I was born Todd Obediah Johnson in Santa Rosa, California at Memorial hospital. I grew up in Santa Rosa and lived at the same house until I was in college. I went to Doyle Park Elementary School then to Herbert Slater Junior High then onto Montgomery High School. I went to Santa Rosa Junior College for the first two years and got my A.A. in Liberal Studies. I got married to Gazelle Johnson and moved to Chico, CA. where I received my B.A. in Liberal Studies and also went on to get my P.O.S.T. Certificate at the Butte County Police Academy. I spent 2 1/2 years testing with 13 different dept’s and scored in the top 5 three times. Just couldn’t seem to get hired.
We moved back to Santa Rosa and I started working security and waiting tables at a Mexican restaurant. After awhile I was offered an asst. manager position and decided to give up on my aspirations of being a police officer. Some goods and bads, came out of that. Goods were I didn’t have to worry about getting shot at anymore and I started making more money as an asst. manager at the restaurant then I would have as an officer.
The bads were I was out really late and got into some bad habits when I should have been at home with my young family. After going through a drug and alcohol phase for about a year and separating from my wife I decided with some urges from the Lord that it was time to change my life or maybe loss it. I quit drugs and alcohol cold turkey. I quit my job and went to work retail. I moved back in with the family and got back on track with the Lord.
We had an opportunity to make a change in work and lifestyle so we moved out to Elkhorn, Ne. and lived with Gazelles folks. Five of us, Gazelle, Amber, Dylan, and Jacob and myself in one bedroom for three and a half months before we found the house of my dreams. I was working 7 days a week open to close for about 6 months and Gazelle was working on the renovations of the house and home schooling the kids. I went though a number of retail and restaurants over the years but we have both worked really hard to make the life we now share. We had goals for the kids to go to catholic schools and we have been able to scrimp and save and make that happen. We were both very happy with our lives. All three kids were very happy and upbeat. All three had exceptional grades and are all wonderful people to know. We are very proud parents.
Two months ago our middle boy Dylan died on the tracks being struck by a train. This turned our life upside down and we are just starting to learn how to get through it all. We lean on each other and on the Lord every day. From the moment it happened we both knew he was with the Lord.
Today we love our family. We move on with that hole that will always be there. I believe it will never go away but we will just get used to it being there. I have been working as an asst. meat manager at Hy-vee for a little over 4 years. I love my work. We will continue to raise our two other children the way we always have. Encourage and love them and continue to be proud of them in whatever they do in life. Future for us is kind of day-to-day and week to week right now but I want to see both kids finish college and hopefully get married and have lots of kids. I plan to sail down the west coast someday all the way down to the Caribbean. It has always been a dream of mine and I will accomplish that someday. For now. Work hard. take care and love my family friends and love ones and enjoy life to the fullest.
