I have a unique little sister in my little sister, Ronee'. Ronee' (her last name is Reaux; mommy and daddy decided to keep her former last name, especially in terms of her career in Cajun music) is only 9 years old, and she is like a lot of little girls her age--that is, she loves the colors pink and purple, she loves Scooby Doo, the Powerpuff Girls, Walt Disney, rock and rap music, and she loves talking on the telephone or hanging out with her many friends. She especially loves country/western and Cajun music; this is her favorite type of music.
She is, however, quite different than a lot of kids her age.
For starters, she is academically and musically gifted. She has a high I.Q. of over 150, she is in the Gifted and Talented class at her school, and she consistently scores high grades on her schoolwork. She also has always been able to sing, and she has taken voice lessons since she was 3 1/2 years old. (She has a very big voice for her size, and when she sings people can DEFINITELY hear her!!) She is on her way to becoming a star in country music, and she has had the honor of opening for several of country and Cajun music's brightest and biggest stars, including the likes of Loretta Lynn and Jimmy C. Newman; and she has recently cut her debut CD of traditional country and Cajun songs. She also shows considerable skill on both the fiddle and Cajun accordion.
Secondly, she is a model, and she has done several pageants in the past (but now no longer does the pageant scene); and she has been featured in several local commercials on tv for stores like Wal*Mart and Target.
Thirdly, she is an inspiration, especially to those who are physically disabled. See, my little sister is, herself, physically disabled; but she doesn't let her disabilities get the best of her (although she DOES have her "bad days" when it comes to her pain). She has systemic-onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and she gets around on braces and forearm crutches (or a wheelchair for longer trips, like when she is at the mall or at school); and she also has bronchial asthma and allergies (but these, I'm glad to report, are getting better). She is rather small for her age, and this gives her a sense of precociousness. She acts a lot older than her age, and this always surprises people, because she can be unpredictable in her comments, and she is smarter than a lot of people; and they don't know how to react around her at times.
Ronee' has done a lot of things in her lifetime, things that most kids her age have never done. She has been backstage (and ON the stage) at the Grand Ole Opry, she has hung around with famous celebrities, she has won several local and state talent quests and contests, and she has even been on local television a time or two. She has also been to functions for the Arthritis Foundation and has recently been named "Young Ambassador" for the local chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. She has traveled all over the United States, performing at country and Cajun festivals and what not, and she has brought joy to countless people with her talent and Cajun joie de vivre.
She is a special person, and she has overcome much tragedy and heartbreak in her life. She was born premature and had severe health concerns for most of her life; yet she has overcome the odds more than once, and she still continues to amaze and baffle people with her courage and spunky nature. I am glad she is my sister; but she DOES have her moments where she can drive you absolutely CRAZY!!!! (I affectionally call her "The Monster"!)
I guess it is because of her early hardships that Ronee' has been forced to grow up at a much faster rate than a lot of her peers. She can teach a person a thing or two about overcoming heartache and tragedy because she has done that very thing herself, and people have learned that if they have a dream, they, too, can accomplish great things in life if they are given the chance to do so, just as she has done.
Ronee' is a very pretty little girl with big, bright-black eyes that have a sparkle to them, incredibly long blue-black lashes, a cute little upturned nose, a dimpled smile, fat cheeks (due, in part, to all of the medications she has had to take for her arthritis and asthma; still, it gives her a cute appearance), short, thick blue-black hair that falls to just above her shoulders (it USED to fall below her rear!!), and a thin little body. She looks to be around 6 or 7 instead of nine because she is so short; but that is okay; we keep telling her that it isn't so bad to be short, and that short people can do great things; and we tell her about people like Billy Barty, Loretta Lynn, or even her latest heartthrobs, Li'l Bow Wow and Hunter Hayes (whom she has developed a queen-sized crush on; she is absolutely BONKERS over him!!).
Ronee' 's goal in life? To be a member of the Grand Ole Opry and to be as famous as her favorite singer, Loretta Lynn.
Somehow, I don't doubt that she will reach that goal. She is already well on her way to becoming a star in country and Cajun music!!
Let this coming of age story of a boy named Bean take you back to a simple time. Set in a small southern town in the 1960's, encircled by a river and gleaming white cotton fields.
A wicked Cajun Fairy named Robes Pierre entered the impenetrable Magical doll land of Sha Bebe. Queen Faustina, the ruler of the doll land, thought she had destroyed him, but he's back! Will the doll land survive his evil ways?
