The Book of RaRa Part 1: Major Arcana

Chapter 0: The Fool

Alright, before we get too deep into the mess of births, deaths, and navy heroics, let’s talk about the Fool. Yes, that card. The one that starts every tarot journey like it’s got zero clue what’s coming next. The Fool is chaos wrapped in curiosity, stepping off cliffs just to see if the wind will catch them. It’s reckless, it’s wide-eyed, it’s “hold my coffee while I figure life out” energy. And honestly? That’s exactly where we are right now. No map, no plan, just a whole lot of story waiting to happen. So buckle up, because like the Fool, we’re about to leap headfirst into everything.

I think it’s best to start a story from the very beginning, don’t you? When I say beginning, I don’t mean my beginning, I mean the very beginning. Of everything. So let’s start there then work our way down to me. Does that sound alright to you? Stellar. Now, let’s begin…

Before time had a name, and before stars could whisper their light into the void, there was only the swell of possibility. An endless, humming silence that vibrated with potential. The universe was not yet, and yet it was all. Contained in a single, trembling thought. From this thought came a spark, tiny but resolute, and from that spark, a breath,a beating heart, that cracked open the darkness like a seed splitting in soil. In that first heartbeat, creation shivered into being. Space unfolded, liquid and formless, and time, curious and mischievous, began to tiptoe forward. And thus, the stage was set: for the cosmos, for chaos, for stars yet unborn, and for every story that would ever seek a listener… including mine.

So now we draw closer to my beginning. I am  going to skip ahead a couple million years and start with my maternal grandmother, Ina Arada Gibson. God, what a name! She was born on February 24th, 1927. The number 24 is very important, so remember it for the remainder of this bibliographic journey. She was born in Sharpsville Pennsylvania to Eleanor Althea Loupe and Maurice James Gibson. What names! Anyways, from my understanding, Eleanor and Maurice came from a long line of generational wealth. Where did this wealth come from? Honestly I do not know. I bet I will figure it out someday, but not at this very moment. Alrighty then, back to the story. So, my grandmother was born to Eleanor and Maurice, but they both died tragically shortly after she was born, which left her and her siblings at the mercy of whatever family members would take them in. From my understanding, there were lots of siblings (big Irish families, am I right), and the siblings got divided up between different family members. I believe my grandmother got sent to live with who we refer to in my family as “the country cousins.” As the story goes, they took all of the money left to her and her siblings for themselves and forced her to work as a farm hand. Now, I think most people would be pretty depressed and defeated under these conditions, but not miss Ina Arada. No sir. She did not give a rat’s ass that she was dealt this cruel hand. Not at all. In fact, she decided that he was going to get herself out of this situation by joining the navy and putting herself through college. She went to college and became a naval officer in the 1940s. Can you believe that?! What a badass. She went to school for nursing through the navy. So she is connected to the navy and the medical field. Gee, I wonder who else is connected to this story…

Oh yes! My maternal grandfather! John Clarence Dunlavey. Born on November 12, 1929 in Elmira, NY. From my understanding, his grandparents came to the US from Ireland during the Great Famine, or maybe it was his parents? Idk I’ll figure it out later. Anywho, he grew up in a very poor family with an alcoholic father, and I believe he started working to support his family as soon as he could. Like Ina Arada, he was also dealt a pretty shit hand of cards to kick off his time on Earth. That’s alright, because just like Ina Arada, he did not give a rat’s ass! He was gonna get himself out of there! And so he did. He enlisted in the navy as soon as he could, and he became a medic. Starting to sound a little familiar? So… he was a standout navy guy and he saved 12 men during the Battle of Hoengson in November of 1950, literally using his body as a shield. This is where the timeline gets a little confusing so please bear with me.

Okay so now we’re in 1950. Public records state that Ina Arada and John Clarence were married on June 24th 1950, and the Battle of Hoengson took place in November of 1950. The story that my family tells is that my grandfather was wounded during the Battle of Hoengson and my grandmother was his nurse while he was in recovery. That is a beautiful story, but at this very moment in time I cannot confirm the validity of it. I’m sure I will figure it out soon enough and update you accordingly. Anyways, they get married, live in Elmira, Ina works as a nurse and Jack (John Clarence) works as an insurance guy. They had 8 children. 4 boys with names starting with J, and 4 girls with names starting with C. Jesus, why does John Clarence get all the starting letters?! Maybe I’m crazy but it seems like Ina Arada did most of the work with the whole birth part. Anyways… My mother was the fifth child to be born, beating her fraternal twin brother out of the canal. That’s right folks. I am the daughter of the alpha twin! Let’s fucking go!!! So, my mother was born on July 19th, 1963, and I am my mother’s daughter to the core, and the same goes for her and her mother. Seriously, you should see the side by side photos of me, my mother, and my grandmother at the same age. Strong genes, man. Strong. Genes.

Okay now it’s almost time to welcome me into the world!!! I won’t pay much attention to my paternal heritage, as that side of the family is mostly dead to me. For the purposes of this story, I will refer to my biological father as Sperm Donor, because that’s really the only thing he ever gave to me. So, my mother and Sperm Donor decide after having two boys it’s time to try one more time for a girl. Third time’s a charm, right? Sadly, my grandmother passed away a couple of months before I was conceived, so I never got to meet her on Earth. That is alright though, because I know I will meet her again when I too am no longer confined by my fleshy meat prison on Earth. Some people call it a body, but I find fleshy meat prison more fun and camp. Ah, the joys of linguistics. Anyways, when she left this Earth, she left my mother with a gift. What gift? Why, that’s me! The daughter she always dreamed of! The story of my birth is quite insane, and it really set me up for the wonderful and chaotic life I lead now. So, hold onto your pants everyone, because this is gonna be one wild ride.

Okay so it is September 23th, 2002. A typical Monday. My mother is finishing her business degree and still attending her classes despite being so pregnant she could burst at the seams at any moment, but obviously she still attended her classes. Her mother ran a tight ship. She didn’t raise no quitter. At the same time, she is also the mother to a 13 year old and an eleven year old, my siblings. My oldest sibling had one of their friends over on that Monday, and on the same day, my mother’s water broke. She was completely fine. Calm, cool, and collected. Everyone else, however, was not. My oldest sibling’s friend was panicking, calling his mother to come pick him up immediately, while my mother calmly asked if he wanted a ride home. Not sure how he got home, but let’s move on because it’s not that important.

Alrighty, now my mother is with one of my uncles. He, like everyone else, is completely panicked, white knuckling the wheel of the car as he drives my serene mother a half hour away from Elmira, NY to Sayre, Pennsylvania so I could be born at Guthrie Hospital. She had actually worked at the hospital in Elmira, and after her experiences there, she thought it best for me to be born in Sayre. My uncle was so nervous that my mom just asked him to drop her off at the front while he parked the car. She didn’t need all that anxiety surrounding her, she had bigger fish to fry. She was in labor for a few hours, and around 1am on September 24th, 2002, I, Lauren Gibson Sullivan, was shot into this world! Wowza, what a moment! I remember it like it was yesterday! Not really lol, but it’s funny to say that. So, into chaos I was born and from the chaos I rise. I am dust, and to dust I shall return. But, until then, I will share all that I feel is right while I am on this Earth. I’m here for a good time, not a long time, am I right ladies?! 

Okay folks, sit back, relax, and buckle up, because this is one hell of a life, and you gotta be locked in the whole time, or else you will fall out of the ride. Sounds good? If so… stay tuned as we delve deeper into the Book of RaRa.