A Very Lucky Girl

It's been a busy few weeks. America is far more stressful than Scotland. Most likely because I didn't have classes that counted or a job in Dundee (I actually still haven't found a job so totally willing to wash someone's cat or something). Moving to Norman has dominated most of my time. I gathered my life from what seemed like all corners of the United States, from OKC to Houston, and I still have belongings coming from Louisiana in July. I'm in love with our little grey cottage situated on Brooks Street, only a mile from campus and a mile from Campus Corner bars. Could the location BE anymore perfect?!  I couldn't wait to move to Norman, but now that I'm permanently here, it is filled with memories from the last two years of my life. Places that once made me smile make me cringe as I drive past. There are certain CDs I don't listen to anymore. There were so many plans that are no longer going to come to fruition.  I fully trust that this change...

Because really, it shouldn't ever be forgotten. No matter what calendar day it is. 12 years ago I was in the fourth grade in Mrs. Robertson's class. My biggest fear was the cafeteria running out of cupcakes on cupcake day. But on this day, the carpool line for school pick-up was a little bit more frantic. On this day, my parents were more somber. I remember gathering in the living room of our white-painted Raleigh home, and hearing two announcements. First, our Tennessee home had finally sold and, as promised, we were going out to celebrate. Second, some bad people had crashed into important buildings in NYC and were attacking the government of the United States of America. I listened, not fully understanding (do I even understand now?), and innocently asked, "But our house is white like The White House, are they going to crash into our house?"  I was honored to be a part of the Sigma Alpha Lambda flag project on the South Oval yesterday. We pressed flags into the g...

My first memory of Marianne Williams is from 4th grade. I was a new student at St. Timothy's School and she reached out to me. She shared a story about her dog, Mo, with the class. Mo recently passed away, but the story of him jumping out of a moving car window will live on. We were nearly inseparable from then until 9th grade when I moved to Texas. From Williamsburg, to Washington, D.C., Crabtree Mall, and homecoming dances. We giggled in Mr. Bridges' class and passed notes across the room in Mr. Ennis' science lab. When I moved away she put together a DVD slideshow of pictures of us and friends through the years and I probably play it at least once a year to remember the innocence of days long gone by. She is another friend of mine who is pursuing a career in nursing, and is admirably focused on her goal. She's faced some health adversity of her own, causing her to switch universities midway through her college career so I definitely relate to some of her experie...

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...

A strange number texted me on Friday, December 21. Coincidentally the same day that the Mayan calendar ended. But obviously we are still here because the Jonas Brothers promised that we make it to the Year 3000. My great great granddaughter is doing fine, in case you wanted to know.  I knew it was a Tulsa area code so I wracked my brain for all the people I knew from Tulsa, texted my friends to check and see if they had the contact number, and questioned the source, all to no avail.    The culprit, calling himself Peaches, turned out to be a complete stranger. The brother of a boy named Micah, a ChickFilA cashier that I apparently gave my number to...summer of 2010. Micah left my number on a napkin on his desk for 2.5 years. Public Service Announcement: If a girl gives you her digits on a napkin, either use the number or throw it away. Do NOT keep said napkin for 2.5 years and have your sibling text her.     I. was. so. creeped. out. Let it be k...

One particular detail of the human memory fascinates me. The ability to commit hundreds of songs to memory, so much so that one can recall all 3 verses, the chorus, and the bridge of a track after hearing only a few musical notes. Tyler was mesmerized in awe (or maybe something akin to car wreck curiosity in standstill traffic?) as I nailed most of the words to Wiz Khalifa's "No Sleep" during a drive to OKC. It's unfortunate that my knowledge of every Taylor Swift song will not be able to help me with my next HES test. The endocrine system just doesn't have a catchy tune to commit various hormones to memory. Where's Miley Cyrus when you need her? Oh yeah, trying on wigs to cover up that monstrosity of a haircut. I'm going to have to get back to y'all; "Cruise" by Florida Georgia Line just appeared on iTunes shuffle and all of A Very Lucky Girl's focus is on belting out every single word since roommate is go---BABY YOU A SONG YOU...

Eric Church points out that it's "funny how a melody sounds like a memory." I couldn't agree more. There are certain songs that just take you back in time. Whether it's kicking and screaming, or willingly. For instance, Sadie Hawkins Dance by Relient k? I'm back in middle school with Sarah, screaming "do you like my sweeeatttterrrrrrr?" at the top of our lungs. Everytime We Touch by Cascada? Transported to carpools to Crabtree Mall with Marianne, Penel, and Astrid. Our Song by Taylor Swift summons images of Moriah and I interpretative dancing at our sweet 16 birthday party. I'm sure there are songs that touch you like that too. Probably in a more meaningful way than the ones I just described. Even just a few music notes can remind me that I'm A Very Lucky Girl. 

If I had to pick a favorite out of all the educational institutions I've attended, New Hope Academy in Franklin, Tennessee would take the number one spot. For two reasons: 1) I left after third grade, the drama in elementary school is fairly minimal; 2) the people. Kindergarden was my first year there. I narrowly escaped being homeschooled by Shari but Miss LaVerne (I'm 95% positive of her name) called in August, announcing that a spot had opened up. I think Shari and I were both relieved. I couldn't have asked for a better kindergarden teacher, they don't come much better than Tracy Utley. She homeschools her own boys now and I'm jealous that they get her teaching for more than one year; I would learn from her any and every day! I weirdly remember a very specific leopard print belt that she would wear sometimes, guess I was a wanna-be fashionista. Still am--a wannabe that is. Samantha Wilson became my very best friend and I started crushing hard on Nick Ingham. ...