Priscilla Renea On Being A “Navy Brat”

My name is Priscilla Renea and this is the most exciting and challenging time of my life. My debut CD, “Juke Box” is being release on Capitol Records on December 1. 2009. You might have heard my single “Dollhouse,” on YouTube. It’s been a journey for me as a singer/songwriter and I wanted to give people some insight into who I am.

I’m a “navy brat” and most people don’t know what that means or how difficult it can be growing up, moving from place to place, changing schools more than 20 times and trying to make friends and fit in. Growing up on a military base has its share of ups and downs, in a more literal sense than you would think, especially so in the branch of the navy. Coast to coast every 6 months, extreme weather changes, no real friends to stay connected with. Bummer. Ships go out to sea, fighter jets take off at all times of the day and night.

I barely saw my father. He was gone for about nine of the twelve months in the year. I didn’t mind so much, he yelled alot when he was there. And my mom took real good care of me and my little brother. Mothers always do. I can say that being a navy brat was as unhealthy for me as it was uncomfortable. I ate as much as I could, thus, whenever we moved to a new place, I was the 14 year old fat girl with the bald head… BIG target. (No pun intended).

Mom gave tough love, “Priscilla…. I HOPE that’s not the refrigerator I hear!” Dad just fed me more. They got divorced shortly after. More so a difference of opinion than my constant weight gain. They couldn’t agree to bring a flashlight if it was dark outside. The month before we made our final move my dad came home with transfer papers, it was either Singapore or Texas. I thought we were moving to Texas. He had other plans in Malaysia — my mom had had enough.

The morning before we made our final move my dad took me and my 6 year old brother to Dunkin Donuts. He never did that. Then he drove us to the edge of a cliff and said ” You know… I could put my foot on the gas and just end it all…”.I looked at my brother in the rear view mirror, his eyes just as wide as mine, and shrugged my shoulders. He took us home to finish packing.

The morning we did make our final move my dad dropped us off at the airport. I remember forgetting to put on socks. My feet were sweaty in my  K Swiss. I think I looked up once. He had on his military uniform with all his patches and medals and the shiny black shoes. He also had tears in his eyes. I wanted to punch him. “How dumb of you to get caught,’’ I thought. Needless to say we didn’t go either place. Mom put my unaccompanied minor brother and me on a plane to Florida the moment she could. My favorite Uncle Robert, also a veteran, was there to pick us up. We stayed with my Aunt Ellen for the next 6 months while my mom worked two jobs to get us our own house. We were doing just fine.

I think I probably spoke to my father one time since they separated. I didn’t want to. I still don’t, but just recently I couldn’t help but wonder what would’ve happened had we gone to Texas? Would I still be there now? How awful a thing what happened to all those courageous people fighting for our country. Such a great American melting pot of nationalities. People whose ancestors came to America to find freedom and ones who still fight for it now. Husbands with wives left behind. What if my dad had been one of those? What if my parents had never gotten divorced? It’s hard to think about.

Now that I look back on the days when I was a “navy brat” I realize how hard it would have been to have been on Fort Hood the day that tragedy happened. I know how scared people must have been, especially the kids. Life and death on a military base are part of life. Regardless of people’s feelings about the war, our troops, their families and especially their children need our prayers and support.

So, “be a soldier” and support them. You can send a small donation to Fisher House in Fort Hood, Texas. It’s a “home away from home” atmosphere for our Armed Services, veterans, and their families during a crisis. Just go to: http://www.fisherhouse.org/contribute/contribute.

‘P’

www.priscillareneamusic.com

If you missed Priscilla Renea’s performance at  Black Planet, check it out below: