Oral History Interview with Eva Self

JORDAN: Hello my name is Jordan Delaney and I will be interviewing you today on October 9, 2009 for an oral history project. This project is to add your voice to the historical record about life in Kentucky. We want to record how people who may be living with a disabling or limiting condition in Kentucky experience life. Everyone who participates in this interview process will be recorded word for word. Then the recording will be transcribed and stored at the Kentucky Oral History Commission in Frankfort. Members of the general public will then have access to what you and everyone else who's participating have to say about how they live their lives. Please feel free to stop me anytime throughout the interview if you have questions. Let's get started. Okay Eva, well first of 1:00all, can you tell me your name?

EVA: Eva Self(?).

JORDAN: Okay Eva, can you tell me how old you are?

EVA: I am soon to be, in the next week, 49 years old.

JORDAN: Okay. And when were you born?

EVA: Uh, 1960.

JORDAN: And then, where were you born at, like where are you from?

EVA: I'm from North Carolina. I was born in Concord, North Carolina which is right outside of Charlotte.

JORDAN: Okay, wow. And how long did you live there?

EVA: I lived there, let's see, until, I lived there for about 22 years. I mean I went away to college and then came back there, so maybe 25 years.

JORDAN: Wow.

EVA: And then I lived in Charlotte for 5 years. And then I got married and came here.

JORDAN: You moved here?

EVA: Mhm.

JORDAN: Okay, and how long have you lived, where is here?

EVA: Here in Hopkinsville, sorry. And I was 30 when I was married so I've 2:00lived here almost 19 years, in Hopkinsville.

JORDAN: Wow. Do you ever go back to North Carolina?

EVA: I do, some, not as often as I'd like. But, I do some--saw a high school friend last weekend.

JORDAN: Gotch'ya. Well, um, do you consider yourself disabled, if so, what is your disability?

EVA: Well um, I guess I'm categorized as a paraplegic. And um, I can't walk, um

JORDAN: Do you use any accommodations to help you?

EVA: I have a wheelchair and I have a lift on my van.

JORDAN: Yes.

EVA: And I have a 3-way seat on my van that I transfer into.

JORDAN: Uh huh.

EVA: No, it's a 6-way seat, I'm sorry. And um, I would say my kitchen is accessible, but

JORDAN: Yes.

EVA: Uh let's see, it would've been 5 years ago I got that, so let me think what in there helps me--probably, I have a lower sink, I have a lower um, 3:00stovetop, um, but besides that, I don't really, I mean I do everything else that quote-unquote normal people do.

JORDAN: That's awesome, and um, do you, do you need help in any of those areas or do you feel independent?

EVA: I'm very independent.

JORDAN: Awesome. Um, we're going to get into this later in the interview, but how long have you affected by your disability?

EVA: I have ben paralyzed for, let's see, I was, um, it was in 1978. Oh, that would be, what, 32 years ago, maybe, 31. Thank you, my math isn't great.

JORDAN: But anyway, okay

EVA: Well it was in March, so maybe by then, I don't know.

JORDAN: Okay, it's fine. Okay, well um, we're first get into your childhood. 4:00I was wondering if you could tell me about your earliest memories during childhood. Do you have any really early memories?

EVA: Uh most of my memories of childhood was in summertime.

JORDAN: Yeah.

EVA: It's my favorite time of year, going barefoot outside, playing with neighborhood friends.

JORDAN: Did you play with your brothers and sisters--do you have brothers and sisters?

EVA: I have brothers, yes. I have 5 older brothers. One grew up with me, uh the others were much older than I. And I played with him some, but he was a bit older.

JORDAN: Really?

EVA: Mhm, 7 years older than me, so.

JORDAN: Wow. Uh, did you just play with just the neighborhood kids?

EVA: Yes, pretty much, mhm.

JORDAN: Okay. And um, did you go to school?

EVA: Uh, yes, I went to public school. I even went to Head Start.

JORDAN: Did you attend preschool or kindergarten?

EVA: Uh, we didn't have that then. ? back then in those days.

JORDAN: Gotch'ya. So you started in first grade?

EVA: Mhm, I mean we did have a little Head Start program, I want to say, maybe it was the summer before, but, um, besides that.

JORDAN: Alright, so um so you just played out in the summertime?

EVA: Yes.

JORDAN: What about like, your parents? Did you have a good relationship with your parents or?

EVA: Mhm, I'd say very good.

JORDAN: Yeah, um, well who um looked after you when you were little? Did your mom, your dad?

EVA: Um, well, my mom worked what was called first shift, and that was during the day. And my daddy worked third shift, he worked the night shift. So a lot of times during most of the day, my daddy was home and then in the afternoons my mama and daddy were home. I'd spend a lot of time at the baseball park. My daddy liked baseball, all my brothers played baseball. My daddy was an umpire at most of those games.

JORDAN: Oh, gotch'ya.

EVA: So I spent a lot of time there.

JORDAN: Um, did you play sports with them, or?

EVA: I did ok, I mean I played with them, but I wasn't very good at baseball or softball.

JORDAN: Oh, gotch'ya. Did they not let you play?

EVA: They thought they did.

EVA: We played like, we played like horseshoe and things like that in the backyard.

JORDAN: Hmm, that sounds fun.

EVA: Mhm.

JORDAN: Um, what about your grandparents?

EVA: Uh, I didn't know my daddy's parents. Um, my mom's mother was um, still alive. But they lived a few towns over. I didn't see them but about, I didn't see her but about twice a year or something like that. So I wasn't really close to them.

JORDAN: So you--oh, okay. Um, who did the discipline in your house?

EVA: I'd say both parents.

JORDAN: Both?

EVA: Mhm.

JORDAN: Um, did, um, did your mom, I mean like, what did you get in trouble 7:00for, did you um

EVA: I would get spankings.

JORDAN: Spankings, not time outs?

EVA: Yeah, oh yeah. No, we didn't know what time out was. And sometimes it would be, with, you would have to go outside and pick your switch off the bush.

JORDAN: Oh, oh gosh.

EVA: And, that wasn't good. One time I

JORDAN: Did you try to hide?

EVA: Yes, one time I ran from my mom and I climbed up the tree. And then I saw my mama climbing up the tree, and then I realized I was a goner.

JORDAN: Oh my goodness! Um, do you um, did you ever get rewarded for anything good?

EVA: Um, you know, we came from a pretty humble, um, setting. I mean, we didn't expect a whole lot, ya know, for birthdays. Like we had, um, you know you got a cake and you might get one present, ya know?

JORDAN: Right.

EVA: And it wouldn't be a lot, but I would say rewards, hmm, I don't know. We 8:00would be told "good job".

JORDAN: Right.

EVA: But no really, material thing.

JORDAN: Hmm.

EVA: Things like that.

JORDAN: Gotch'ya. Well that's good, that's probably a good thing, ya know?

EVA: I mean it was, I wish I had done that with my kids.

JORDAN: I'm sure my parents do too. Um, you mentioned before that you had 5 brothers that were all older. Can you talk about them, like who they were, do you still keep in contact with them, like?

EVA: Well, some are deceased. I have several, 3 are deceased. One, 2 were stepbrothers, 2 were foster brothers, and 1 was a real brother.

JORDAN: Okay.

EVA: And uh, I keep in touch with 2 of them pretty regularly. Now, 1 lives in North Carolina, the other 1 in Louisiana, and I talk with them on the phone.

JORDAN: Are they married or do they have family?

EVA: They are, they are both. Both married, both have families, both have grandchildren.

