On February 14, 1987 I found out that I was pregnant. I had just turned 21 the previous December and I was unmarried. Yes, my friends, I was an unwed mother…. GASP!! My sons father was a ranch hand and appeared to be interested in having a family so we stayed together through the pregnancy. The day my son was born, I was so very happy! I was scared outta my wits but he was so beautiful! And I knew my family would be there for us no matter what.
If you’re old enough, you may remember little Jessica McClure.. She was the toddler who fell into the well in her backyard. Well she was saved just a few minutes after my son was born, October 16, 1987. I know this because the doctors and nurses and all the other people in the delivery room were watching it on TV while I was in labor, suffering! LOL!
Levi was a beautiful, blonde haired, blue eyed boy! I wanted a boy so very bad.. Girls are just nothing but trouble! We lived in Junction City, OR and my parents moved to Seattle when Levi was 2 weeks old. I will never forget that day. I think I cried the hardest that I have ever cried in my life when my mom and dad pulled out of the driveway and left. I felt so alone. I wasn’t alone, I had my friends and of course Levi, but I still felt alone. I was determined to be a good mom! I went back to work when Levi was 30 days old. I worked weekends at the local Dari Mart (JC’s equivalent to 7-11). After a few months, it was obvious that Levi’s father and I would not work out so I made the decision to move to the Seattle area to be near my mom and dad. On April 1, 1988 we packed up the U-Haul and drove away. I remember riding in the U-Haul with my dad and I remember tears streaming down my face as we left the city limits. I knew, from that moment on, it was just Levi and me. I would need to do the very best that I can to provide a good life for him, teach him the best way I knew how.. The way my mom and dad taught me.
It’s now 21 years later and my boy is a man. And a good-looking one I might add! Thanks to my family who were there for us every step of the way, he grew up tall and strong and is such a great human! He has the “family” sense of humor! Which is good because we LOVE TO LAUGH! He recently landed a fantastic job which has the potential of travel all over the world, once he gets through training in Tulsa, OK. He’s not a fan of OK! But can’t wait to travel to Spain!
I know I could not have raised such an awesome kid without my family. And for that, I thank you all.. Mom and Dad.. the unconditional love and of course the gazillions of dollars you’ve spent on him/us, making sure he/we had all the things PLUS some that a growing child needs. The vacations to Disneyland.. oh wait.. you didn’t take me! RUDE! Really, thanks to you Levi knows how to travel. Which is good since his job will take him to all kinds of unknown places! And thanks for believing in me, we raised a good boy!!!
