I have been told that I should write it all down. "It" is my thoughts, facts, life history and associated stories, my feelings, opinions...all of "it". So, for better or worse, here "it" begins.
The question is where to start "it"? Do I start at the beginning? Yes, I was born. Do I tell about "it" in thumbnail sketches, in a stone-skipping fashion, touching on the highlights, or do I go the epic route, "In the beginning Clifton and Karen begat Dana", then on and on? I think I'll be more organic and say what comes to me and let my children peice it all together later like a big Dana quilt.
So, dear readers, "it" all began July 1, 1955 at the U.S. Naval Base in Yoder, Kansas. I was born to Marine Corporal Clifton Moses Whited and his bride of 2 years, Karen Sue Ziemer Whited on a hot, summers day, weighing in at a whopping 9lbs. 15 oz. And so, I began.
I am told that my beginning was terrifically exciting for my family and, obviously, for me. My Mother, who we'll visit often in these posts, is the middle of 3 daughters born to David Mark Ziemer and Lois Cecelia Kelly Ziemer. The elder sister by one year is Frances (Aunt Franny), and the younger by one year, Charlotte (Aunt C). I was the First baby born to this lot and I am told I was mightily welcomed. I was a big, healthy, happy baby that looked, from my pictures, very similar to an Indian papoose. Since I can only go by what I've been told and by pictoral evidence, I was happy, welcomed and loved. What more can one ask of a beginning?
In my experience beginnings are generally exciting, scary and filled with hope. They go hand and hand with Firsts. So here we are at my First Blog Post, the beginning of what I hope will be something useful, interesting, maybe a little entertaining, reflective and enlightening. Maybe that's lofty but, after all, it's a beginning!
