Jeana

It is 1953, and the Rogue Valley of Oregon is enjoying the August sun and the 90-degree weather. Jeana is making a stand. She is going independent of all others—on her own from here on out. She is not yet fourteen years old but is weary of life as she knows it. There has to be a better way—a better life out there somewhere. Thus, she has begun a life of independence and self-survival—the beginning of a life that spans sixty years. We address these sixty years that begin with her birth in Little Rock, Arkansas. Her father’s absence and mother’s lack of concern are overshadowed at first by her grandfather’s love and tender moments. She describes, “I was born to the wrong parents.” It’s a reality that she cannot change ever. Jeana’s self-determination is apparent from day one of her escape. Her mother’s relief is evident when she says, “Well, good. That’s one less mouth to feed.” Jeana’s aggression in getting a job and shelter shows maturity beyond her fourteen years. Working twelve to fourteen hours a day is routine, and her objective never wavers. “I’ll be somebody, someday.” As we bounce back and forth through Jean’s life, we will witness her sincere innocence, the challenging learning curve she has to endure, and the true meaning of unconditional love. Amidst her trials, Jeana, who is about to smell the roses of success, receives a phone call that changes her goals in life. The needs that are heaped upon her now tax her wits on how to deal with her personal problems. Love of a child is the driving force that leads her to commit a felony. She finally submits to the only skill that she seems to have come by naturally. “Provider” is her definition for the age-old profession. Her story spans nearly sixty years of perfecting her skills and many other interventions, adventures, and tragedies that befall her. Later years, many of her lifetime friends she has made along her way exemplify her true character, which is quite contrary to the lack of love she experienced in her youth. Jeana’s travels bring her into contact with some famous personalities—Frank Sinatra, Telly Savalas, and other Hollywood celebrities, to name a few. Her experiences in Palm Springs introduce her to a few mafia-type characters who profess to fame, and while in London, she is hosted by a family of Great Train Robbery, which was well known in the sixties. So for a little pear picker from Oregon, Jeana’s travels are extensive. Her story is as colorful as the characters she has met along the way. This is based on her story simply retold from her recollections.