JORDAN: Oh, wow.

EVA: So they're a good bit older than I.

JORDAN: Gotch'ya. Well that's good. And then, um, did you share your 9:00household with anyone else besides your brothers and your parents?

EVA: No, well, no. I mean my brothers, my stepbrothers and all, no.

JORDAN: Did you not have pets or um?

EVA: We had outside pets, we did.

JORDAN: Like stray dogs and stuff like that?

EVA: Yeah, lots of cats.

JORDAN: Oh.

EVA: We even had a chicken and 2 ducks at one point.

JORDAN: Aww.

EVA: I don't even know where they came from.

JORDAN: Awesome, um, did you get along with everyone in the household?

EVA: Yes, very--well, my brother that was 7 years older than me, the closest one to me, we fought a good bit.

JORDAN: Oh, goodness.

EVA: I was the first girl born in over 100 years in our family.

JORDAN: Oh wow.

EVA: Very much a daddy's girl and

JORDAN: Well that makes sense.

EVA: Well he, pretty much, you know, he was the king of everything until I came along

JORDAN: Right.

EVA: Then he saw the attention shifted to me.

JORDAN: So I'm guessing he got you in trouble a lot?

EVA: Um, yeah, well just really mad at me a lot. Just thought I was treated um, you know

JORDAN: Better?

EVA: Yeah, thought I was. I may have been.

JORDAN: But y'all don't have that problem anymore right?

EVA: It's not as bad, I think we're trying to overcome some of that.

JORDAN: Really, well that's good. Um, and you talked about your grandparents before. You're not really close to them. Um, what about any of your other family members like cousins, aunts, uncles?

EVA: I had, uh a niece and a nephew that were more like brothers and sisters to me. I have a niece whose 3 years younger than me and a nephew that's a year older than me.

JORDAN: Mhm.

EVA: And I, I was real close to them growing up, I played with them quite a bit.

JORDAN: Where did you play at?

EVA: We played out in the yard, we rode bikes and uh, you know, climbed trees.

JORDAN: At your house or at their house?

EVA: Yes, at both places.

JORDAN: And you guys lived close together?

EVA: Pretty much, I would say it wasn't walking distance but we finally got to the point where we could ride bikes to each others' house.

JORDAN: Um, do you still keep in contact with these family members?

EVA: Um, not as much, no.

JORDAN: Right.

EVA: Not my niece and nephew, with their daddy I do, but not with them.

JORDAN: Hmm, um, okay now I'm going to go on to about school. And I was just wondering do you, did you like school, I mean was it fun for you?

EVA: I did, I loved school, mhm.

JORDAN: You loved it, well that's wonderful. Um, did you have a favorite teacher or subject that you enjoyed?

EVA: Well I had several but the one that had the biggest impact on my life was my music teacher when I was in high school.

JORDAN: In high school?

EVA: Mhm.

JORDAN: So I'm guessing you're very musical?

EVA: I like to sing.

JORDAN: You like to sing.

EVA: I ended up being a music major in college.

JORDAN: Oh really?

EVA: Mhm.

JORDAN: Oh, cool, well we'll get into that later. Um, well, um, did you like 12:00have a difficult time in school, as far as like doing your homework and stuff. Did you feel behind or did you feel like you were um

EVA: I felt like um, I was very, I was an average student, but like at home, no one ever checked to see if I did my homework, no one ever checked to see, like I do with my kids. You know, they, you know, if you did well, great, if you didn't, you'll be alright. And there wasn't a high expectation to go to college.

JORDAN: Right.

EVA: Uh, everybody around there worked in the cotton mill and you thought you'd probably get a job doing something like that. Um, wasn't high hopes.

JORDAN: Well, what motivated you to keep going and doing well in school?

EVA: Well I had different people--one was that high school teacher. He told me, that he thought I had a gift and it wasn't just, he thought I was a motivator. And he told me one time, in fact, my junior year he let me get 13:00credit for teaching a ninth grade music class.

JORDAN: Wow.

EVA: And you know to be in the eleventh grade and, I mean, I couldn't even imagine that now. And then sometimes when he would have to leave in the afternoon, um he would have me drive to the middle school and teach that choir there.

JORDAN: Huh.

EVA: One time we were there, he asked me, he said "Eva do you know how much influence you have?" and he said "do you know that you could have all these kids in this room if you, you could tell them to jump off" and we were on the second floor--he said, "you could tell them to jump out of this window and they would do it. And I said, "but I wouldn't do that!" And he said, "I'm telling you have that much power." And he said "you need to go to college." He just kept trying to get me to go to college.

JORDAN: That is so awesome.

EVA: It was.

JORDAN: Hmm, well, um, back to like elementary and middle school, did you, or 14:00even in high school, were you involved in like any um, sports or um, activities, like dance, stuff like that?

EVA: I didn't do dance, but I was a cheerleader and I was a basketball player. I did both of those, all through middle school. And then in high school, I just was a cheerleader.

JORDAN: Did you, were you like the co-captain or captain of the cheerleading team?

EVA: I was co-captain just in middle school, not in high school.

JORDAN: Just in middle school, okay. Um, did you attend all the football games and baseball games and basketball games, obviously?

EVA: Yes, yes I did them all.

JORDAN: Did you enjoy cheerleading more, or basketball more?

EVA: I probably liked cheering better. I was better at that.

JORDAN: Why did you do basketball?

EVA: Because that was something else to do? I don't know, somebody--because I'm really tall and somebody though I'd be good if I just stood there and had my arms up, I don't know.

JORDAN: That's funny. Um, back to like, your playtime in middle school and 15:00high school, and even in elementary school, like did you feel like you had a good balance of playtime or were you busy helping your mom out around the house?

EVA: Um, I would say, it was a pretty good balance. I played quite a bit, everyday.

JORDAN: Did you?

EVA: Yes.

JORDAN: And so homework and um, chores, and stuff didn't take up

EVA: No, not that much.

JORDAN: Okay, did you hang out with your friends on the weekends and stuff in middle school and high school?

EVA: Yes, yes.

JORDAN: Um, what was the social hangout, or?

EVA: Oh, what was it, probably going to a basketball game. Even if we went, um, a lot of us stayed, there was an Optimist Club there and they had just little, like um, pewee basketball, pewee cheerleading and all. And a lot of us even taught those cheerleaders and coached those little basketball teams. And I did a lot of that too, my friends and I did that.

JORDAN: So you guys coached?

EVA: Yeah we did, we thought we did.

JORDAN: Did you get paid for it?

EVA: No, that's why they got us to do it.

JORDAN: Gotch'ya, um, did you like do camping outdoors, stuff like that, like hiking?

EVA: No, we didn't do much of that.

JORDAN: No?

EVA: Uh-uh.

JORDAN: Okay, um, when you were in high school, um, first of all, what kind of high school did you go to, what was the name of it?

EVA: It was uh, the name was Central Cabarrus High School. Cabarrus is the county that I grew up in.

JORDAN: Oh, okay, and um, did you attend there all 4 years?

EVA: Yes.

JORDAN: What year did you graduate?

EVA: Hmm?

JORDAN: What year did you graduate?

EVA: '78.

JORDAN: '78?

EVA: Mhm, the year I had my accident.

JORDAN: Okay, um, is there anything that you disliked about high school?

EVA: That I disliked about it?

JORDAN: Mhm.

EVA: I always wished I was skinny in high school.

EVA: Besides that, I don't know, I liked high school.

JORDAN: Did you?

