MY “BIRTH” DAY

Posted on January 24, 2017 by oneta hayes

birthday-to-meI’ve lived 83 years and I’m reminded of Edith Bunker who was asked by an old school chum what she had been doing since high school. She began by saying something like “Well, I worked for two months at Lawson’s hardware, then I got a chance to go to Benny’s grocery where I was a checker for 6 weeks. After that I got a job at the drugstore and worked there for 3 months —“ The memory of her bleary-eyed questioner makes me think I should skip some details, so I have decided to give you only the beginning of my bio.


Eighty-three years ago, January 23 was a Tuesday. Now what could be the reason I would be pointing out that bit of trivia? It was rather an important date to me because, although that January night was quite cold, I was warm and snug – well, at least I think I was! It was the last night I was in my mother’s womb. After midnight on January 24, I was yanked out into the world where I had to do my own breathing, crying, eating. I turned out liking the breathing and eating all right but the crying was rather exhausting.


I was a first-born of a first-born of a first-born so I was special. My nursery was in the same room my father prepared for his new bride about a year earlier on my grandfather’s estate. – Well, actually it was a farm and my nursery consisted of a cradle in the corner of the maybe 16 x 20 foot dugout. My cement dugout probably made Lincoln’s log cabin look like paradise but I was happy enough. Nothing of my own doings, but I was “dumped out” into an extended family of Christians—Pentecostal Holiness people, loved and loving. So began my first decade. Blessed beyond any earthly desire!

About oneta hayes

ABOUT ME Hello. To various folks I am Neat’nee, Mom, Grandma Neta, Gramma, Aunt Neta, Aunt Noni, Aunt Neno, and Aunt Neto (lots of varieties from little nieces and nephews). To some I’m more like “Didn’t you used to be my teacher?” or “Don’t I know you from someplace?” To you, perhaps, I am a Fellow Blogger. Not “fellow” like a male or a guy, but “fellow” like a companion or an adventurer. I would choose to be Grandma Blogger, and have you pull up a chair, my website before you, while I tell you of some days of yore. I have experienced life much differently than most of you. It was and is a good life. I hope to share nuggets of appreciation for those who have gone before me and those who come after me. By necessity you are among those who come after me and I will tell you of those who came before. Once upon a time in a little house on a prairie - oops, change that lest I commit plagiarism - and change that “house on the prairie” to “dugout on the prairie.” So my story begins...
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58 Responses to MY “BIRTH” DAY

  1. calensariel says:
    January 24, 2017 at 10:56 am

    How interesting to be able to see that generational line through your life. Very cool. And HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ONETA!!!

    Reply
    • oneta hayes says:
      January 24, 2017 at 2:52 pm

      I was still a sinner, but I definitely had advantages and encouragement to get acquainted with my Redeemer! Just being thankful. Good news is that everyone has the opportunity to make the same choice as I did, no matter their circumstances. 😀

      Reply
  2. Alexis Rose says:
    January 24, 2017 at 11:23 am

    Happy Birthday!! 😀

    Reply
  3. A Soldier's Walk says:
    January 24, 2017 at 11:41 am

    A most Happy “Birth” Day to you….May your day always be as blessed as the first.

    Reply
  4. mandibelle16 says:
    January 24, 2017 at 11:53 am

    Happy Birthday Oneta! I hope have a wonderful day with friends and family. You have always impressed me, how you embrace writing and do it even online in blogging, writing so well and sharing your faith openly. May you have many healthy years to come!

    Reply
    • oneta hayes says:
      January 24, 2017 at 2:55 pm

      Thank you, sweet girl My family honored me on Friday night – got all the birthday trappings – cake, candles, candy, card, roses, “smell goods,” dinner, hugs, and kisses. I’m glad I was able to attend! 😀

      Reply
  5. Booky Glover says:
    January 24, 2017 at 12:58 pm

    Happy birthday Oneta!

    Reply
  6. luckyjc007 says:
    January 24, 2017 at 2:55 pm

    Happy Birthday Oneta!

    Reply
    • oneta hayes says:
      January 24, 2017 at 3:30 pm

      I receive that with thanks, dear lady. Hope you have a beautiful song highlighting your day. I’m guessing you might be the kind of person who has a song playing internally all day. Am I right?

      Reply
  7. Charla Johnson says:
    January 24, 2017 at 5:30 pm

    Happy birthday, Oneta Ruth. Growing up, I only heard you called your full name. A lot of my relatives are turning 83. I, too, wish you a beautiful day, and a celebration with your close relatives.

    Reply
    • oneta hayes says:
      January 24, 2017 at 8:59 pm

      Charla, a blessing of the social networking ability is to renew relationships. Yes, I was Oneta Ruth to mother and I’m sure the family who basically only knew me through her. Thanks for the birthday wish.

      Reply
  8. Dorinda Duclos says:
    January 24, 2017 at 5:58 pm

    Thank you for sharing a piece of your history. I’m sorry I missed your birthday yesterday. I hope you had a most marvelous day ❤

    Reply
  9. Yinglan says:
    January 24, 2017 at 6:51 pm

    Happy Birthday, Oneta!

