A Very Lucky Girl

A twelve year old said these ominous words to me yesterday. We were playing a game that involved guessing movie titles based on clues and I was sucking at it. Why? Because they were all "the latest" Disney movies. I think the last Disney movie I saw before Frozen was rewatching Mulan. I'm not up to date on Brave or How to Train Your Dragon or any of the other hot commodities in the elementary school world. And so this twelve year old mocked my knowledge with laughter and a declaration of "you don't know these because they didn't exist back in your day !" Excuse me?  Repetez s'il vous plait? When did I become old enough to have "back in your day"'s thrown at me!?  The same twelve year old went on to talk about how one of his teachers at school is 24 (aka 2 years my senior) and married. And then asked when I was getting married. I told him boys are icky, present company excluded. And then I spent my Saturday night in a hot tub with ...

Christmas used to be my very favorite time of the year. I would start playing Christmas music in October (maybe late September), and begin my Christmas shopping as early as August. But this year is different. Christmas 2012 was the last time for "Cajun Night Before Christmas." The last time Oakes and I would watch movies together on Christmas eve and actually want to go to bed kind of early. The last time we would be antagonized about waiting to open presents and stockings. The last time for Chinese food after the candlelight Christmas eve service. The last time for holiday baking. If I had known Christmas 2012 was the last time I'd feel whole, I would have never wanted a new year.  And now Christmas just makes me sad and I kind of can't wait for it to be over. Part of what makes it so horrible is that me and my future holidays and celebrations were at the mercy of other people's decisions. I didn't choose this brokenness, I was told to think fast while it ...

I've known Mimi and Didi for almost 21 years. Their house in New Orleans was one of my favorite places. They had a perfect climbing tree in the front yard and a neighbor pond just next door. I earned the name "Pond Splasher" on a fishing expedition gone wrong when I slipped into the water. I went armadillo hunting in the backyard with Didi, armed with flashlights. I watching hummingbirds at the feeder from the back patio and read the comics at the island in the kitchen. I walked along the levee by the Mississippi River and ate beignets at Cafe du Monde at least once every trip.  My father's parents have always been insistent on teaching me about my Cajun heritage. When I was younger, I was more resistant. After all, splashing in the pool at English Turn country club was far more appealing to a grade school kid than listening or learning about history. But now, I'm far more appreciative of where I come from. I'm looking forward to visiting them in a week ...

Blanche is Paul's sister so that makes her my aunt. I've called her Aunt Blanche up until May 23 of this year when she cornered me at Oakes' graduation dinner of take out Chinese and claimed she had a bone to pick with me. Since I refer to my dad as Paul and my mom as Sharbear, usually just in the blog, she insisted I drop the "Aunt" from her name. I acquiesced to her request.  This lady has supported me since I was born, and my middle name, Olivia, matched hers. Blanche has always treated me with respect, almost as a miniature adult (even when I used to not act like one). I admire her for that sort of interaction with me. I envy her for her perfectly arranged closet and outfit coordinations in a neat little notebook. She's successful, driven, and independent. Her minimalist approach to decorating has created a beautiful home in Baton Rouge with her husband. Snapshots of her house could be featured on Pinterest pins on people's "home sweet hom...

Everyone remembers the first good friends they had, no matter how young they were. For me, those girls are Carra Linde, Samantha (Sam) Wilson, Stasia McGuire, and Grace Jones. Carra Linde and I were honestly friends from the womb. I was born only a few weeks before her, and our parents were close friends. We grew up playing Barbies, losing teeth, messing with our brothers, and acting out Nativity Scenes every Christmas. She did all of these things while wearing loud patterned toe socks. I can count on one hand the times I've seen her since moving away from Tennessee in third grade, but we still send ugly Snapchats to each other every once in a while. TeeTee+CarCar 4ever. Sam Wilson was my NHA school buddy in Tennessee. We rocked the plaid jumpers and giant hairbows from Mrs. Utley to Mrs. Peabody. We compared beanie baby collections and played Nintendo 64 with our little brothers, Garrett and Oakes. We ventured to the American Girl place in Chicago for one of my birthdays after I...