EVA: I never wanted it to end.

JORDAN: Aww. So if you could go back you would do it again?

EVA: Yeah, I think so.

JORDAN: Yeah, um, is there anything during your high school years that changed your life?

EVA: Obviously the car accident did.

JORDAN: Um, what year did that happen?

EVA: It was my senior year, uh, '78. It was March, it was a few months before graduation.

JORDAN: Two months?

EVA: Yeah, well, let's see, we graduated the end of May, so it was all of March, all of April, all of May--maybe 3 months before I graduated.

JORDAN: Did you miss the graduation?

EVA: Mhm. I was still in the hospital, but they discharged me just to get to go, but then I had to come back right after graduation.

JORDAN: Wow, were you upset about that?

EVA: Yes I was.

JORDAN: And, do you mind talking about the accident? Like what happened and um, where you were going and anything?

EVA: Well I was coming from the place that I was, should not have been. I went to pick up my boyfriend after school and I took him--he went to another 18:00high school--and I drove to his school, picked him up, and took him home. Or maybe I had done that earlier. I don't know. But I was at his house and I was leaving his house.

JORDAN: Uh huh.

EVA: And it had been a really warm day and all the sudden it got cold and it started snowing. I tried to hurry home because I had to work, I worked at a department store called Bayer(?) Department Store, which is a lot like K-Mart.

JORDAN: Oh really?

EVA: Uh, it was a store like that. And um, I worked there in the evenings, I worked 4 hours in the evenings, from like 6-10. And so I was leaving his house and it had just started to snow.

JORDAN: Uh huh.

EVA: And it was--he lived in the country and so we were on old country roads and um, when I went around this curve, there was a car passing two other cars coming straight towards me in my lane. And I slammed on the brakes and I kind 19:00of hit--kind of started skidding, fishtailing

JORDAN: Yeah.

EVA: And my car hit a bridge and it kind of flipped over the bridge and uh, I was thrown from the front seat to the back seat and um, I was conscious the whole time but um, immediately I knew that I didn't have any feeling in my legs. And I didn't realize it was because I had broken my back, but I knew I just couldn't feel my legs.

JORDAN: Did you panic?

EVA: I mean I started screaming, crying.

JORDAN: Did you?

EVA: I tried to get out of the car, but obviously I couldn't get up. And uh, I remember I was lying in the back floor of the car and I reached around the front seat um, kind of at the door some, and I opened the door and I threw the door open and I put my head back and the door came crashing back on my head.

JORDAN: Oh, no.

EVA: But it still kept it open, and I remembering yelling help and some people heard me, I guess people um, that were in those cars. They had seen it happen, 20:00they looked in the rearview mirror and saw it. Which if they hadn't, probably no one would have seen me, because I went down an embankment.

JORDAN: Oh, gosh.

EVA: And, you know, it was snowing and getting worse. I mean it was amazing that they saw me. But they did and they were up on the top of the bank and I was down and um, I remember one lady just kept talking to me the whole time. She would say "don't move your head, don't move your head!" And I said "well I already have!"

EVA: And she said "well don't move it again!" And uh, she said "are you okay?" And I said, "I'm cold, I'm really cold." And I kept saying "would you come down here and talk to me?" And they said, "well we can't really get to you." And I didn't realize that I was kind of on the other side of the creek, the way my car had landed. And so, I said, and so the lady just kept talking to me. I guess she said an ambulance is coming and uh, she asked me my name and 21:00where I was coming from. And I told that, so they immediately called my boyfriend's house. And he called his dad, and his dad and my dad, and he called him and told him. So my parents were at the hospital by the time I got there.

JORDAN: And how long did this take, before they got you to the hospital?

EVA: Probably, uh, you know, it was hard to say uh, I knew the rescue guy, the guy with the rescue guy, I knew him by his first name, although it just left me. But I remember calling him by name and he didn't recognize me at first, but he knew my brother Harold. And so he was asking me about Harold and he was trying to--I just kept asking him over and over again, "will I get my feeling back in my legs, tell me will I get my feeling back in my legs?" And he just kept asking me how my brother was doing--"where is he now? What state is he in?" You know, just kept avoiding the question.

JORDAN: Like distracting you.

EVA: And uh, finally um, I asked him "will I get my feeling back in my legs?" 22:00And he said "Eva, I don't know. I don't know if you'll get it back."

JORDAN: Right, and how did you respond to that?

EVA: I remember just thinking, okay this is a nightmare, and this isn't really happening. I remember thinking that. And right, you know, right after he told me that, um, I remember I was pulling on his shirt asking him that. And uh, then the doors for the ambulance--they just blew open all of the sudden and I was at the hospital. And they were rushing me in.

JORDAN: Mhm.

EVA: And just as soon as I got out they, you know, I was on a stretcher frame, and they got me out and I looked up and there's my daddy. Uh, that was horrible, because I was in a place that I wasn't supposed to be.

EVA: I wasn't supposed to be at my boyfriend's house.

JORDAN: Oh, gosh.

EVA: So, I did not want to see him. And uh, but anyways, they took me to my local hospital and then they ended up, um, sending me to Charlotte Hospital 23:00because they were maybe gonna do emergency surgery to repair my spine. And when I got there, they took x-rays again, and they said that there was no need to do the emergency surgery, that the damage had already been done--that my spine, my spinal cord had been severed and they couldn't fix it.

JORDAN: Wow, um, how far is it, like I mean, like where

EVA: Charlotte, North Carolina--I mean Charlotte and Concord?

JORDAN: Yeah.

EVA: It was about, I'd say about 40 minutes probably. About from, like from here to Clarksville.

JORDAN: Oh, wow.

EVA: From Hopkinsville to Clarksville.

JORDAN: It must have been a long ride.

EVA: Well, you know, I was kind of in and out to be honest with you.

JORDAN: Really?

EVA: My mom did ride in the ambulance, and my daddy followed in his vehicle.

JORDAN: Mhm.

EVA: Um, so at that point, they had cut my clothes off of me, which devastated me. You know, 17 and uh, you know, for them to cut my clothes off of me. But they couldn't set me up, you know they wanted to keep my spine stable.

JORDAN: Right.

EVA: Uh, and then, at least they got me warm. They didn't want me to go into 24:00shock, I think.

JORDAN: Mhm.

EVA: I think I did end up getting pneumonia. Uh, as a result of that night too.

JORDAN: Oh.

EVA: But they rushed me there and so I was kind of in and out, I don't really know, I don't remember a whole lot.

JORDAN: Alright, and um, how long did you end up staying there?

EVA: I was in, I was in the hospital all together, I was in that hospital and the rehab hospital for 3 and a half months.

JORDAN: Wow.

EVA: So all summer, all spring, and all summer.

JORDAN: Were you still with your boyfriend during that time?

EVA: Mhm.

JORDAN: And did your friends come see you?

EVA: Mhm, very much. They all did, they weren't supposed to, but you know, I was in intensive care first and I wasn't supposed to get any. And only family members and people were coming up saying "I'm her sister," and I didn't have any sisters, you know.

EVA: Some people would get snuck in by other family members and all, but for 25:00the most part, I wasn't supposed to have visitors. My boyfriend, they did grant him in to see me. And um, that was, that was hard.

JORDAN: Oh yeah, I'm sure it was. And um, like who do you think helped you through it the most, like who was your biggest, I guess influential person to help you through this situation?

EVA: Uh, had to be my mama.

JORDAN: Your mom?

EVA: Mhm.