    Reply
  10. Faye says:
    January 24, 2017 at 6:53 pm

    Happy Birthday. Oneta. Interesting post. Thank you for your sharing.

    Reply
  11. judyjourneys says:
    January 24, 2017 at 7:42 pm

    Happy birthday, Oneta! You’re a blessing to know.

    Reply
  12. nataliescarberry says:
    January 24, 2017 at 9:24 pm

    Happy, happy “birth” day Oneta!!! Love and hugs, N 😉 ❤

    Reply
  13. ~M says:
    January 24, 2017 at 11:47 pm

    This made me smile! Happy Birthday! 🙂

    Reply
  14. jacquelineobyikocha says:
    January 25, 2017 at 5:39 am

    Oh! my word. 83. You are blessed beyond measure and words Oneta. Happy birthday my dear lady. May the good Lord bless you with many more beautiful years as you age in grace and wisdom.

    Reply
    • oneta hayes says:
      January 25, 2017 at 1:05 pm

      Dear Jacque, I accept your blessings and have faith that I will be here doing what I’m doing for some time yet. One of those things is journeying with you! I am indeed blessed.

      Reply
  15. simpledimple says:
    January 25, 2017 at 12:48 pm

    Happy Happy Birthday to you Ma’am Oneta! God bless your new age and I tap into this longevity. You are indeed blessed. 🙂

    Reply
  16. oneta hayes says:
    January 25, 2017 at 1:09 pm

    Thanks, dear. Just think if I had not had that crisis in 2013, I might never have sat myself down to learn blogging. In that case I would have had to wait for heaven to know you. 😀 It is wonderful to know God cares and has a plan (one we probably consider an alternate plan) for our lives. I have to believe the detour came about in my life because it was God’s design for me. 😀

    Reply
  17. Steph McCoy says:
    January 25, 2017 at 3:59 pm

    Sending belated birthday wishes to you Oneta. I hope you enjoyed your day. 🎉🎉🎉

    Reply
  18. Salvageable says:
    January 25, 2017 at 5:11 pm

    Happy birthday one day late. Wednesday’s child, the poem says, is full of woe, but that does not fit you. Like Tuesday’s child, you are full of grace. J.

    Reply
    • oneta hayes says:
      January 25, 2017 at 5:41 pm

      Fortunately all proverbs are not true! This makes me wonder though where this saying about birth days originated. Don’t have time to research right now, but I’ll put the thought away, and maybe remember it again some day. Thank you very much for your kind words.

      Reply
  19. Pancake Bunnykins says:
    January 25, 2017 at 5:42 pm

    Happy Birthday my dear Oneta! God bless you and I hope you enjoy your day! ❤

    Reply
  20. shoreacres says:
    January 25, 2017 at 8:08 pm

    Oh, my! Happy birthday wishes for you, Oneta. It’s been such a pleasure to get to know you, and I hope you have many more fruitful years of sharing your life and faith with us.

    I was tickled to read about your start in a dugout. When I was in the Texas town of Panhandle, they had a collection of historic artifacts on the town square: windmill, caboose, an early house, and so on. They also had this dugout. I thought you’d get a kick out of seeing it.

    Reply
    • oneta hayes says:
      January 25, 2017 at 11:07 pm

      Linda, I love the picture! The dugout was there enough years for me to remember it. Daddy bought that place from Granddad when I was about 11. I think it was still there then. I think my mom did away with it I’ve mentioned before that nothing like a little old wall or two kept her back from doing what she wanted! I know the entrance was the same and there was a window above ground on the north and south but not west. Entrance was on the east. Thanks so much. You are amazing to have just the thing to give me a boost. And thanks for the birthday blessings.

      Reply

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  22. Dawn Marie says:
    January 31, 2017 at 10:13 am

    Loved & loving…how perfectly fitting for such a sweet soul as you! Happy belated my dearest!

    Reply

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  24. fielicity says:
    May 21, 2017 at 10:16 am

    Are you an Apostolic Pentecostal?

    Reply
    • oneta hayes says:
      May 21, 2017 at 10:30 pm

      My grandfather and his brother were some sort of drinking, gambling kind of men before my arrival. They were both converted and became Pentecostal preachers. My Uncle Dick Rodgers was of the Apostolic Pentecostals and my Grandad Jim Rodgers was Pentecostal Holiness. I don’t know the reason why the difference except it was probably because of location. Dick was in Oklahoma; Jim was in Colorado. I’ve lost track of most of my uncle’s family, but my grandad
      ‘s family mostly remained in the Pentecostal groups of some sort. I did until about three years ago when, believe it or not, I joined the Baptists. My Pentecostal/Assembly of God became to technological for me. I remain old style. However, most of my offspring are into the big stuff. Does any of that ring a bell with you? Thanks for commenting. You have a nice blog; I’ll hop over and follow.

      Reply

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