About Me — C. Rayford
A Man From the Hudson Living Off of Experience
Introduction
When I first learned that I had to write an About Me article, my first thought was, Who the heck would want to know about me? I’ve always been the drummer of the band, not the lead singer. Realistically, there’s just too much to say in one essay. So let’s cover some of the basics, and we’ll take it from there.
First, allow me to introduce myself.
My name is Calvin Dennis Rayford Jr., of Tarrytown, New York.
And yes—I am indeed a writer.
Who Am I?
My first name derives from the Roman politician, General Calvinus, which simply means "bald." Dennis originates from ancient Greece and means "follower of Dionysus," the god of wine, theater, festivity, and celebration. Rayford is of medieval English origin and, at its core, means "a safe crossing over a river."
I'll leave it to you to make of that what you will, but my friends just call me Cal.
After everything I've been through, how do you even answer a question like Who am I?
Well, I was born on December 22, 1983, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, to Calvin Dennis Rayford Sr. and Linda Diane Grady-Rayford. I am also fortunate to have a second mother, Donna Marguerite Washington-Rayford from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Together, my immediate family includes four siblings, four nephews, and five nieces. Overall, I come from a hardworking military family whose documented roots in North America predate the founding of the United States.
After serving in the National Guard, I settled into a simple life in my hometown. After losing everything, I walked down a dark road for years before finally making it out.
I don’t know if titles like survivor or late bloomer are enough to describe me. Some say I’m this. Others say I’m that.
The best way I can describe myself is this:
I'm just a man from the Hudson living off experience.
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Where I’m From
This is the place I come from. Although I wasn’t born here, I consider this my point of origin. On the surface, you might think this Sleepy Hollow Country is just another Rivertown on the Great Hudson.
However, its untold accounts would have made All My Children look like a storybook.
For better or worse, no matter where life takes me, this place will always have a special place in my heart.
How It Started
Although I've been writing since I was a child, I'm not sure exactly when I first picked up a pen.
I do know the first book I ever created.
It was a Mother’s Day project I wrote and illustrated in the second grade during May of 1992. My mother kept it until the day she passed away on March 2, 2026.
Since then, whether through lyrics, prose, or poetry, writing has remained one of the defining disciplines of my life.
Why I Write
I imagine I write for many of the same reasons anyone else does:
To inform.
To persuade.
To entertain.
Throughout my life, my notebook has always been my best friend, especially during the darkest seasons of my life. Along the way, I've been fortunate enough not only to advocate for others but to inspire them as well.
However, one of the greatest gifts of writing publicly is that I finally get to tell my own story.
You see, I have a cardinal rule: when you write, tell the truth. For many years, and for many reasons, I couldn't express myself the way I wanted to. Writing became my voice, but it wasn't enough in a world where I was the quiet narrator of everyone else's story while I let certain people write mine.
Regardless, after everything I’ve been through, including the death of my birth mother, my aunt, and my mentor, things have changed. Whatever once kept me from telling my truth is no longer a barrier.
I’m free now.
Conclusion
In summary, I would say that I'm the grown-up version of the comic book character Calvin. Only my Hobbes has always been a notebook.
The truth is that if society had its way, I probably would be dead or in jail by now. Therefore, I’m grateful for this opportunity, and I don’t take it lightly.
I'm here to serve.
While I’ve already shared what readers can expect from me in my first medium essay, one thing you can always expect is good work. Writing has always been a privilege for me, and I’m ready to use that privilege to pay it forward.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and may good fortune come your way.
Take care
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