JORDAN: Did you realize that your parents weren't mad at you after the whole thing, especially your dad?

EVA: Yeah, well, what happened, I remember when I was in the emergency room at the first hospital

JORDAN: Mhm.

EVA: and my daddy is a, I told you so kind of person.

JORDAN: Yeah.

EVA: And he came in and basically, that's what he said. He said, "Eva, I told you where this would lead if you didn't listen to me." You know, he told me that. And I remember saying to him, I said, "Daddy, um, okay you're right, okay 26:00does it make you feel good that you are right and that I might die tonight? I just want you to know that it's great that you're right and I'm wrong." And then when I, I mean I was being a smart alec to daddy. And when I looked up, I saw him crying. And when I saw my daddy crying, I mean my daddy never cried, expect when he was really hurt or really mad. And um, I knew that I had really hurt him then. And uh, just didn't realize, probably until now that I'm a parent, what I was doing to them.

JORDAN: Mhm.

EVA: So, big influence.

JORDAN: Wow.

EVA: Yeah.

JORDAN: Huh, and um, well, when you were talking about your mom being the biggest influence, um, like what did she do to help you get through this? Like did she um, talk to you about, you know, motivating you--you're gonna get through this, you're gonna be fine? Or just being there, I mean what--

EVA: For the most part, my mama is a being there kinda person.

JORDAN: Mhm.

EVA: She, unlike me, is not necessarily a motivator. Like she can't tell you some great story or you know, she just would be there for ya. And if you would say, in any way, I think I'd like to do this, she would always say "you can, you really can. If you try you can." And I would say the best memory that I have of how my mama helped me, and it was the best example of, is when she made me put on my blue jeans by myself.

JORDAN: Mhm.

EVA: And I was crying, like I would pull 'em up and then I'd cry, and pull 'em up, and I'd cry. And I was mad at her because she was making me do it. So I had screamed at her and told her to get out of the room. And I kept stopping when I was pulling up my pants, to cry. And then one time when I stopped I heard her crying. And she was in the next room. Sorry, it's going to make me 28:00cry. And I realize how hard that must have been for her. Because she would rather, instead of watching me struggle, she would rather just jerk those pants on herself. But she knew that I had to learn how to do that, and as hard as it was um, you know, it's what she did. And my daddy was just the opposite. My daddy was just, "honey we'll take care of you the rest of your life." And I was like "Nooo! I gotta get outta here, I can't stay here!" But you know, he didn't, he thought I was really pitiful then. He didn't know that I could continue to do things.

JORDAN: Right, well I completely understand. Because I feel like I had a similar episode with my mom.

EVA: Did you really?

JORDAN: Oh yeah, there's been many times where I'm just like "Mom, I can't do it." And she's like "you're gonna do it because you have to do this. There's no one else who's gonna be there for you, so you need to do this while I'm here because one day I'll be gone and you'll be on your own." So, I totally 29:00understand what you mean.

EVA: Yeah.

JORDAN: It is hard.

EVA: It is hard because I just kept thinking well, I know I will but I'm not ready yet.

JORDAN: Right.

EVA: But she was like "yes you are." And I was ready, and what, you know, after you do it, I mean, what happens, they knew what would happen to us after we did it.

JORDAN: That we would feel better about ourselves and have some confidence.

EVA: That's right and that we could go on to the next task and try it.

JORDAN: Well your mom is a smart woman then.

EVA: Yeah, she was.

JORDAN: Um, well moving on, like after the accident, you graduated from high school even though you weren't able to attend, did they like come to your house and give you your diploma?

EVA: Well, no I did go to the--I went to the ceremony but like uh, I, they did take me across in the wheelchair.

JORDAN: Oh they did, okay.

EVA: But like afterwards when everybody's going to parties, everybody's going to all that, I got right back in my parents vehicle and went straight back to the hospital. That was what was hard because I did get to go, um, I got to go 30:00to Awards Day at the high school.

JORDAN: Uh huh.

EVA: And I was given the, it was called the Viking Award, that was our mascot. And uh, it was given for, uh, a person that was supposed to be the most influential person in, in the school.

JORDAN: Uh huh.

EVA: I mean, of the senior class I guess. And so, that year, and I had no idea, excuse me, that I'd gotten it. I knew that I would probably get some kind of choir award or cheerleading award, I couldn't remember what. But I had snuck in the gym, like, everybody else marched in cap and gown and then I'm a W, my last name was a W so they snuck me in the side door after everybody was seated, in my cap and gown and I was just right there at the end--

JORDAN: Uh huh.

EVA: And so I was sitting there and only those around me, maybe people that saw me came in, saw me and knew I was there. And so they're giving out the 31:00Viking Award, and what they do is they start off when they give this award, they will read um, what every teacher has said about you since 1st grade. Like on your little report card, you know?

JORDAN: Oh really? How fun.

EVA: But at the end of the year, a teacher writes something, so they read all this, and I was listening to it. And I just knew who it was, I knew it was a friend of mine. And then um, you know, they said it was me. And then when they rolled me around and all my classmates saw I was there, you know, they stood up, so it was pretty moving.

JORDAN: Aww, that is moving.

EVA: Graduation night was too.

JORDAN: Huh. And um, do you keep in touch with any of these people?

EVA: Um, well, last weekend, I keep in touch with a couple of them.

JORDAN: Really?

EVA: And uh, I kept in touch with one all through college, who we were really good friends. We went to the same church. (Yawns) Excuse me.

JORDAN: Oh, you're fine.

EVA: And uh, I was in North Carolina last weekend, speaking. And I called her 32:00and she came to see me.

JORDAN: Oh how fun!

EVA: It was really good because when I speak now, I talk a lot about my parents and she knows them.

JORDAN: Oh yeah.

EVA: So um, you know it made it even more special.

JORDAN: Aww, that's sweet. Um, let's see, where was I, um, okay so you were able to go to your graduation, but um, that summer did you, like what did you do that summer? Did you pretty much spend the whole time in the hospital?

EVA: I did, I got out right at the end of summer. And got to spend some time with friends, boyfriend, and all. And then the fall came, and I did get my job back at Bayer(?) Department Store. And that helped a lot, because that was something I could look forward to.

JORDAN: Right.

EVA: I only worked part-time in the evenings again.

JORDAN: Uh huh.

EVA: My girlfriend would drive all the way, I lived in Concord and she lived 33:00in Kannapolis. And she would drive all the way from Kannapolis to pick me up and then take me to work and then drive me back after work.

JORDAN: Wow.

EVA: It was very nice because it was a good drive to do that.

JORDAN: Now, so, okay what about this job you had, was this your first job you ever had?

EVA: Mhm.

JORDAN: Okay, and you had been working there for awhile?

EVA: Mhm.

JORDAN: And what did you do?

EVA: I ran a cash register and then I was promoted to a department, and that was big time to get your own department and I got the hardware department.

JORDAN: Oh wow.

EVA: It was a lot of fun around Christmas, you got to put up the Christmas tree and all that.

JORDAN: Oh yeah, that does sound fun.

EVA: It was better than toys. I did NOT want to work in toys. That was constant cleaning.

The kids would come in and trash the aisles and you'd go right back behind and clean.

JORDAN: That's funny, I figured you were like that since you liked to sing(?).

EVA: You would think, but yeah.

JORDAN: Gotch'ya. Alright, did you um take a year off, or did you go to 34:00college? Did this affect your plans for college?

EVA: Well I had not planned on going to college.

JORDAN: You did not plan?

EVA: No, I had not.

