http://sarahmcsibstory.gather.com
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I was brought into this world on November 12th of 1984. My parents Debra and Joseph had already had three boys. Richard (13), Timothy (10) and Joseph (3). Three older brothers for me to grow up with, be protected by, fight with, play with and of course bug the crap out of.
My mother had a heck of a time getting me into this world. She had a lot of complications during her pregnancy. Including, when she was six months a long, they told her I was dead.
Her version of this is she spent the entire night on her knees praying for my life. The next day, when she went into to see if they could get a heart beat, there was a bright blue light filled in the room. Apparently, the nurse had said, "I've never seen anything like this." She claimed my father had to excuse himself with my brother Joe, as he had tears in his eyes. The first thing they heard during that ultra sound was my heart beat. How much of this really believe, I am not sure. Knowing my mother, she probably did pray like she said. I'm just not sure about the whole blue light experience.
Another surprise I gave her was they told her I was a boy. My parents assumed I must have flipped everyone off during the ultra-sound, as well... I am clearly not a boy. The amusing part is, in my very first baby photo taken by the hospital, I do have a grumpy facial expression and my middle finger is sticking straight up. My father always says, when thinking of the photo, "You had attitude in the womb."
I guess when I finally came out, after my mother was in labor with me roughly 29 hours, they announced me as a girl. Their said reaction was, "Are you sure?" My Dad had to rush out and buy me a little dress to wear home from the hospital.
My birthplace is Holland, Michigan. I can't remember living there though, as I was about six months old when the family moved to Kentwood, Michigan. That's my hometown, the place where the majority of all my childhood memories surround.
One of my earliest memories of the old white house we lived in, with its fake black shutters. Would be standing in my pink bedroom wearing only a diaper. I remember standing there, feeling the brown carpet on my feet, looking over the gate my Grandfather replaced my bedroom door with. Just standing there, looking around wondering where everyone else is.
An appreciation for music came to me at a very early age. My father worked at a local radio station while I was growing up, and my mother used to be in a country western band. Music was frequently playing in the house, of all genres for the ears to listen to. Between the music my brothers played, and what my parents listened too, I found myself enjoying most of it. My father even did sound for a Christian band called, Praise Connection. I have a few memories of being at their shows standing by my father. Enjoying the live music played. It was one of few Christian artists that I really felt had heart put into their music.
Going to the radio station, while dad worked was a treat. He would often take turns bringing Joe or me (and sometimes both) with him on occasion. It was awesome to see all the buttons, and watch my Dad in action. It actually made me consider a career in radio early on in life. How fun I thought it would be to have my own show, where I played a variety of music, and talked on occasion. Little did I know though, during that thought process and time, how much hard work is actually put into a radio show.
The first song I ever learned was, 'Lilies Of The Valley'. A nice little tune, my mother taught me. We often sang the song together. A very fond memory, when things were still happy in our lives.
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Starting school wasn't an easy change for me. I was used to being at home with mom all day, while dad went to work. So, when the day came and I started my pre-kindergarten class, I didn't want to go. I wanted nothing to do with school from the start. During most of that first year of school, I cried every single day after getting into class. I hated not being home.
My mom was actually told by the principal that she shouldn't bring me to school anymore. Due to every time she did, they seemed to have more problems with me. On the other hand, my dad remembers walking me from the parking lot, closer to where I had to get in line. He still remembers my little hand squeezing his harder and harder, the closer we got.
Often enough though, My Aunt Pam who was living with us at the time brought me in. The school enjoyed that, as she would often sit on a bench at the playground, and help watch the students.
By the time I reached Kindergarten, Aunt Pam was still living with us. I was in the afternoon class, and we had our own little routine. I would get bathed, we would watch 'Bewitched' and 'All in the Family' as I got dressed and she did my hair. Then we would often head to Senior Taco, a small little Mexican and Chinese food restaurant, ran by a Chinese couple who made some very delicious food. Occasionally we would be surprised by the owner, by getting something for free for being regulars.
