A More Formal Introduction

Now that I've gotten you all here, I guess it's time for a more formal introduction. At birth, I was given the name Reagan. I also answer to Aunt Shorty, Dot, Poo, Chuney, Bighead, Stank, Faith, etc. but for sake of this site let's just call me LadyRea. I was raised in the very small town of New Edinburg, Arkansas by my loving parents, Ray and Felicia, alongside my older brother, Jokenzie. Needless to say, the town is not much to talk about, given that it is not listed on any maps, but give me time and I'll make sure to put it there someday. I would say some of my best qualities would include being a strong, smart, independent, highly ambitious, loving, and caring person. But there's also some of my not so good qualities, as I tend to shut people out, put people's needs ahead of my own, self-doubt and insecurities brought forth from past traumas, that have hurt relationships very near and dear to my heart. But let's get down to what makes me, well, me.

I grew up carefree, granted my life was pretty boring, compared to others around me. The majority of it was spent singing in the church choir, mudding, fishing with my dad, goofing around with my brother, cousins and uncle, and going to school, where I excelled greatly. While I would like to say that I had a normal childhood, I in fact cannot, as I would describe it as rather peculiar. I have always been an introverted, loner. While others my age were surrounded by their friends, playing with dolls, planning out their dream wedding, or making friendship bracelets, I could be found curled up with a book, doing word searches and sudoku puzzles, sewing on my sewing machine, trying to learn to cook, and cutting off the hair any doll that may have ended up in my possession. But the most fun came from solving random mathematic equations with chalk on the side of my bookshelf. Eventually my older brother would grow tired of walking past my bedroom, seeing me covered in chalk and bought me a giant whiteboard for Christmas so that I could solve equations until my little heart was content. I would like to think this is what contributed to my success in both high school and college, as I would graduate high school with a 4.03 GPA, being the only black honor graduate in a PWI, earning a full ride scholarship to college where I would major in mathematics in the hopes of one day becoming an aerospace engineer.

Aside from all these things, I also enjoyed anything that involved music, and movies. I can remember riding in the car with my dad and grandpa at a very young age, barely able to talk, but could sing along with Johnny Taylor, belting a mean "Stop it baby" and "Lady at the casino" or Betty Wright's "No Pain, No Gain" and "After the Pain". And let's not even mention any musical, Dreamgirls and The Temptations being among the favorites. Up until this day, I imagine being a fourth Dreamgirl or if denied the opportunity, I can hit a "Curtis was supposed to love me" as Effy on a Broadway stage. I probably couldn't build up the nerve, but a girl can dream right? And the Temptations only brought about a rather unhealthy obsession with David Ruffin to the point where I swore that I would one day marry him and have not one but a couple of kids by him, as dead as he in fact were, and if you know me, kids has NEVER been a part of any agenda of mine, unless of course the right someone comes along. I can just about quote both movies line by line, especially the "Ain't nobody coming to see you, Otis!" 

Now let's fast-forward to who I am today at the ripe age of 22, 23 in January, if the Lord sees fit. I am now a highly motivated Corporal of Marines in the beautiful Desert Oasis of Twentynine Palms, California. I am still very much the same little old lady trapped inside of a 22-year-old body. I sometimes tend to shut myself off from the world and those who I value most, unintentionally of course but, nevertheless here we are. I enjoy cooking, sewing, being in the comfort of my barracks room, clothed in my onesie or robe, accessorized with my purple bonnet as purple is the superior color. I still enjoy curling up with a good book, watching murder mysteries on Netflix and the occasional comedy, singing and dancing, although I perform best in the shower or riding in my car, which I now have a mic to serenade the unfortunate souls who happen to be beside me at redlights. I can also be found performing a very detailed skin and haircare routine. If not found doing any of these things, I can be found browsing around Ross Dress for Less and Walmart, at the nail salon, enjoying a movie at the theater, bowling, and going to the mall. 

This concludes my more formal introduction. With this introduction, I tried to capture the more positive sides of my life. There is still more to come where I will dive into the more painful aspects but for right now, I want to focus more on the good to show where I started from and build to who I eventually become and how I got to where I am today. 

As always, stay blessed Queens! ~LadyRea