JORDAN: What changed your mind?

EVA: Um, while I was in the hospital they told me I needed to get a game plan in order to get out of the hospital.

JORDAN: Right.

EVA: So my game plan was to get married. I was gonna marry my boyfriend, and we were gonna live happily ever after. I don't know how we were gonna do it, but we just were, you know? I was so dumb, I guess and uh, so um, while I was in the hospital I took the SAT just in case I wanted to go to college.

JORDAN: Right.

EVA: And um, I had one friend who had gone away to college and when he was coming back home, he would stop at the hospital and visit me. He'd bring his guitar, we'd sing together for everybody there. Just a really nice guy, a good friend.

JORDAN: Right.

EVA: And uh, he talked to me about two things. He talked to me about reading 35:00my Bible.

JORDAN: Uh huh.

EVA: And about going to college. Two things, those were two things that he had a big influence on me.

JORDAN: Uh huh.

EVA: And I began to read my Bible, I mean the bottom dropped out of my world, not only did I become paralyzed and I had to go home, and friends. You know, after high school, everybody went different ways, you know?

JORDAN: Uh huh.

EVA: Most went away to college, and those that stayed there got a full-time job and they weren't available.

JORDAN: Right.

EVA: Um, this friend of mine that went away to college, um, told me that um, he wanted me to go. And then he asked me one time if I had been reading my Bible.

JORDAN: Mhm.

EVA: And I told him that I had read, I had been to church and I knew what the Bible said and I didn't have to read my Bible. And he told me I needed to do it and I didn't really listen to him until I'd say, the other shoe fell off. And 36:00that was when my boyfriend and I broke up.

JORDAN: Right.

EVA: And when that happened, I didn't have a future anymore. So I was open for whatever and uh, when I started reading my Bible, I felt like the Lord was telling me he had plans for my life.

JORDAN: Mhm.

EVA: And I didn't know what it was, but and my mama had been telling me that all along. Um, and she had kept, mama just kept saying things like, um, "He's got something for you. He's got something for you." And you know, I didn't know what it was and she didn't either.

JORDAN: Mhm.

EVA: But she knew it was something.

JORDAN: Right.

EVA: And so this friend invited me to go, he brought home uh, a college application and told me to fill it out. And so I did, and then he took it to the administrators, the admissions office and he said "I have a friend who's in a wheelchair and I want her to go to college and I know they don't have any money but she needs to go to college and I want you to help her." Well, to make 37:00a long story short, the admissions people were wanting, they were wanting to make their college campus accessible.

JORDAN: Mhm.

EVA: And so, they were looking to recruit somebody in a wheelchair.

JORDAN: Really?

EVA: And so, um, Gardner-Webb is in Boiling Springs, North Carolina.

JORDAN: Uh huh.

EVA: Which is about an hour and a half from where I grew up, from Concord.

JORDAN: Wow.

EVA: And so, um, they called and asked if they could come and visit me and my parents and talk to me about going to college.

JORDAN: Uh huh, were you excited?

EVA: I was, and yet I was nervous as I'll get out, because no one in my family had ever gone to college. Nobody. Ever.

JORDAN: Uh huh.

EVA: So this was a whole new thing, I mean I didn't know, I mean, I didn't know what college was, I just knew people were going there. And you know, and 38:00that was the point where I thought, I could be Mr. K. Mr. K was the choir teacher who had influenced me and had even put the dream of college, or the thought of college in my mind a long time ago.

JORDAN: Right.

EVA: And so um, I thought I could be a Mr. K, you know? For the first time that entered my mind. So, you know, those people at Gardner-Webb, they looked at my SAT score and they looked at my grades. And my grades were fine but my SAT score was not.

JORDAN: Oh gosh.

EVA: And they said that I could, I was accepted at Gardner-Webb. I went to visit the campus I remember. And they asked me "how would you redo this dorm room?" Or "how would you do this bathroom?" Uh and "where do we need steps?" and "if you would do all that for us, that would be great." And so, well then I went back the admissions office and he handed me um, a piece of, an envelope and 39:00I opened it up and it said "Congratulations, you've been accepted."

JORDAN: How exciting.

EVA: And it was! And um, you know, I was kind enough to, I remember their names, Rick--the man's name was Rick Holbrook. And I said "Mr. Holbrook, no one in my family has ever been to college." And he said "I know that Eva, I met your family, I know that." And he said "Just make us proud." But the only stipulation was that I was supposed to take the SAT again. But I never did!

JORDAN: Oh no!

EVA: I didn't know if they were gonna come back and get my degree one day and say "you didn't take the SAT." But I never did, I mean, I just um--

JORDAN: And you have your degree right?

EVA: I do, I have it. I got a BA in Music Education.

JORDAN: How long did it take you to get it?

EVA: It took me five and a half years. I um, had a pressure sore on my bottom, after the first, I went one semester. I started in January, so I 40:00started just a semester late, from all of my classmates.

JORDAN: Wow that's not bad.

EVA: And then I went the next fall, but then I had to drop out a semester. I had a pressure sore on my bottom.

JORDAN: Did you?

EVA: Mhm and I had to have surgery on it. And then I had to lie flat for a couple months so I had to drop out.

JORDAN: Gosh, we discussed those types of things in our classes, so I can only imagine.

EVA: Yeah.

JORDAN: Um, so, like while you were in college and stuff, did it ever cross your mind that you were actually going to like pick a major, that you were actually gonna put it to use? That you were gonna like meet your husband in college? Anything, did any of these cross your mind or were you just focusing on one thing at a time?

EVA: No I focused on it all. I mean I was so, I loved the college experience. I thought after high school there was death. And then I found out about college. And then I thought no, after college is death. (Laughs) Because it was like uh, it was a whole new world and you know, you had freedom and 41:00responsibilities. But it was great and I got to meet people from a lot of different walks of life. You know, some same as me, and some very much different.

JORDAN: Did you live in the dorms?

EVA: I did, I did. I lived in the dorm and, in fact, I even went to summer school which meant I had to move into another dorm and they had to make that accessible as well. But I was the first handicapped um, student. I say, handicapped, I was the first paraplegic, I was the first wheelchair person there.

JORDAN: Wow.

EVA: They had just added um, for um, we had a lot of deaf students there, and they had just redone the whole dorms for that. You know, put--

JORDAN: Put in ? and like the lights and stuff?

EVA: The lights, right. It's really, we had a deaf girl on our hall and uh, she was not nice.

EVA: She was not nice to anybody! But she just didn't talk, and everybody at 42:00Gardner-Webb learned sign language because it was such a big thing there because we had quite a few deaf students that were just fun. But this particular one wasn't. Now I remembered in our dorm, in our bathroom if you flushed the commode when somebody was in the shower, it scalded them, you know? So there was a signal that you would drop the lid really hard on the commode and then people would know to step out of the shower. Well the deaf girl--

JORDAN: She can't hear it.

EVA: She can't hear so you'd have to go over and flick the light to tell her you're getting ready to flush. And then she'd step out and then we'd flush and it we'd flick it again. And she had a signal like, outside of her shower. She would hang something so we'd know that she was in there. And so we all took care of each other--some were grouchy, some were not. But she was deaf and then I was in a wheelchair. And then eventually others in a wheelchair came--

JORDAN: Oh really?

EVA: But we were, I mean, I was one of the first ones. I was the first one.

JORDAN: Oh really? Did it like affect a lot of things that you were involved in in college? I mean did you feel that you had a quite a few accommodations that needed to be met, or um--

EVA: Well um, quite a few did. I mean, a lot of my classes, I mean that campus was not accessible at all.

JORDAN: Uh huh.

EVA: But I met a lot of very nice looking football players ?.

JORDAN: Oh goodness!

EVA: But I remember throwing rocks at, you know windows, uh when I would be late for class. But I made a lot of good friends that just wanted to help me.

JORDAN: Yeah.

EVA: And they didn't look at me like I was, like they were nursing me, they just looked at me like just a friend, and she needs a lift, and this is what we're gonna do, you know? And so I had a good friend, I remember one time outside of Dr. Stanley's class I would sometimes be late for music theory. And 44:00I'd throw rocks at the window. And I remember Dr. Stanley, they said he was in the middle of teaching and he looked at Jonathan and he said "Eva's outside Jonathan could you go get here please?"

JORDAN: Oh my goodness.

EVA: And we were like that. It's a small college so we were like a big family.

JORDAN: Oh really?

EVA: Yeah.

JORDAN: That's good. It's always nice to have that feel.

EVA: It is.

JORDAN: Um, well it sounds like you had a really good college career, and did you meet your husband during college or after it?

EVA: I did not, after college.

JORDAN: After?

EVA: Mhm.

JORDAN: Well while you were in college, did you and your mom like, were you guys still close or um, did you go home often, or did you stay at the school?

EVA: My freshman year, I didn't go home that much.

JORDAN: You didn't?

EVA: Um, I mean there was several reasons why. It was an expense for one thing.

JORDAN: Yeah.

EVA: But then closer to my senior year, I would say, my senior year I went 45:00home quite a bit because I was getting ready to transition back there. That was when I was thinking about taking a job working with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and if I did that, they wanted me to be in my hometown because that was an area that had not been developed. And I wanted to go to Atlanta. I don't know why Atlanta. It was a bigger city, you know?

JORDAN: Uh huh.

EVA: I wanted to go there.

JORDAN: Really?

EVA: But it just seemed like I was supposed to go back home and so I did and I took that job there. So I was going back home more often my senior year, than I did even my freshman year.

JORDAN: So after you finished your degree, did you move back home or?

EVA: I moved back with my parents for awhile.

JORDAN: Did you? How was that?

EVA: Um, it was, it was a little hard because um, you know?

JORDAN: You had gained independence and then you went back to your parents?

EVA: Right. And when I lived with them, like I paid room and board and all, but um, I knew it was just a matter of time before I got out on my own.

JORDAN: Right.

EVA: And so, um, I was looking for an apartment in Charlotte. I was gonna 46:00move to Charlotte.

JORDAN: Uh huh.

EVA: And I had a coach that was a friend of mine and she was helping me look. And then finally she said to me, "Eva, I've got a house and we both could save money if you moved in with me." And she would have to make some accommodations to the house but she said, "I think we could do it." And that's what we ended up doing.

JORDAN: So you lived with her?

EVA: Yeah, I lived with her.

JORDAN: For how long?

EVA: About 5 years, before I got married.

JORDAN: Oh, wow. And do you guys still keep in touch?

EVA: We do, very much. She's one of the closest people, I would say, close as a sister to me.

JORDAN: Oh, that's sweet.

EVA: Yeah, it is.

JORDAN: Um, well after, now what was your first job?

EVA: After college?

JORDAN: Mhm.

EVA: Was FCA.

JORDAN: FCA.

EVA: Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Yes I was an area representative and so I had an area that I was responsible for. At first, I want to say I had 2 counties, maybe 3. And from junior high to high school, um, to colleges, to 47:00adult chapters, I was supposed to go in and start FCAs in those places and raise my own money to do that.

JORDAN: Oh, so you had no support?

EVA: No support, so that was hard. You had to do development too. So I would like, visit them and yet I would have certain days that I would just visit donors in the area.

JORDAN: Wow, that much have tested your faith.

EVA: Oh my gosh, yes. But then again, I mean, nobody in my family had ever been to college and somebody anonymously sent money to pay for my tuition all the years that I went. When I finished I think I had some loans that I had to take out, but I had them all paid up in 6 months, I was debt-free.

JORDAN: Really?

EVA: And that was amazing because you know, you go to a small private college--

JORDAN: Yeah, that's good.

EVA: Yeah.

JORDAN: That's for sure. Um, so you talked about, you worked with the FCA, is that right?

EVA: Mhm.

JORDAN: So how long did you do that?

EVA: I did that for 8 years.

JORDAN: Uh huh.

EVA: And I met um, my husband through that organization.

JORDAN: Oh okay.

EVA: So I flew into Kentucky to do a conference and he was in his senior year in college and we met then. And then we kept in touch for probably the next, I don't know, let's see was it, five--we were friends for 5 years before we ever started dating.

JORDAN: Oh, five years?

EVA: Yeah.

JORDAN: Wow, did you have any interest in him?

EVA: No.

JORDAN: No, not at all?

EVA: He did in me.

JORDAN: How fun.

EVA: Well I just thought that he was a buddy and I knew he kind of liked me, but I thought, hmm-mm, he's like my brother, you know? But um, no, he was the one.

JORDAN: And what changed your mind?

EVA: Um, I think time did. And maturity on my part. Um, I had, I remember it was a very difficult year. Um, Hurricane Hugo had come through the um, Atlantic coast. And even came inland to Charlotte. And uh, wiped out electricity all through where my parents lived.

JORDAN: Oh wow.

EVA: No not where my parents lived, where Becky and I lived. So Becky and I moved in with my parents. My mama got cancer that year. And then every year I had a big fundraising dinner to help raise most of my support for FCA and uh, we didn't raise any money--none at that one. In fact, I think we lost money.

JORDAN: Oh no.

EVA: And so I just kept thinking, "okay Lord, is this it?" You know, "am I supposed to quit working, try to get on disability, and take care of my daddy?" 50:00Because I thought my mama was gonna die. And I said, "if this is my future, that's fine. But if you have something else, I'd really like to know about it."

JORDAN: Yeah, please let me know.

EVA: And I opened up, I'll never forget. I opened up my prayer journal after I prayed that, and I had all these addresses stuck, you know, different things I'd stick in there, you know?

JORDAN: Yeah.

EVA: And I opened it up and I looked and it said "Andrew Self, 132 Windsor Dr., Hopkinsville, KY" I mean it had his address--

JORDAN: Yeah--

EVA: And I closed it up and said "Okay Lord, don't start that again."

EVA: Because everybody had told me how much he liked me and all, so anyways it was probably a few months, that was probably in November and then by the time February rolled around, I was speaking somewhere in Virginia, saw another girlfriend from Kentucky that was on staff from FCA when I was on staff with FCA in North Carolina.

JORDAN: Yeah

EVA: And I still was at that time, excuse me, she wasn't, she had moved to 51:00Virginia and was going back to school. And uh, she was giving me an update on Andrew. And I so I knew that I was going to be in Kentucky speaking but I didn't know that I was like on the other state almost. But I was gonna be at Asbury College.

JORDAN: Oh, yeah.

EVA: And I called him and I told him, I said "I'm gonna be in your state, do you wanna come see me?" And he's like "well, sure." And so I didn't know how far he had to drive.

JORDAN: Five hours right?

EVA: Yeah. So he drove there spent the day, and then drove back.

JORDAN: How sweet.

EVA: Yeah it was. So, but when we, and we started phone conversations then.

JORDAN: Oh.

EVA: And I knew.

JORDAN: Yeah.