After lunch, whether it was there or home, it was off to school. It was a slightly easier year for me. Though I only had two friends, and even that was a wishy-washy situation. My teacher Mrs. C was wonderful. I really liked her. Early on in my school years, there were a couple teachers I would rather have spent time with, verses fellow students.
From the beginning in my school years, I was harassed and picked on for my weight, the clothes I wore and anything else the fellow kids could think of. I felt singled out, and making friends was difficult for me. I could never figure out what I did wrong, to make so many people hate me, so quickly. I was very shy as a child, not very outgoing. As well as having been pretty sheltered and protected at home. Maybe that was part of the cause to why I felt awkward around others, even during those first two years of school.
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It was the late 1980's, and I was four years old when I met my best friend Malice. Aunt Pam was living with us at the time, and she was watching Joe, me and a couple of our neighborhood friends (Tracey, Bobby, and Mark), play duck-duck-goose in the front yard. It was a warm sunny day spring day, with the green grass freshly cut. Aunt Pam sat on the cement front porch.
Malice and her mom were taking a walk past our yard. They had only lived two doors down from us. Malice was wearing a pink Minnie Mouse dress that her mom had put her into. She was shy as first, as we asked her to join us. Saying things like, "Come play with us." Smiling at her, hoping she would join. I remember then, thinking there was something special about her. She would make a good friend. Thankfully, my initial instincts about her were correct.
Malice's mom encouraged her to join us. Saying, "It's okay, you can go play." So Malice did, she joined our game of duck-duck-goose. Her mom joined Aunt Pam on the front porch, to talk and watch us play our game.
When Joe had his turn of going around the circle, he was hitting everyone really hard. Saying, "Duck, duck..." Finally a little later into the game, it was Malice's turn to go around. She softly and carefully put her hand on everyone's head, gently saying, "Duck, duck..." When she got to Joe, she smacked him hard on the back of the head yelling, "GOOSE!" She promptly ran around the circle as Joe flung forward crying out, holding the back of his head. Aunt Pam instantly had gotten up to come yell at her, but when she reached Joe, she simply said, "Excuse me, but I need to sit there."
Malice and I instantly became friends after that day. A fast growing friendship, especially starting in the early 90's, with a strong bond that no one could break. Including two girls, who used to live in the neighborhood?
Amanda and Amber were two that liked to cause problems between Malice and myself. They often would run go to Malice, and trash talk me, claiming I said this or that about her. They would do the same to me, saying things Malice apparently had said. Well, little did they realize, Malice and I talked about it all. We couldn't figure out why they wanted to destroy our friendship so badly. Even though, I was the girly girl, and Malice was the tomboy, we got a long just fine, and were always able to talk about things.
I have a clear memory of sitting in my backyard, on a hot summer day with Malice. Amber and Amanda came over to say goodbye to us, before taking off on vacation, so they would be away for awhile. After they left, Malice and I look at each other and at the same time were just like, "Yes!" This was followed by the two girls, returning to the gate confronting us about it. They had waited to see how we truly would react, I suppose. Though, we point blank looked at them, and informed them, they would do the same about either one of us. The subject was pretty much dropped, as the two girls headed back to their house.
That didn't stop the four of us from playing together for a good few years run. Malice and Amber became slightly closer, while I became closer with Amanda. I lived a pretty sheltered life, so most the time they had to come to my house. Looking back, I wonder after all the B.S. they put us through, why Malice and I even bothered. Then again, during that time period there wasn't too many kids around our age group in the neighborhood.
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Comments: 15
Kimberly Ripley: There was a lot of happy moments in my life, however there was a lot of other type of moments as well. Which I will be getting more into in future chapters. Chapter 2 is done, but since I just posted this one, I am going to give it at least a few days before posting it up.
Melanie (3 Comments Per 1) S.: Thanks Sissy! I hope you enjoy it, when ya read it. Thanks for letting me know about the link. Not sure what I did wrong, but it works now. :)
Cindy F. - Thank you very much! This is just the first chapter. More to come very soon! :D
Sorry no more Mormons blogs, That candidate guy drop out.
Anna del C.
Author of "The Elf and the Princess"
Check out my NEW animation "God Does Have Humor"
A definite memoir in the making.