The Furious Spinner

On this day Gloria Steinem and Aretha Franklin were born. So were Elton John and Henry II. So was I. My parents were at a movie in Shreveport, Louisiana when I knocked on the womb without a view. (I think the movie was The Long Gray Line.) Is it any wonder I'm a movie freak?

I was born in the Air Force hospital in Bossier City early the next morning. I thought I was born in Shreveport until I was in my forties and happened to examine my birth certificate carefully. I said, "Dad, for my entire life I've been telling people I was born in Shreveport, even the government! I could be in big trouble." He shrugged and said, "We lived in Shreveport. You just happened to be born on the base." He didn't see the big deal, which I guess it wasn't—but it was a surprise to think I was born one place and then find out it was another. (It reminded me of when I found out my grandfather took his stepfather's name—Antieau—when he was an adult. So the family tree I thought I had wasn't mine. I learned this in my thirties.) My father explained that Bossier City and Shreveport were right next to each other.

I don't know a lot about where we lived in Louisiana except for a few anecdotes my father has told me. Once after my father brought home a buddy from the base , his landlord told him never to bring a black man to the house again. My father didn't pay any attention to her. He told me the drinking fountains in the south were marked "whites only" and "blacks only." (Probably the "blacks only" faucets said "colored only.") My father always drank from whatever faucet was nearest, he said, but then he didn't risk getting beaten up. My father was stationed in Louisiana for about a year. Soon after I was born we moved to Texas. (Yes, I actually lived in Texas for about a year. I kind of feel about Texas the way Louise did in Thelma & Louise. Although I'm sure it's not all Bush country.) Like many young men without means my father's age, he joined the service for the G.I. Bill (or something like it). After he got out, he was able to go to college, which he did, and become a teacher.

So today I plan on spending time with my sweetie and later some friends, eating hearty, and watching movies. And maybe dance a bit.

Have a good one.

May You Dance in Beauty! 3 comments

3 Comments:

Happy Birthday Kim
Celebrate all day then sleep sweet tonight.
love joy peace

By  Joy Renee, at 10:29 AM  

I second what Joy Renee said....

Thanks for Being, Kim. You make this world more enjoyable through your writing, including your books, articles and this blog. We love and appreciate your wit, humor, caring, intelligence and openness....not to mention your great pictures!

Why do people say that? I just mentioned them, didn't I?

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Happy Birthday!

By  Steve, at 2:57 PM  

Thanks Joy Renee and Steve! (And thanks to everyone else who wrote to me.) It was a grand day. May you all have grand days every day.

By  Kim Antieau, at 9:44 AM  

Post a Comment

All photographs and written material copyright © 2003-2008 by Kim Antieau unless otherwise indicated. May not be used without permission.