EVA: Even my roommate Becky, she was with me, and uh, she just said, "this is the one, isn't it?" And I said, "I think so, I really do."

JORDAN: How long did you guys date before y'all got married?

EVA: We, let's see, we, that was February, we got engaged that November, and 52:00then we got married in April, so.

JORDAN: Oh, wow.

EVA: Yeah, so it was really quick.

JORDAN: Well that's okay.

EVA: Yeah. Well I mean we were friends for 5 years--

JORDAN: I know right.

EVA: --before we started dating, so.

JORDAN: How fun. Well um, did that change your life, I mean did you, obviously that changed you because you had to move from North Carolina to Kentucky.

EVA: Yeah.

JORDAN: And I mean, did you struggle with that or did you um, have a hard time with that? Did you have to make new friends? Did you feel lonely, excited, all the above?

EVA: Yeah, I had a hard time.

JORDAN: Did you?

EVA: I did, I just had assumed because everywhere I went, everybody loved me, that everybody here's gonna love me. I just knew everybody would. And everybody didn't.

EVA: I mean, they just didn't. And uh, I remember, um, for the first time in 53:00a long time, I--'cause see, living in Charlotte, I didn't look weird in a wheelchair, you know?

JORDAN: Yeah.

EVA: We had a lot of weird people there, I mean, I was pretty normal.

JORDAN: Yeah.

EVA: Yeah but, you know, being in Hopkinsville, I mean I know there's some people in chairs, but not, probably not that many when I first moved here. And I mean, just, I remember crying the day before I had to go grocery shopping. I'd say, "oh I dread this, I dread this, I just can't stand the stares, I just can't stand it."

JORDAN: Right.

EVA: And uh, so that was very difficult.

JORDAN: Did they follow you around or?

EVA: They would just watch me, you know? They were like, "can you do that? Are you alright?" You know? And now, I mean I know how to handle that now.

JORDAN: Right.

EVA: But I was like "yeah I can do this." But then some of those people I just figured I'd "what's your name?" You know, so-and-so that worked there, and I finally figured out that it was my job to educate them.

JORDAN: Yeah.

EVA: You know, that I am very normal and that you just need to know that I'm 54:00normal. You don't know that I'm normal.

JORDAN: Oh Eva, nobody's normal inside.

EVA: Yes, ? because everybody's normal until you get to know them. I think that's right! But I mean, I, um, I finally figured out that it was my job to try to help people see that I was a very happy-full person. That if I acted pitiful, people would treat me pitiful.

JORDAN: Right.

EVA: If I acted happy--

JORDAN: And confident.

EVA: Yeah, then they would treat me that way.

JORDAN: Right.

EVA: And so I finally figured out I could do that. And now, I mean, I know, Shelia that works in the Bakery, I know um, Princess(?) that works in the deli.

JORDAN: Oh wow.

EVA: I mean, I know those people by first names.

JORDAN: Yeah.

EVA: So--

JORDAN: How fun.

EVA: Yeah.

JORDAN: It always helps to just, maybe like, during that time God was just 55:00showing you how to like, learn how to get out of your comfort zone?

EVA: I think he was, and also during that time Jordan, I depended a lot on Him. So far in my life, I had been depending on me, and my personality.

JORDAN: Mhm, right.

EVA: And that people were just gonna think that I was great. And didn't. I mean, they weren't naturally just drawn to me. But they thought I was nice, but um--I remember I was searching for a good friend. I had never had trouble finding friends. And I, this one girl I said "you know, I'm just looking for somebody that wouldn't mind washing the baseboards with me or knowing that I'm still a Christian if I say a bad word." I said, "that's what I'm looking for." And she said "well Eva, just because you find them, that doesn't mean that your husbands are gonna like each other so then you might not be friends then." Then I thought, "okay were you probably aren't that one." I was pitching, you know? 56:00I was pitching, like are you the one? Are you the one that's gonna be that kind of friend? And then, a few years later I did start finding some really good friends. And I think part of the problem was that I moved to my husband's hometown. You know? And everybody knew him--

JORDAN: But they didn't know you?

EVA: Everybody knew his family, but they didn't know me. And so I didn't get a fresh start. I got an add-on, you know?

JORDAN: Right.

EVA: It was when I started doing things for me, like I started substitute teaching. And then people started knowing me for me, not because I was Andrew's wife, but because I was just Eva.

JORDAN: Right.

EVA: And um, that helped a whole lot. A whole, whole lot. I mean, I worked for FCA for about 6 months while I was in um, Hopkinsville. And then I stopped doing that. And decided, I thought I was going to go into teaching, you know, what I had gotten my degree for.

JORDAN: Right.

EVA: And (yawns), excuse me, and so um, I started substitute teaching and a 57:00whole different world began for me.

JORDAN: That's awesome.

EVA: Yeah, it was.

JORDAN: Um, so do you, so you feel like you have a good social life now?

EVA: I do, very much so.

JORDAN: So you have some really good friends around here that you can count on.

EVA: Yeah, yes.

JORDAN: Um, what do you like to do for fun?

EVA: What do I like to do for fun?

JORDAN: Yeah, just for the heck of it?

EVA: Gosh, I love to go to Starbucks, I love to go shopping.

JORDAN: (Laughing) That is definitely my thing to do.

EVA: Yes, I love to do those two things. Uh, you know, I mean, I like movies okay, but not that much. I mean I like to go out to each, I like, you know, that's probably some of the things I like to do for fun.

JORDAN: I really definitely love Starbucks. My grandma sends me giftcards--

EVA: Does she?

JORDAN: --to Starbucks because we have one on campus and so that's probably not a good thing because ?.

EVA: Wow they're smart, they know what they're doing. What do you have when 58:00you go Jordan?

JORDAN: I get a multiple of different things. But my favorite is the White Chocolate Mocha.

EVA: Oh yeah, mine too.

JORDAN: With peppermint or raspberry.

EVA: Oh yeah, if they do. Oh, I always got it just at Christmas.

JORDAN: No, you can do it anytime, I promise, yes, you just have to ask for it. But like in the springtime I like something a little springy-ish so I do the raspberry, you should try it.

EVA: That's good, I like that. I like the cinnamon dulce too.

JORDAN: Me too.

EVA: I get that.

JORDAN: But sometimes it feels like they put too much cinnamon.

EVA: They do, yeah. It just depends on who makes it.

JORDAN: On who makes it, right. So, um, so do you work now?

EVA: I do, well I do and I don't. Okay? I'm a stay-at-home mom but yet, I have a ministry on my own.

JORDAN: Uh huh.

EVA: It's uh, I speak, let's see, how many times a year, would you say I speak? I speak about 10 times a year.

JORDAN: In different places?

EVA: In different places. Sometimes I might drive down the road, like this Sunday, okay? I'm driving to Marion, Kentucky. I'm speaking at this little church there.

JORDAN: Yeah?

EVA: And I'll stay afterwards and eat their little potluck luncheon which I love.

JORDAN: Do you?

EVA: I do! I like all that, and I like talking to the people, I like getting to know them. In a couple of weeks I'll get on a plane and I'll fly to Columbia, South Carolina. I'll speak 4 times when I'm there

JORDAN: Wow.

EVA: to a women's event, very high class, nice teeth, that so I feel I get the best of both worlds, you know?

JORDAN: That's awesome.

EVA: Yeah, it's neat.

JORDAN: Do you have trouble like, talking to people, and people just, you know, once you start talking to them they're fine, or do you feel this like awkwardness when you first meet people?

