A Very Lucky Girl

I've been listening to one of the greatest musical albums of all time for the past week. Backstreet's Back, FOR REAL THIS TIME. "In A World Like This" is lyrical genius. I'm especially fond of the following lines: In a world like this where some back down I know we're gonna make it. In a time like this where love comes 'round I know we gotta take it. In a world like this where people fall apart In a time like this where nothing comes from the heart In a world like this, I've got you.  The world mega sucked on Monday. The mailbox held some terrible surprises, just in time to stress me out in an already stressful week crammed with academia and employment woes. But I was reminded of the people who have me in a world like this. Grace perfectly timed a note to counter the awful mail, reminding me of those that care who aren't even in my same state. Tyler endured my ugly crying (what a trooper, so much snot) and the two Amys I recently ...

I love so very many things about traveling. I love every kind. The kind where you walk somewhere. The kind where you drive to a new state. And especially the kind where you get your wings and fly across state lines.  Airports seem to disintegrate social divides, even with notions of first class and coach. Everyone is on an equal playing field, dependent on the airlines for a schedule. Real life is suspended in an airport terminal. When I flew to Baton Rouge to visit Mimi and Didi, I met the nicest characters on my return flights. One rather large man had the unfortunate privilege of sitting next to me in a middle seat. He wedged himself into the space and I graciously offered him the armrest, but stubbornly held on to my window seat winnings. He made small talk, offering that he was traveling back from a Bachelor party in New Orleans with a large group and had once upon a time wanted to major in English Literature. After take off, I inserted headphones and lost myself in round af...

I wrote and rewrote this post. But in the end, everything I wanted to say was far too vulnerable for even me to reveal.  "Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth." In other words, I will not pretend to be in favor of poor decisions that could have been avoided. I do not have a desire to continue a close relationship with someone who unapologetically hurts me.  A Very Broken Girl rejoices in the distraction of work and friends. 

I've spent some wonderful days as the girlfriend of the greatest guy I've ever met in my life. I wouldn't take back a single second of my time with Tyler Aaron McKee. Whether he knows it or not he teaches me what selfless love looks like. And I recognize that I lack it. I don't have the same desire to care for people more than myself that he embodies everyday, but I'm trying to cultivate it.  He is a thousand wonderful things, but I greatly appreciate his thoughtfulness, his honesty, and his selflessness. He isn't so great at the Gladiator playstation move game, but he will dominate in frisbee golf if you dare to challenge him. He has an uncanny sales talent, with both mobile phones and plasma screens. Go visit him at Best Buy! He will unabashedly skip you in Phase 10, but I think I am on a winning streak. If you were unaware, we broke up for 2.5 seconds (okay, 3 incredibly long days) in the middle of April. They were some of the most miserable days of my ...

It's so weird to me that these girls are college graduates and are going to start real adult life this summer. Savannah was my RA during my first year at OU. But, that was just the surface relationship. In reality, we were (are? she rarely returns my texts...) friends. I remember when I first realized we would get along. She friend-requested her residents on Facebook a few weeks before the semester started. I was laying on the floor watching The Bachelorette when I got the notification. I sat straight up and had a minor panic attack and inner battle of "should I accept it? Yes/no?" I decided to go for it, since I could always delete her if she turned out to be supes strange (she is supes strange, but we remain FB friends). I creepily scrolled down her profile page (this was before timelines!) and came across a recent status: "Just sitting here making name tags for resident doors and watching Ashley Hebert on the Bachelorette." Instant soul connection, even if s...

I still haven't progressed beyond page 26 in Dr. Townsend's book, but now the entire summer stretches before me so I hope to make some headway in the next few weeks.  To be honest, I've been dreading week five of my love project. I hate this mandate. Let me rephrase, I hate hate hate double hate LOATHE ENTIRELY this requirement.  Love is not Proud. If you know me at all, I really do tend to give off an "I'm the $#!t" attitude. I know I'm really not. I'm probably, like, third on the totem pole of hot $#!t. Like there's Beyonce, then Cady Groves, and then me and Taylor Swift are tied.  Don't misunderstand, I'm insecure in a lot of ways. I think most everyone is. But I hate hate hate double hate LOATHE ENTIRELY being wrong. Cannot stand it. But the worst part of being wrong is when everyone knows I'm wrong. Because then my pride is injured.  You know what would solve this issue? If I didn't have a pride problem. It's okay...

