The alarm went off at 5AM this morning in 1977. I jumped in my car drove to Miami and loaded up my sister’s house to move her back to Jacksonville. The move itself went well, almost without a hitch despite the old 68 Chevy wagon’s excess mileage. At 1 AM the next morning I opened the door to our home to find Donna well into labor. One hour and 47 minutes later the doctor gave me the good news that I had a new baby girl. As is any child, she was destined to impact our family in a very special way.
I think Elaina grieved at a level no one could understand with her mother’s death. She was in and out of hospital twice within a year. As a dad, I realized my inadequacies to meet her needs, even though I tried. I was fortunate to have some great neighbors that pitched in and helped me as we tried to readjust our lives. By the time we moved to Pablo Point I began feeling like she was going to be ok, despite all she had been through. After that move, I began to see an amazing young woman emerge and excel.
Within 6 months we had begun TaeKwonDo classes at Neptune Baptist and she was right there with me for about 6 months. At that point, we decided that she should take a break for a while as she was not fully engaged. However, when she came back she excelled in class and went on to win the USA National Championships in Forms. Her real claim to fame was breaking brick tiles with her head during our national demonstration tour! She had become a star and 2nd Degree black belt before 12.
Then one day she came home and informed me that she was done with TaeKwonDo and wanted to dance – so she did. Her talent and aptitude took her to Douglas Anderson School of the Arts within the first couple years of its founding. Needless to say, my chest and head swelled as I watched her perform her own choreographed routine at the year-end Gala. Yes, I was proud indeed. After her high school years, her attention turned to modeling and soon she was in New York.
Everything did not turn out exactly the way she wanted and I think that baffled her. She returned to Jacksonville, only to be “discovered” by an agent during TPC week while working at a Pizza Restaurant. Quickly she was back on the plane to New York. This time it stuck and she fulfilled her next objective. I know during this time she was focused and working hard trying to “make it.” Even though we did not interact a lot I knew she would find success as she had in the past. I believe the next few years, during her moves to Milan and Los Angles were critical to her personal formation and direction. She found her home in Milan because the work was good, rewarding and financially stabilizing.
While in Milan, Alessandro Aleotti (J-Ax) came on the scene and soon thereafter the rock star and American model were married. It was during this time that Elaina and Ax became strong factors in keeping our family in touch and united, despite the distance. She and Ax have often gone out of their way to accommodate our needs and wants. Now that she is pregnant for the first time, we are all committed to sharing in this family event.
Elaina has displayed an unusual ability to set her mind to something and do well – regardless of the challenge. She has done it repeatedly. I am looking forward to her focus on motherhood and am convinced that she will raise the boy with a heart and mind we will all be proud to watch. We are praying and know God will direct your steps.
Love Dad