WATCH OUT WORLD

When I was 16, I packed up my car and moved to Amarillo, enrolled at Amarillo High and started school the next day. Terrified. Little ole Lynxette me transferring from a class of 60sih to a class of 400ish.I will never forget my now best friend giving me the bird out of her convertible. She wanted to run over me, I'm pretty certain. Needless to say, I was not the most popular girl in school. I was new. I did not drive a BMW. I did not play volleyball and I refused to seem terrified. Terrified. My dad's apartment was across the street from the school and I would walk home alone every day wanting to move back to Spearman. One random afternoon a boy I noticed at school before (6'5 at least-hard to miss) approached me on my walk and asked me if he could have a drink of water. He was the 'maintenance guy' at the apartments and was thirsty. I let him in the sliding back door and he grabbed a DP, plopped down on our couch and turned on the tv. I was terrified. He was a big guy. I had never met him before and he acted as if he had known me my whole life. When he left that afternoon, he asked if I minded leaving the patio door open so he could come in during work and get a drink so I did. My dad began to question where all of the DPs were disappearing to so I confronted my new friend. "Well, I just clock-in, go to your house, drink some Dr. Peppers, have some snacks, watch some TV and then clock-out when work is over." This arrangement went on until he was fired months later. Which began one of my oldest friendships. Hundreds and hundreds of stories that still make me laugh so hard I get tears in my eyes (most of them on 'Mama's credit card'). Last night I took Betty to see their new baby girl. She was perfect. She was absolutely beautiful. He said, "She stays up at night. That HAS to stop."

THEY DO

Just in case you haven't received the memo. I am divorced. Yup, that's right. The Big D and I don't mean Dolly. I have never discussed it directly on my blog and never will. I have been private about many things in my life, and after living in Spearman for almost 2 years now, I still have people ask me how life in the Big D is and I don't mean Dallas. Anyway, this entry has nothing to do with divorce. In fact, quite the opposite: marriage.

I can honestly say I am not sure I will ever get married again. I have somehow turned into a, as Mattie says, liberal hippie (she didn't get the memo). Maybe not, but my perspective on life has certainly changed and I am enjoying the JUST.BE.HAPPY. attitude. I spent some of the year feeling mildly bitter about marriage, sort of digging my heels into its dirt and maybe even spitting on it a time or two, fists clenched. Constantly telling myself there is no way in hell two people can committ to each other for a lifetime. No way we are 'programmed' that way. No way we can endure the doldrums or survive the tenacity of Divorce's Claws. 'It makes no sense. It's a Puritan idea created so many years ago which makes no sense for young people in this generation. BLAH. BLAH. BLAH.' I decided to give it all a one over, kick it to the curb and say I DO NOT BELIEVE.

Ahem.

And we all know, that is not me. And perhaps at the very moment I decided to walk away, someone else decided to walk down the aisle. Two of the most precious people I know were engaged on Monday and married on Thursday. A quiet and intimate ceremony with family and close friends. No hoopla, no extravagant flowers, no Ava Maria. Just two people who said we love each other A LOT and we are going to give this a whirl. We haven't known each other ten mintues. We have known each other for over ten years. Two people who said it's always always always worth a try.

As my baby brother watched his beautiful bride walk down the aisle last week, this Grinch's heart grew two sizes at least. I thought of the first time I held him. I thought of the challenges of his life and how much he puts others first. But mostly I thought of his courage. If I know one thing, Charles Davis can be my wing man anytime. When he his passionate about something, he takes it to a level the rest of us cannot fathom. And her? Mrs. Jena Davis? Well, that is another post.

On January 5th and probably a lot more than that, I will always be reminded of the doubt that almost took over. Almost.

To Mr. and Mrs. Charles Davis, you have changed my heart. And although I may not get married, I will continue to believe what I always have. Two people should always always always give it a whirl because love can last a lifetime.

And to Cody Mac and Mattie Mac, watch out. You now have one BELIEVING MOH on your hands.

TOP TEN REASONS YOU KNOW 2012 IS GOING TO BE BETTER THAN GOOD

10. After much worry, you find out Snoop is still the D.O.DOUBLE.G


9. You have a new seeeester.


8. It began with the chargrilled from Acme.


7. Soon, you will have a new brother.


6. You're not missing a plane home from Rome.


5. You are exhausted after a week in sunny Florida.


4. You're pretty certain Rick Perry doesn't have a chance in hell.


3. Someone else's love makes your heart soften.


2. You have 365 days of this goodness to look forward to.


And the #1 reason you know 2012 is going to be better than good:

Bacon is back.