I'm on page 27 of Dr. Townsend's book. It's not exactly a light read. He talked about mirror neurons on page 26 and I admittedly skimmed until I started seeing non-scientific words again. He noted that "learning about love can't be done out of the context of relationship" which I thought was enlightening. Especially since I originally planned to teach myself how to love by myself. But he defines love as bending "our heart, mind, and energies toward the betterment of someone else." I tried to practice patience and kindness this week so that the people I'm around feel loved.   And this week I add the third quality, "it [love] does not envy." I remember when Megan received her Jeep last year. I was so envious. I've never really had a car to call my own EVER and here she was getting her brand spankin' new dream car when her old car still got her from Point A to Point B. I was SO jealous. I wasn't as happy as I could have been...

Anyone who has seen me since Thursday night probably surmised that I've been celebrating 4/20 a week early this year. Not true. (I don't plan on celebrating it at all). It's been a miserable few days. It's hard to admit and see in myself that I'm lacking something when it comes to relationships. I'm better and quicker at scathing remarks than words and actions that build a person up.  It's a trend that could stem from any number of things from my past, but it's a trend I want to stop.  Self-help books aren't my favorite genre. I prefer a gripping novel, but I went on Amazon today and bought myself the first book that looked like it could help fix me.  So this is me right now ^^^ I don't want to waste anymore time being this unattached person because it's ruining relationships that I treasure. I'm anxiously awaiting the delivery of Loving People: How to Love and Be Loved  by Dr. John Townsend. I'm hoping it will be the best $7...

If there is one thing that I've learned in 2012, it's that relationships are ever-changing. Whether for good, for bad, of just for a new season in life, it happens. I'm slowly coming to terms with the idea that there is nothing wrong with change. Change builds people, change grows friendships. I've had my fair share of "best" friends. Whether they were best for a season or best for a lifetime is irrelevant. I can't choose the best person that has made me the better version of myself that I am today. It is a combination of everyone's bests. The popular meaning of a "best friend" is juvenile. I think I have at least 4 "best friends" necklaces in my jewelry drawer at home. A Hello Kitty one for me and Samantha, a orange sparkly duck one for me and Callie, a dolphin one (that changes color depending on my mood! omg LyKe we were/are the coolio-est!) for me and Kayla, and an ice cream cone one for me and Ashley. But necklaces don't ...

On May 8th I started officially dating one of the greatest guys I've ever known. But I want to share some background story. Because we are pretty freakin' cute.  I sat in the "cool corner" of our Beginning French class with my friend Natasha. The boy in question perched diagonally across from me, conveniently located beneath the clock for easy glance-stealing access. During one of Natasha and I's many discussions about the male species, I piped up, "Hey you know who's pretty cute? That guy across from us in French!" She stared at me, mouth agape, "He's gay." "No! Not him. NEXT to him."  During our next class she nudged me, "yeah, you're right. You should ask him out!" HAHAHAHA since when has that ever been Taylor Arceneaux's style? If you guessed never then go get yourself a cookie. You deserve one. I responded with an "are you dumb?" eye roll. She picked up on it and whisper-yelled (did I menti...

Paul and Shari have been married for 24 years. Please, hold your applause until the end. Personally, I think it's truly an act of God because I've never met two people more unlike each other. But then again, we've all heard it said that "opposites attract." (Although Tyler and I are very similar and I'm almost 99% positive that there's an attraction...)  Paul and Shari went to high school together at Benjamin Franklin High in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was a freshman when she was a sophomore (and he still never lets her forget the meager age difference) and they had Geometry together. Paul sat behind Shari, passing on a paralyzing fear to me that I would have to marry whomever I sat behind in Freshman Geometry. No wonder I couldn't figure out proofs, I was too concerned with Frank and I's lack of a love connection. Unfortunately, the high school love connection was short-lived for my parents. She was a cheerleader and traded in Paul and his bike ...

My trip back to Beaumont brought on a serious case of dejavu. Moriah and her mom met me at Houston Hobby airport and we made the trek back to Beaumont, guided by the light from the oil refinery factories. #homesweethome. We crossed Taylor's Bayou (it's a real place), passed Gator Country, and my old home. The new inhabitants have really let it go. There was a PLASTIC swing set just dangling off one of the frequently tp'd trees while the walkway was nearly invisible through the overgrown bushes. Respectful way to treat my old abode. If they hadn't been obviously home (open garage depicted a mini van holding court) I would have had no qualms about sneaking around back for a quick dip in the delectable pool. On second thought, who knows how many kids have peed in that thing since I've been gone. I woke up on Moriah's floor on Saturday morning and was instantly transported to high school. Was Friday night a football game at Legacy in autumn followed by the typic...

