My Birthday

Today is my last 30-something birthday. That is right, next year is the big one. Yikes! How did that happen? Thirty-nine does not feel as old as I thought it sounded when I was 16. I swear 16 does not seem that long ago.

December 20, 1965 my parents were back in their hometown (which is where I live now) for my grandfather's funeral. My parents were living in Camden, Arkansas at the time, which is 2 1/2 hours away (maybe longer back then). Just imagine being 9 months pregnant and your father dying suddenly of a massive heart attack in his living room. I never could grasp the horror of it myself, really, until I had children of my own. So my poor mother buried her father on December 19, went into labor that night and I was born the next morning.

I never knew Thad Lewis Vogan, but I was given my grandfather's last name as my middle name. I know it is often a Southern tradition to have a family name as a middle name, but I have always felt that mine had special meaning. Of course, growing up as Susan Vogan Holyfield, I hated my middle name (to say nothing of my last name, but there was no choice there). My sister's middle name is Anne. How unfair. But now I am proud to have the name I have. And I gave my oldest son my grandfather's middle name. Jonathan was born on New Year's Day, so it seemed fitting. My Mom loves his name. It was a secret until the day he was born. Then Mark rolled him out and introduced him to my parents and my sister. My Mom cried, of course.

That is my story. Good night!