I never fail to blush furiously when I reread my old journals. There are pros and cons to keeping track of my life events since the 6th grade. And a pro is seeing the growing up process and discovering 8 specific things I'm SO glad I have left in the past: 2007-"...he said I was smart, funny, clever, and beautiful. And made him feel like he could be himself. How does he always know what to say?" I outgrew the terrible trait of fishing for compliments by asking that awfully annoying question, "but, like, why do you like me?" of guys I talked to, and actually believing their answer. Side note: Tyler tried to tell me I didn't need to fish for compliments, and without reading what this unnamed previous guy had said, began to tell me, "you're smart and funny..." Oh. Well, that's familiar. 2008-"I also wrote a sonnet about NH." I haven't written a sonnet since. To be fair, it was an assignment for a class, but the subject ma...

On my bed you can find several practical blankets, 3 pillows (one for sleeping on, the others as barriers to any monsters lurking in the closet), aaaaand one, rather old, childhood "blankie". Yep, I've slept with my baby blanket for 20 years and counting. I feel like the fact that it isn't a stuffed animal makes it almost acceptable. It's just something to keep me warm! If you ignore the fact that it would only cover my torso if I used it as it was intended...  Instead I ball it up and hold it close to me as I sleep.  I'm not entirely positive on why I have this attachment to a childhood relic. But it's been a constant through all 5 states, changing relationships, crying jags, bookworm nights, poor-decision hangovers, and Addison's-induced puking (it has been washed I swear!). It's like having a non-interactive pet/baby that requires zero responsibility from me.  I don't know when I'm going to evict my cuddle buddy from the typical s...

24 years ago a beautiful girl was born. I, unfortunately, didn't know her then because I didn't quite exist yet. There are few friends that I feel like I can be completely myself around. She is one of them. I've only known her for a year and a half. We've only been close for maybe a year. But I've learned a lot about this 24 year old in 365 days. Megan Amanda Hunter is one of the strongest women that I know. I'm not going to put her entire personal life out there, but she has experienced more than most people should have to in a mere 24 years. She's in love with her dog, Elvis, and is a model employee at the doggie daycare. She's got a penchant for photography and can inspire with merely an obscure camera angle. She has a sweet tooth the size of Texas and vocal chords that could probably emit something loud enough to cross the state line when used to full potential. I admire the way she stands up for herself and the people that she loves. I never ha...

When did my generation start to emulate MTV? Is it a phase that every one's goes through? It seems like just a few days ago I was marveling at the horrific decisions I heard whispered about in the hallowed high school hallways. When did they become a part of everyday life?  Now, I have friends that think nothing of the drugs they are voluntarily attacking their body with. People are celebrating 4/20 so cavalierly. It's no longer a big deal to drink oneself into oblivion every weekend. Is it even going to be fun to drink when I'm 21? Is breaking the law part of the rush? My friends, myself, and acquaintances don't look ahead to how our choices in the present effect our lives in the future. We are babies ourselves, how can we be making choices that lead to children?  We took a survey in my sociology class about our deviant behavior and criminal activity. A vast majority of us have skipped school more than once and nearly 90% drive over the speed limit on a regular bas...

Who should be studying for her giant geology midterm tomorrow morning? This girl. Who is pinteresting/facebooking/blogging instead? This girl. (Don't worry Mom, I'll get it together). Quick: pop quiz time! How do you pronounce my last name, Arceneaux? (even blogspot doesn't believe that it's a word...) a. ahh-sin-no b. are-sin-ox c. arson-ee-oh d. are-suh-no e. I try to never say your last name for fear that I'll mispronounce it or spell it wrong. In fact, you are only Taylor A. in my phone. I'm too intimidated. Now for the best part: what do these answers say about you? (I'm like a Cosmo quiz! But without inappropriate questions: BONUS!) If you said A...you are probably Paul. That's how he says my name when he wants to annoy me. Which is all the time.  If you chose B...you are in good company. 97% of people that attempt pronunciation decide this is correct. 97% of people are wrong. If you went with the ever-popular when in doubt pick C....

So I was in Court today. Did you just freak out? Well, calm yourself, I was only the moral support for my friend. It was a completely new experience. If growing up means going to court I'd like to take the next train back to kindergarten, please. The courthouse itself is incredibly domineering and ominous, gray and uninviting (sorry, kinda got carried away with those adjectives). We walked up those stone steps, laughing and joking ("photo-op? let's commemorate this moment!") and instantly fell serious as we tiptoed inside. We were ushered through a metal detector (I am only used to these inside airports so to go through one without the promise of a flight directly after was slightly disappointing) and proceeded to sign in for arraignment. Commence people watching. We sat on a wooden bench (think church pew a long way from home) and instantly googled the presiding judge. Google images were unhelpful. Michael Tupper looked like someone who didn't get a bid d...