Saturday, June 27, 2009
I'd be remiss without saying
I'm deeply saddened that people are taking this extremely sad situation as an opportunity to trash a great man's legacy. The entire world is mourning, how powerful is that? Countries that we consider enemies are grieving with us as we all sit, watch the videos and reminisce on the role that his music has played in our collective childhood. As an adolescent, I remember finding my parents vinyls and insisting on playing them all, as my brother and I donned afro wigs and performed them all. My fave christmas song is "Give love on Christmas Day". As a matter of fact my favorite songs in most genre's are either his or inspired by him. Mr. Jackson will be sorely missed, but I would like to thank him for giving us a wealth of memories!!!!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
A tale of two Fathers
(Disjointed, but worth it)
As I lie awake on this Sunday morning, I'm filled with a conviction to tell someone about how fortunate and blessed I am for being able to smile on Father's Day. As all of my friends are aware, I'm a frequent twitterer. I've been reading alot of tweets this morning referring the the absence of a father in their lives, making this one of the most difficult days of the year for them. My dad has been there every step of the way (whether I give him his due credit or not). So let's start.....
Eddie James Callaway III was born on August 20, 1947 to Eddie James Callaway Jr and Ora Mae Thomas in Little Rock, AR. My father was born during a time and in a place where being of our race was already a burden, but the circumstances under which he was born created additional issues. His parents were not married nor did they live in the same home. He had several siblings, but was the only one with his unique genetic makeup. Ineveitably he felt as an outsider in either home. As he grew up, he was often rebellious and fiercely independent. He purchased his first car as soon as he was old enough to drive (this after several motorcycles). Upon graduating from Horace Mann (though Central High had been integrated, he was just a little too spirited for all of that), he enlisted in the army and served in the Vietnam War. Unlike many of his cohorts didn't make it back, he was fortunate enough to do so.
My father was married the first time to Marilyn Milord, to this union were born 2 children. One of these grew up to be my big sister Edie, I'm sure that you've heard about her before, we're super tight. The second, a son nameed Eddie James Callaway IV, passed away after only one year of life from S.C.I.D.S. We seldom talk about this, but I often wish I had the opportunity to meet this older brother. I can only imagine what my father went through, but he persevered. This marriage later ended and my dad became the single father of an adolescent girl in late-seventies. Later, my father was blessed with another son, Bruce Edward Callaway. My father now had another son.
In 1984 Eddie was wed to Evelyn Hemphill, a school teacher originally from Kansas City. This union was blessed on November 9, 1984 with the birth of Everette Jamal Callaway (You can thank them later). Four years later another son was born (3 months premature), during this time my father was laid off by Arkansas Power & Light at the same time that my older sister was entering college. I'm sure that you could imagine how trying this period of time was. In 1995, my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer and in 2004, renal carcinoma.
I'm sure you are wondering about the second father that I alluded to in the title. Let's look at the situation. My father went to vietnam and came back, he had a son pass away then had 3 more, he doesn't have a college degree but was able to send each of his children to school, he has beaten cancer twice, and though he didn't grow up with the most positive family situation, he provided an awesome one for me (along with Mom, they've recently celebrated their 25th anniversary). The second father of which I spoke was my Heavenly Father that made this all possible. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO YOU BOTH..
As I lie awake on this Sunday morning, I'm filled with a conviction to tell someone about how fortunate and blessed I am for being able to smile on Father's Day. As all of my friends are aware, I'm a frequent twitterer. I've been reading alot of tweets this morning referring the the absence of a father in their lives, making this one of the most difficult days of the year for them. My dad has been there every step of the way (whether I give him his due credit or not). So let's start.....
Eddie James Callaway III was born on August 20, 1947 to Eddie James Callaway Jr and Ora Mae Thomas in Little Rock, AR. My father was born during a time and in a place where being of our race was already a burden, but the circumstances under which he was born created additional issues. His parents were not married nor did they live in the same home. He had several siblings, but was the only one with his unique genetic makeup. Ineveitably he felt as an outsider in either home. As he grew up, he was often rebellious and fiercely independent. He purchased his first car as soon as he was old enough to drive (this after several motorcycles). Upon graduating from Horace Mann (though Central High had been integrated, he was just a little too spirited for all of that), he enlisted in the army and served in the Vietnam War. Unlike many of his cohorts didn't make it back, he was fortunate enough to do so.
My father was married the first time to Marilyn Milord, to this union were born 2 children. One of these grew up to be my big sister Edie, I'm sure that you've heard about her before, we're super tight. The second, a son nameed Eddie James Callaway IV, passed away after only one year of life from S.C.I.D.S. We seldom talk about this, but I often wish I had the opportunity to meet this older brother. I can only imagine what my father went through, but he persevered. This marriage later ended and my dad became the single father of an adolescent girl in late-seventies. Later, my father was blessed with another son, Bruce Edward Callaway. My father now had another son.
In 1984 Eddie was wed to Evelyn Hemphill, a school teacher originally from Kansas City. This union was blessed on November 9, 1984 with the birth of Everette Jamal Callaway (You can thank them later). Four years later another son was born (3 months premature), during this time my father was laid off by Arkansas Power & Light at the same time that my older sister was entering college. I'm sure that you could imagine how trying this period of time was. In 1995, my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer and in 2004, renal carcinoma.
I'm sure you are wondering about the second father that I alluded to in the title. Let's look at the situation. My father went to vietnam and came back, he had a son pass away then had 3 more, he doesn't have a college degree but was able to send each of his children to school, he has beaten cancer twice, and though he didn't grow up with the most positive family situation, he provided an awesome one for me (along with Mom, they've recently celebrated their 25th anniversary). The second father of which I spoke was my Heavenly Father that made this all possible. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO YOU BOTH..
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