Wednesday, December 29, 1971

IBTISH: Chapter 1

Dec 29, 1971

Born today to Nancy and Gary Rinehart a blue eyed, blond baby girl. She is named Tisha Noel.




There was a time . . .
When you were just three.
You road on my shoulders
And bounced on my knee.
We loved you so.
Your future was bright.
A color shone forth,
Pink was the light.



1971-1977

It is exciting. Tisha is such a beautiful little girl -- wonderful, curly golden hair and those eyes. They are a combination of her grandfather, Lloyd Rinehart, and her great grandfather’s, L.F. Grim – crystalline blue. We are so proud of ourselves for creating this new person who is so perfect.

We live in Solana Beach. It is a great location to start our family -- next to the ocean, good friends for neighbors. This is an exciting time. Tisha takes her first steps in our family room. While walking across the street to visit Phil and Cindy Rasmussen, T says her first word – she says “ight” as she points to the moon. We go to the beach, build sand castles, dive for lobster and abalone, ride our bikes, and remodel the house. It is a great time. I’m completing my Master’s degree at USIU and working at SDGE while Nancy starts her plant business with our neighbor Cindy.

Nancy’s Dad, Al Tietjen, resides at a minimum care facility for the elderly near our home. He is suffering from Parkinson. He comes to the house almost every weekend to visit with us and attend church. His health is failing, but he enjoys watching T as an infant. During this time, Nancy’s brother, Jack, and his family come to the house often to visit with us and Al. Marie Tietjen is T’s age. Jack and Sharon and the kids move to Missouri and we see them only one additional time in Tisha’s life, at Al’s funeral eight years later.

Nancy and I raft down the Colorado River with friends leaving Tisha at Tom and Pat Stickels. We love the vacation, but don’t like leaving T behind. We agree that we must repeat this trip when Tisha is old enough to appreciate it. We take a family trip, our first, in our orange Datsun wagon to Dannebrog, Tisha is a wonderful traveler. She sits in her car seat and sleeps or plays. No complaints, no crying. We travel to Nebraska via Oregon where we visit with Rita Eyerly. Tisha is introduced to her Great Grandfather and Great Grandmother Grim. Two weeks after we leave Dannebrog, my Grandpa Grim dies in an accident. Grandma is never the same and Dannebrog will never be the same. Grandpa, at least, had a chance to meet the T.

She’s changed Grandpa, but she’s still our little girl. Look after her.

We love to cuddle with Tisha in the futon chair watching TV. She grows strong and lovely -- constantly questioning. She loves to ride on my shoulders pulling my hair as we walk around the neighborhood and on the beach talking about mom, the stars and how much we love each other. She loves to be thrown up into the air as high as I can throw her. She hangs from my neck by her feet while I spin. Such fun!

Tisha is baptized at Calvary Lutheran Church by Paul Blom with Tim and Karen Cunningham as her Godparents.

Our first scare is on Tisha’s first Thanksgiving. We are at Nancy’s uncle Kel’s house in Lancaster. T becomes very sick. We race back to San Diego to T’s pediatrician, Dr. Wilson. It’s not a big deal, but it is our first emergency with the T-Bear.

Tisha makes friends with Jodie Coffman, Kimmie Fischel, Kerrie Williams, and Sara Blom -- friendships that have an ebb and flow throughout Tisha’s life. As a family, we meet and develop a life time friendship with Tim and Leslie McCracken and their twins, Kelley and Kristen. This friendship evolves into annual Thanksgiving and Christmas meals and celebrations. Gerry and Mary Kirk, our neighbors, become close friends. We dive for lobster and abalone on the reef in Solana Beach, build sand castles, have our evening drinks together. Tisha considers Marissa, their daughter, her big sister. Marissa is six years older than T. This is the same age difference that Tisha will have over Brooke. T adores Marissa. It is a great time.

Our second scare with T happens in her fourth year. An armoire falls on Tisha while Nancy and Tisha are shopping at an antique store in San Diego. Tisha’s leg is broken and she has a minor concussion. She is so brave as she wears her cast and wheels around in her wheel chair. Nancy and I must leave on a business trip to Europe -- our first. Grandma flies out to take care of Tisha while we are gone. Tisha is our brave girl.

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