begin with this story? I suppose I could start now
with our four kids (32-19) or, I could start at Christmas time
1961 when she and I had our first picture taken together
or, perhaps, maybe it was the day her parents introduced my
eventual parents to a new daughter. Hmmm? I think I'll just mix
it up.

This blog is an effort to codify how two people born of
destiny can follow a path with no preconceived vision
but rather a shared memory not known by either and
create their own family of healthy young adults.
Those young adults have their own story which we
will tell over time. It is a beautiful and challenging
story involving blended families, sexuality, prison,
lots of money and then none and, finally reconciliation
with a healthy dose of personal success for at least six
people. Oh, there is also a new grandchild to discuss.
Now that's a hoot!

In early December 1954 a beautiful girl was born at
Hillcrest Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. As the surprise
child of a couple with two older daughters, the new
one needed a name. Because of the closeness of
her new parents with another couple (my eventual parents)
it was suggested the baby receive the name of my father.
It was settled - her middle name would be the same as
my father's - Rae. The immediate answer was "sure" and
she was named Jana Rae. Her parents made the announcement
as my parents visited Jana Rae's new mother in the hospital.

Her beauty was evident at birth. Great smile, great
attitude and a very strong will for independence.
Precisely nine months later I was born and I too
received the coveted middle name of Ray. (I suppose
there is no guessing what happened the night
Jana Rae received her name). As destiny would have
it, I was also born at Hillcrest Hospital.

Over several years of running into one another
at some function or even retail stores, a memory
was building. We went our separate ways,
married others and had our own children.
Eventually, circumstances changed and as destiny
had planned all along, we did indeed get married.
That was nearly 21 years ago. A great deal has
happened in 21 years. Brooks and Dunn got together
and are going different directions this year. (I
mention that because Jana knew Ronnie Dunn with
another Tulsa group and we had the opportunity to
get to know Brooks and Dunn when they first began)
The OKC bombing occurred 15 years ago today. The
Space Shuttle is flying its last flight. We have Twitter,
Facebook, Google and Apple stronger than ever. We
have a self identified black President, something
called the Tea Party, a volcano in Iceland for
god's sake. A great deal of change has occurred.
But that's just the rest of the world. Jana Rae
and I have had many familial changes as well. That's
what we will discuss over the course of these postings.

A few highlights we will discuss are the softball
years, the 'sending the boys to military school' years,
Master's degrees, a bar fight in Sussex, England
(we only witnessed that) Ol' Miss, prison,making money
and losing it, poker, Colorado, and by some miracle of the
Universe, digging every minute of it. Most importantly, we
will discuss what it takes to make a family work even in
the darkest of times. Ultimately, we will discuss a
partnership that includes the world with 4 young adults
that validate we must have done something right! Oh,
and a granddaughter we get to spoil.

Looking forward to telling the stories,

Bill
April 19, 2010