Let Me Introduce Myself
In general, life is good, so if you’re going to follow me or become a free or paid subscriber, you might as well know who I am.
I’m borrowing this concept from JoDavi, a fellow Substacker. I’m sure others have done this but his essay inspired me. I have 451 followers, 296 subscribers and 8 paid subscribers.
A majority of you don’t know me.
When you go to my Substack this is what you learn about me: “I'm a American, Christian, Conservative black husband, father and grandfather. I want to change the narrative of blacks in America. We have to create solutions to the problems we see. Without solutions our voices are dust in the wind.”
Pretty weak.
So I’m going to give you a quick look into who I am. Going forward, I plan to share essays that provide greater insight into the man who is Cecil Alphonso Grant, Jr.
I was born July 7, 1960 in Denver, Colorado. My father was in the Air Force. Both my parents were born and raised in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands. I attended kindergarten and first grade in Germany. I had great fun growing up at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia in the early 70’s. We then moved to Camp Springs, Maryland then Bangor, Maine where I started high school and then Rome, New York where I finished high school in 1978. I learned to snow ski when we lived in Rome.
From there I attended the Air Force Academy Prep School and then went on to graduate from the United States Air Force Academy in 1983. I met my first wife, Cheryl, at Patrick AFB in Florida. Our first 2 children were born in Florida. Our third child was born in Naples, Italy and our last, but not least child, was born at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.
I was raised in a conservative home. My mother taught my sisters and I how to pray at a very young age and we went to church every Sunday. We had chores, and bringing home good grades was expected. No television or going outside during the school week. On the weekends playing outside was expected.
I was a Cub Scout and a Webelo. I did Boy Scouts long enough to earn my Tender Foot badge. My high school years were spent at private, catholic, college prep schools. Growing up I played baseball, and took swimming lessons. When we lived in Maryland I went to summer camp every summer at Camp St. Charles and in Maine I went to Camp Jordon. There I learned to water ski, swim, canoe, camp, fire a rifle and archery. I began playing football in 9th grade at John Bapst High School and finished my high school career at Rome Catholic High School helping them win their first ever football title.
My football career at USAFA didn’t end on such a happy note.
I left the Air Force after eight years and worked a number of interesting jobs. A lot of stories to share concerning those years.
Cheryl and I divorced after moving to Jacksonville, Florida.
I got married again 9 years later.
I’ll stop there, but as I said I plan to share more with you as time goes on.
I encourage you to write your life story. We all have funny or embarrassing moments, that make us real. We’re not perfect. Our families aren’t perfect. We can laugh at funny stories or cry after hearing a sad one, realizing you’re not the only one going through stuff. You’re not the only one who has made a mistake or continues to make the same mistakes over and over again.
In general, life is good, so if you’re going to follow me or become a free or paid subscriber, you might as well know who I am.
Did I tell you I have 7 grandkids? Some great stories right there.
I look forward to sharing my life with you.
Thanks for filling in some blanks Cecil. Didn’t know u went to HS in Rome NY with them Eye-talians 😜