I remember those parties with cake, ice cream and games. Well wait a minute, it’s still the same. We had food, cake and ice cream, only this time the game was a poker tournament. Boy, did we have a crowd. Faces I haven’t seen in years. It’s funny how many showed up when they found out there were cash prizes. Oh yeah, that gas money is a powerful tool, no doubt. It was amazing to see how all of her friends had grown. Her friend, Renee Olstead, showed up at the party and I couldn’t believe how she had grown. Her and my daughter grew up together and to see her now was a trip. We’ve seen her grow up on TV, but it’s different to see it in person. I used to emcee singing competitions when I worked at KILT radio here in Houston. Renee was a contestant many times and she was so little back then.  Now she’s a big TV, film and singing star living in Hollywood and travels the world. No, I don’t feel old.

It’s the same story told over and over, parents wondering where the time has gone when it comes to seeing their children grow up. You want to keep them young as long as you can because you want to protect them as much as humanly possible. I guess it’s tougher for a dad when his daughters have him wrapped around their finger. I find myself remembering the times my oldest daughter would come with me on concert tours that I would emcee. She would set up the radio station booth by laying out all of the merchandise very nice and neat. She would also come up on stage with me in front of big crowds and talk on the microphone like it was no big deal. 

With me having been in media almost all of my children’s lives, there are so many memories that flood my mind from having them on the air with me or in the recording studio having them say things that I used in recorded promotional spots, to going with me to do live broadcasts on location. As time progresses, so do the memories. One such time was when they were with me in the studio with Kenny Chesney. When they stood next to him to take a picture, I noticed how they were as tall as he was. Sorry Kenny, but it was still a reality check none the less.

I still have one teenager and she is growing up quick, too. She’s a lot like me, and with that, we sometimes get on each other’s nerves. But when we have our little tiffs every now and then, I still wouldn’t change her because she is such a remarkable young lady who’s got a very loving spirit about her. My daughters have very different personalities, as do all children. They both have wonderful God-given talents and personalities that I wouldn’t change for the world.  I have a home full of lovely and talented ladies, that’s for sure. 

I guess it all comes down to how we look at it. Our children have to grow up sometime and you always want the best for them. My life has tamed down a little bit, not being in media full time, although it still gets crazy and busy. The more I have time to reflect on the well-being of my children, the more I hit my knees and ask the good Lord to protect them everywhere they go. That’s the best thing I could recommend as our children grow up. We can’t be with them everywhere they go, but God can.

Johnnie Ray is Director of the Humble Civic Center and Arena Complex as well as host on Houston’s 107-5 The Eagle, Sunday afternoons from 2 to 7