EVA: I think at first, uh, you know, I have an advantage if I'm going somewhere and I'm the speaker, you know? I have the advantage because they've 60:00either read something or heard something about me so they'll open up the doors as to what we'll talk about.

JORDAN: Oh really?

EVA: It could be that I'm a mom and we're gonna talk about kids, it could be that I was in a car accident and they're gonna talk about that, you know? Could be something about the Lord, you know? Could be something like that. So, it just, that's the advantage that I have. (Yawns) I don't know why I'm yawning!

JORDAN: Oh, it's okay.

EVA: Maybe because it's raining outside. But um, I don't think it's too, no I think uh, I don't think I have too much of a difficult time.

JORDAN: That's good. You're a friendly person so I don't think you'd have a problem.

EVA: Well I don't know, sometimes though, you can small talk and not connect with somebody.

JORDAN: Oh yeah, yeah, those are awkward moments for sure, but you've just got to get through them.

EVA: Yeah, you do.

JORDAN: And we're fine. Um, you mentioned that you're mom, could you tell me 61:00how many kids you have?

EVA: How many children I have? I have 2 girls, Abby and Audrey. Abby is 16 and Audrey will be 12 tomorrow.

JORDAN: Wow. And does Abby drive?

EVA: Uh, she just started, yeah.

JORDAN: Oh wow.

EVA: ? the side in my van. She scraped against the garage door, but I couldn't say anything because I did the exact same thing last year.

EVA: The problem was we had already gotten it fixed so we're gonna get it fixed again.

JORDAN: Oh good.

EVA: No, got it fixed from me.

JORDAN: Oh from you.

EVA: And then she did it again.

JORDAN: This time just don't get it fixed.

EVA: I know, that's what I thought, I thought, "can't we just wait a little bit?" Wait 'til we make the turn a few more times.

JORDAN: Oh, wow. I just put a dent in my car, so I know how that feels. My mom was not happy about that.

EVA: Well, you just do it and get over it. Okay, it's done, it's done, I'm glad I already--I'm tired of worrying about it happening.

JORDAN: (Laughs) Um, at first, like, I mean I know that you have a disability 62:00and all, but I was wondering do you, um, do you do anything for your health? Like do you um, eat healthier, do you exercise, that sort of thing, does like help out with your disability?

EVA: Um, I really have to watch gaining weight, and I've always struggled with weight gain, because that affects how I transfer, and how much I can do.

JORDAN: Right, yeah.

EVA: So I try, I'm constantly on a diet. My latest diet is. It's called Body for Life, it's been the best one that I've ever done before. I did it one other time and if I stick with it, it's great. High protein, uh, you're not hungry hardly at all, and you get to eat very often.

JORDAN: Do you?

EVA: And I like that, but you very much have to plan what you're going to eat and have the stuff available, you've gotta do that.

JORDAN: Right.

EVA: But also, I go to the Y, I do the handbike

JORDAN: Mhm.

EVA: Which is mainly cardiovascular.

JORDAN: Right.

EVA: I do that 3 days a week. I do yoga, not as much as I'd like my goal is 63:00to do it twice a week. I do some weights here at home, and I do sit-ups.

JORDAN: Oh wow.

EVA: I do think, God, just think how big I'd be if I didn't do that.

EVA: I mean I really, I constantly am working on all that and I still struggle with weight gain, still. I mean, it is a never ending battle.

JORDAN: I think's with everyone.

EVA: I guess.

JORDAN: I think everyone has that problem.

EVA: Some people, have a high metabolism, and I just want to choke them because they have no idea.

JORDAN: I know, oh well, it's okay. Well, um, that's good, I'm glad you are very aware of that and that you um take care of yourself. Um, what about spirituality? I mean, if that would be, I know that's a big part of your life. Um did you, did your parents like instill that in your growing up or is that something that you found on your own?

EVA: Uh, my mom is very much instilled it in me.

JORDAN: Really?

EVA: But it came to a point, there, where I had to decide whether or not I was gonna make it mine.

JORDAN: Right.

EVA: And I think, uh, it happened right around the time that I had my accident. I would say maybe even before. I can't remember what year that the movie The 10 Commandments came out. Um, but it was on TV the year that it came on TV. And I watched it that night. And I remember thinking, when I went to bed that night. And I remember praying, "Lord I want to be a Moses, I don't know how I can be a Moses, but I want to be your Moses." I remember saying that to Him. And you know, it's kinda silly but, I was a teenager, ya know, when I said that and I didn't tell anybody that I'd said that, you know? Um, but, my friend Mr. K, the choir director, he had this group called the Cabarrus County Vocal Ensemble.

JORDAN: Uh huh.

EVA: And what he did was, he had an ensemble group taken from 3 different high 65:00schools and so, they were all from that area. In fact, that's how I met the boy at the other high school, was we were in this group together. And we thought that we were the elite singers of the group. Of the county, you know? But really Mr. K, he had prayed over everybody should be in that group. And he had places for us to sing whether it was a charitable organization or some event downtown. But mostly he had us going to churches.

JORDAN: Ohhh.

EVA: And he really had a big influence on my life.

JORDAN: Do you still keep in touch with him?

EVA: No, I have not. I had lost touch with him, but my girlfriend that I saw this past weekend, my friend Mr. K, his wife, I guess, died. And he is dating the music teacher at my friend's high school where she teaches.

JORDAN: Ohhh!

EVA: I could not believe it!

EVA: She was like, "do you have a book or something I can give Mr. K?" And 66:00so, anyways I got to mail her some stuff, thanks for reminding me.

JORDAN: No problem.

EVA: Because I ran out of books last week. I was selling books and I ran out. And Donna goes, "well I guess I don't get to take one to Mr. K."

EVA: I said "I'll mail you one!"

JORDAN: Oh my goodness.

EVA: But, yeah.

JORDAN: How fun. Um, well that's pretty much all my questions, but um, well actually I have one more question. What would you say, like, now that you are, where you are in your life, and you look back, are you satisfied with your life? Um, how far you've come from like where you started out? I mean is there anything like, if you could go back would you change it or um, or are you pretty content with what Jesus or God has blessed you with?

EVA: I'm very content.

JORDAN: Very?

EVA: I tell people that the last part of my life has been more exciting than the first.

JORDAN: Really?

EVA: Yeah. In fact, um, I've got this one part of my story that, you know, we try to define what a miracle is, and some people think that a miracle is instant 67:00healing, or healing of some kind.

JORDAN: Mhm.

EVA: And to me, you know, if I were to walk today Jordan, I'd know that would be a miracle. But then I look back on the past 30 plus years of my life and I see how much peace I've had, how content I have been, how full my life has been and I've done all that, or experienced all that, while in a wheelchair and paralyzed.

JORDAN: Mhm.

EVA: To me, that's a greater miracle than walking. I mean to me, that, I just think that that's a miracle!

JORDAN: It is.

EVA: I mean that is a, and to me a miracle is a, the definition is "had to be God". There's no other way it could be experienced, or have come about had He had not been in it. And I could not have had the type of life that I have had had He not been in it.

JORDAN: Mhm.

EVA: So, that's the, I mean, the past 30 plus--very full. A hard time, sad time, yes.

JORDAN: Oh yeah.

EVA: Very much so, but very full, very full life.

JORDAN: That's awesome. I feel the same way.

EVA: Yeah.

JORDAN: Well thank you very much Eva.

EVA: You are very welcome! I hope that helps!

JORDAN: Oh, most definitely.