Alisa's Narrative
Hillmon, Alisa (2012-03-10)

Hi, my name is Alisa Hillmon. I was born to teenage parents in 1957. I was raised by my paternal grandparents, who were much older, not like the young grandparents now-a-days. Both of my grandparents had to quit school early in life, around 1913 or 1914 when they were in the 6th grade or 7th grade, because they had to help support their families. They were from the south, and my great grandparents had farms, so they had to help support them.

They never really read to me as a child, but they both valued education and always made sure that I was always there. They always helped me with my homework as much as they could. However, when I was about in the 3rd grade, I kind of surpassed their level of being to help me. Then, I was able to help them.

My grandmother died when I was twelve. That just left my grandfather and me. He never waivered as far as always being there for every school function in junior high school and high school. Every PTA meeting my grandfather was always there. A lot of times he was the only man there. Most of the time he was the oldest person there, but he was always right there doing whatever he could to help out. 

My grandfather also, when I was young, starting around the age of eight, if not even a bit younger, would always have me write the checks for the family. That way I was practicing my writing and also my math skills. I would write the checks, of course he would sign them, and then I would keep the ledger in the checking book for him. 

We didn't use calculators back then, it was a big deal to have one that just could add, subtract, multiply, and divide. So, even though we could have access to them, they weren't that common back in the day. Plus, my grandfather really didn't like them, because he wanted to make sure you could do it on your own. That is how I practiced a lot of my math and a lot of my writing skills was writing checks and balancing checkbooks, things of that nature.

I always enjoyed writing as far as poetry. I guess it is more of a spoken word type thing now-a-days. I haven't done it in a while though. I used to just sit back and kind of reflect. 

I also enjoyed reading. When I was pre-teen and early teenaged, I was really in to the Harlequin romance type novels. When I was a little bit older, getting in to freshman year and sophomore year of high school, I started getting more to the black panther type books like Eldridge Cleaver's "Soul on Ice," things of that nature. It was awakening of that type of history to what was gong on with our people. That would probably put it to about 1972. Sixty-nine or '72, something around that time frame.

I went to east high school. We were a predominantly black school. Most of our teachers, however, were white. It was just something we were used to. That is how it always was, even with elementary school and junior high school, middle school as it's called now. My grandfather always made sure that I had the right study habits. 

That helped me with college as well. I did go to Ohio State in the mid to late '70's. I also went to Columbus State in the mid '80's.

I have a son. When he was little, I always liked to read to him. I remember when he was about two and I had taken him to the pediatrician. He had a Dr. Seuss book, "Green Eggs and Ham." It was in the waiting room. He had grabbed the book and turned it upside down and he was just reciting things from the book because he knew from us reading together. 

People in the waiting room were just stopping and saying can he really read? Is he reading that? I started laughing and saying that the book is upside down for one thing. But no, he had just memorized it. He looked at the pictures even though they were upside down and knew what was going on. That was a fun moment right then.

Now, in my older years, I don't read as much for pleasure. I do read the newspaper of course every day. I love working crossword puzzles. I try to keep the mind active. I love the crip ticks puzzles as well. Once in a while, I will try to read something for pleasure but it is not that often any more. Maybe I need to make more quiet time for that. 

I guess because I am always at work. I'm always on the computer. I'm always reading. I am always having to do research. I am always having to study at work to keep up on my technical skills. In my down time I just don't want to do any heavy reading, heavy research, or anything of that nature. I just want to kind of vegetate for a little bit.

Well, that is about it. Thank you.