My moving to Australia was a time of extreme joy,
as
well as great sadness.
I was embarking on a new
life with the one I loved,
but I was also leaving
behind my children,
who opted to remain in the States
with their father and their friends.
They are doing
well without me, I believe,
as they were all very much
grown and independent before I left.
We keep in touch
as much as we are able,
and I am hoping that this page
will be another link in our family chain.
My American
family starts with my eldest son Chris
and his better
half, Sonia,
as well as their son, Cristian Rene.
Chris
and Sonia met while they were both
working for the
Ringling
Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus,
in the concession
department.
The circus has been a part of both of their lives
for a long
time,
and I believe they were destined to meet.
Cristian is my first grandchild,
born on January 19,
1999,
and I am anxiously
awaiting the first time I will hold him.
Chris, Sonia, & Cristian
The American family continues
with Danny and his wife,
Valerie.
Dan and Val have been
together since they were both teens,
and tied the
knot in December 1997.
Their first child arrived on July 12, 1999;
William Cooper. Their newest
arrival, Wriley Cleveland,
was born on March 10, 2002.
They are now living in Lexington, North Carolina.
Danny & Valerie
Next, are my "little ones", the youngest 4.
They are
getting to be quite
the young men and women, too.
Amy is 22 and has her
own baby now, Anthony Trey.
She has enjoyed working with her two older brothers
on the circus,
but has now
settled down,
and is living in Greensboro with husband, Roland.
They are expecting a their first son together in December, 2002.
Katie is my fair-haired daughter;
the rebel,
the "wild child".
She has
always been a joy and a handful.
Katie, 21, is now happily
a mother herself,
having given birth to
Zevinn Laguane Hairston on October 15, 2001.
She and Lazarus (Z to all his friends) have been
together for over 5 years now.
They are expecting son number 2 in November 2002.
JR is my 19 year old
son,
who has great athletic ability.
JR can play all sports, and seems to be able to master
any position.
JR is happy with partner Jennifer.
KC, 16, is also very good
with sports,
but his
excellence is in his scholastics.
He has a quick
mind, and is very clever.
I could
go on about each one of them,
but there is only so much space available !
I only hope they all know
how much I love them,
each as individuals,
and together as my family.
KC,Danny,JR,Katie,&Amy
I also left behind my mother, Bessie,
and my brother
and his family.
They are
living in Pennsylvania.
My mother has been the best
mom in the world,
even
if there have been times
when I didn't act like a
very good daughter.
She has always
been supportive of me,
even when she did not agree
with what I was doing.
Sam and Robin
have been married since 1989.
I hate to say it,
but Robin and I
have become closer
since I moved to Australia,
but we both know why,
and it is great to finally
have her as a friend.
My three nieces are all
beautiful,
and talented, too.
Amber,18,
is a top-notch softball player.
Amanda,12, is a little scholar,
and seems to excel in school.
She has also played
softball,
and she and Amber have been
cheerleaders.
Maddie,5, is the baby girl,
and is being
spoiled by her Grammom (I hope),
since
I can't be there to do it myself.
Sam and Robin have just added Samuel Thomas David Palm
to their family, on September 27, 2001; a long-awaited son.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Sam&Robin Palm, Mom,Amanda, Maddie
Amber, Amanda, Maddie
I also have to include my special friends,
Terry and Judy Harrelson,
without whose love and support I would never have
had the faith in myself to make the move.
Thank you both from the bottom of my heart.
You are both family to us.
Of course, there are also many loved aunts,
uncles, cousins, and
friends
that I will always miss, and never forget.
They will
always have a special place in my heart.