I'm new to this whole dating-somebody-that-I-actually-really-like thing. So, as a result, I love to spend time with him. But I'm afraid I've been mismanaging some of my other relationships. My friends are important to me and I don't give up on any of my relationships. Even ones that turn sour. I hate having enemies and try at all costs to avoid making any. But I'm human and I fail. I don't want to neglect my other friendships because of Tyler, but neither will I be okay with neglecting Tyler because of my friends. I'm still learning how to prioritize.  I think I've been doing better about making time for everybody lately. But communicating about a problem is most important. If anyone ever feels like I'm ignoring them or not valuing them enough, I want to know. If I don't know I won't be able to fix it. Just tell A Very Lucky Girl, okay? Because you are all important to me. 

As a college student, home has taken on a new meaning. I can refer to home and mean two entirely different geological points on a map: Norman and Oklahoma City. I feel like a potted plant in a Uhaul. It can be placed anywhere, but it doesn't have a permanent home. It can migrate from the living room to the kitchen, from Raleigh to Beaumont, but is constantly packing up its leaves and dirt for the next transfer. I can't wait for the time that I can be thoroughly planted somewhere (preferably not Oklahoma, like we already discussed) and put down worry-free roots. The college home is an independent place. But with my home at OU comes different struggles; constant interaction, constant academic mindset, and less rest. My family's home in Quail Creek has the drawback of consistent (though minimal) supervision, but the plus sides of free laundry, free food, a room of my own, and access to a car.  My family makes that home something wonderful to travel to. I can't wait t...

Remember that mantra plastered on schoolrooms across the country and chanted in Sunday schools everywhere?  "Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You" Well, lately my golden rule has become a little rusty. Does gold rust? Maybe tarnished is a better term. Either way, it's not dazzling and pure anymore. Instead I've reinvented the rule to suit my terms. I prefer treating people anyway that I like, but still expecting respect in return. That's silly.  The hardest part of the rule is doing unto others when they mistreat me. Every fiber in my being wants to retaliate in a sure way that would hurt them, but that build of bitterness is only detrimental to me, furthering the instigator's cause.  I need to slow down and respond with love, whether it be to a cranky customer at Jamba Juice, the brother hogging the TV when Pretty Little Liars comes on in exactly 3 minutes!, or to the insensitive friend, never dreaming how much their words sting...

“The next time that boy pursues you, he better do it like a dying man looking for water in a desert. When it's the right guy, you'll know, because he'll cherish you.”   ―   Karen Kingsbury ,   Leaving Just finished the 3rd book in the Bailey Flanagan series and this is what Bailey's mother says to her when she's heartbroken about a guy that isn't reciprocating her feelings with actions, despite what he claims to feel about her. I think these are some words to live by. When I was younger and got my first cell phone, Paul and Shari set a texting boys ground rule. Basically, don't ever text them first. I followed that to the letter during high school, paranoid that they had a tracker on my texts and were able to decipher who the sender and send-ee was in any particular conversation thread. Now I make that decision myself, but I still find myself erring on the side of silence. I know they have my number, I know they have the capability to type a sentence, wh...

I'm not into shallow relationships. I've always been the kind of girl that has two or three close friends at a time. It's exclusive, there are tryouts and everything for this valued position!  I can count on one hand, mayyyybe two, the people that are always there for me. And the people I wouldn't hesitate to help with anything. For this reason I have the hardest time talking to strangers. (Which, in retrospect, was an excellent thing when I was younger. I was never in danger of getting lured by candy to the sketchy van.) But now, I'm going to have to talk to strangers for the rest of my life in order for them to stop being strangers. I envy people that can comfortably waltz up to someone they have never talked to in their life and have an enjoyable conversation. I usually stand by awkwardly in awe, watching these social butterflies work their magic, wondering when I'll emerge from that socially awkward cocoon. (did I stretch that metaphor too far? Long ha...

"Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world"-L.M. Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables) My mom read this to me when I was little and it quickly became one of my all time favorite books. I longed for that real, true friendship that I saw between Anne and Diana and I have been lucky to find it, many times over.  Moriah I met her the summer before my sophomore year of high school when my family moved to Beaumont, Texas but I could swear that I have known her my entire life. I truly consider her my sister, and we are less than 2 weeks apart in age. She's older...but she sure doesn't act like it ;) (total lie, everyone knows that I can barely spell maturity, let alone act it out). Bottom line: she loves Anne of Green Gables nearly as much as me. She claims the part of Anne but I let her. I'm more than happy to forego being a ginger! Megan I only met her a year ago. Seriously, o...