Five people who have had a significant impact on my life:
My Dad - Grover Carter
My Dad was a police officer in our home town for 46 years. No, that is not a typo. He actually spent 46 years with the Department. Dad taught me so many things...too many to go through here, but I will highlight some of them. You would think that being the daughter of a police office would be challenging, but it was not. Dad instilled in my brother, sisters and I the basic morals and values of any Midwestern family (the golden rule, right from wrong, telling the truth, standing up for what is right, taking care of the "little guy", etc). Most importantly, Dad taught us the importance of Integrity. At the end of the day, you should know in your heart and mind that everything you did, said or represented was the right thing. Even if it would benefit you personally to not do the right thing, you do it any way. There is a country song by Aaron Tippon that describes my dad perfectly - "You've Got to Stand for Something."
"Now Daddy didn't like trouble, but if it came along
Everyone that knew him knew which side that he'd be on
He never was a hero, or this county's shinin' light
But you could always find him standing up
For what he thought was right
He'd say you've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything
You've got to be your own man not a puppet on a string
Never compromise what's right and uphold your family name
You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything"
Integrity is your most prized possession and you must protect it at all costs. Once you lose your Integrity, you never get it back.
My Mom - Jo Hannah Carter
My Mom was the "head" of the family. (She was also the disciplinarian of the house. If we acted up or got in trouble, look out! I still have nightmares of the white plastic flip flop.) While Dad taught me about Integrity, patience and hard work, my mom taught me to be a strong and independent woman. Her strength and determination amazes me. She has fought many tough personal battles, but she always manages to come out on top. One of the greatest examples is how she saved my little sister. Christy was hit by a car when she was 9 years old. The doctors told my parents that she had two hours to live and that they should call all of the family to the hospital to say good-bye. My Mom stood strong and refused to accept that fate. She somehow held it together to talk to the neurosurgeons, discussed options and possibilities. After nine brain surgeries and a month and a half in a coma, Christy woke up. The accident had erased everything...she basically had to start over again as if she were a baby. She had to re-learn how to talk, walk, eat, etc. Mom never gave up...she just kept pushing. After all of the follow-up with neurosurgeons, therapies, tutors, and home schooling, Chrisy graduated from high school only one year later than she would have and today she is happily married with a beautiful 3 year old daughter. While we all contributed in some way to Christy's recovery, she would not be where she is today if Mom had not been there to pull her through. I also have a country song that represents my Mom - "She's an Eagle When She Flies" by Dolly Parton.
"She's been there, God knows, she's been there
She has seen and done it all
She's a woman, she know how to
Dish it out or take it all
Her heart's as soft as feathers
Still she weathers stormy skies
And she's a sparrow when she's broken
But she's an eagle when she flies"
My Mamaw - Alleen
My Mamaw was the best grandparent a kid could ask for! The people who make the t-shirts that say things like "That's it! I'm calling Grandma!" and "Who needs Santa when I have Grandma!" had my Mamaw in mind. She loved all of us unconditionally and would do anything for us. She loved having as many of the grandkids spend the night with her as possible and we would all climb in bed with her at night for ghost stories. She'd be scaring us one minute with a terrible ghost story and singing religious hymns the next! She played all kinds of games with us - hide and seek, football, fashion show, etc. One of my favorite games to play was school. I'd be the teacher and she did anything I told her to do, including sitting in the corner wearing a "dunce" hat. I am not sure how she managed to put up with all of us but she did. I can say that I have never felt more love and happiness than when we were with her. She passed away when I was 13, but she still watches over us every day. Whenever I am sad, scared or worried about something, her favorite song (an older song that you rarely hear anymore) comes on the radio or computer. Just a few weeks ago, I was putting my kids to bed and was standing in their doorway looking at them, when the computer in my bedroom turns on by itself and this song starts playing. The same thing has happened to my car radio. I have also been in the middle of a department store and this song comes on the store loud speaker. She is letting me know that she is here and that everything is going to be ok. I am very blessed that she was and is in my life.
My Older Sister - Fonda
Fonda is my older, half sister. She didn't live with us when I was born (she lived with her mom approximately 2 hours away) but as I grew up, she and I became close. I think she paid special attention to me because I was the middle child at my house. I have an older brother and a younger sister. So, I am not the oldest, not the baby and not the only girl. It is about the worst position you have in the hierarchy of the family. But, she always made me feel special. She would send me cards and gifts for no other reason than to say hello and that she was thinking of me. She would go out of her way to make sure I didn't feel left out and she gave me the additional attention I needed to get through the "middle child syndrome." We are not as close as we should be now because my entire family is in Ohio and I am stuck here in DC, but we try to stay in touch and catch up when I go home to visit.
My Aunt - Linda
When I told my husband that I chose my Aunt Linda as one of my 5 people to list, he looked extremely confused. She has had some troubling times in her personal life, but that is not important for this assignment. I chose her because she is another person who made me feel so special when I was young. She would buy me extra presents at Christmas and on my birthday. She would go out of her way to do extra things for me...she'd take me shopping, she would let me babysit for her and pay me more than she should have, she took me on vacations with her, etc. She owned a car business and would let me sit in the office and work for her. I'd write ledgers and log items in the computer system; simple tasks but it really made me feel important. She even named her oldest daughter after me! I was a very shy and awkward kid, but she did so many things to build my self esteem. She did anything she could to help me and I know that if I needed her today, she would be there for me.
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