2011 Recap

January-February
Spent my first winter in the Big City. Lived through the Snowpocalypse of 2011.  Learned that a parka is a MUST.  Got stuck in the snow a zillion times...thankfully, I was assisted by many random acts of kindness.

Met my main man. Spent endless hours on the phone.  Got to see him for the second time in February at the Charty....first engagement party to host!

 (First picture.  Ew and ew.  We both hate it)

Panicked for entirely too long about WHAT to get Tuck for his birthday.  Finally figured it out.  Screwed up his cookies and ended up making an ungodly amount of chocolate chip, white chocolate chip, peanut butter chip cookies...they evolved into a tri-chip cookie because of my salt fiasco.

March
A busy month.  I went RED and cut my hair off.  Celebrated my first birthday in the Big City.

After midterms, I jetted off to meet Tuck's family for the first time.  Without him.  He did come home after a rehearsal dinner, only to leave me again the next morning to take pictures for the wedding he was in.  Lucky for him, I can hang.  After a sweet wedding, he took me to my house so he could meet my parents.  We didn't waste any time, huh?
That visit started my Spring Break.  I got some rest and a good visit in with my Mimi before heading to (I'm sorry, but it's true) the bottom of the map for a special wedding.  My cousin, Cher! Such a fun, family weekend!

April
Tuck's first visit to the Big City!

 First holiday to spend with a BOY.  Easter at home with the fam.  Also, LOVED my Friday fish fry's during Lent with Berns.  Looking forward to them this year!

May
What to say about May?  I'd like a re-do on May.  During finals, we very unexpectedly lost my cousin. You read it.  You were there.  The whole series of events of the days following are still so surreal.  But through the unimaginable, I was lifted up so many sweet friends.  I really saw how my Big City friends are really my family.  My school jumped in and took such good care of me until I could get home.  In truth, I just wanted to be with my family.  Feel that fierce bond.  It was there and is still very present.

 

You're lucky when friends become family.  Fortunately, my "family" continues to multiply.  Without these three?  I most certainly would have failed my Neuro final the day after he died.  I'd also laugh a lot less if they weren't around...and I wouldn't weigh nearly 4,000 pounds.

During my intersession class, I got to go celebrate MyH(e)art at her bachelorette party...in Nashville, one of my very favorite places.  An amazingly wonderful weekend with school friends and my "wedding" friends- after two Tupelo weddings...I feel like I'm from Tupelo. 

 One peene picture.  Had to have one.

June-July

Spent my first summer in the Big City.  Learned that I really enjoy working...meaning NO HOMEWORK and/or STUDYING for almost three months.  Got to really enjoy my city.  Made some new friends.  A very special Canadian...without her, clinic would have been very interesting.  So thankful for her friendship.

Got to stand by and see MyH(e)art and Chadberry get married.  Truly one of the sweetest weddings.

Boosin and my aunt (Stella) came to visit for Stella's birthday.  Fun weekend and first of my extended family to make a visit!

4th of July I spent with the Grenada posse.  If you haven't read THAT post, look back.  I can't even link it.  Can't relive that one.

 Tuck came to the Big City.  We hit up our first game together.  Exciting times...especially with how the season ended up.

Saw my childhood heart-throbs.  BSB.  Which proved to be slightly depressing.  But was also a great release from the every day.

August
Fun month spent at home.  It was a great break.  I got to see Tuck every weekend.  We went to CRae's wedding.  That was pretty much it.  I was nervous to head back to school.  Worried that my classes were going to be overwhelming...ended up having a great semester and learned more than I could ever imagine.

September

Good times you were.  Got to go back to my favorite place on Earth for a football game or two. 

This happened.  Infected salivary gland, in case you were wondering. 

We remembered the 10th anniversary of 9/11.  (I have some great pictures that I can't find right now)  I spent the entire Sunday (weekend of the salivary gland infection) just watching specials from that day in 2001.  So much I didn't understand back then. 

The Wolf also made his first visit to the Big City.  You could say he liked it.  I never did blog about that weekend, did I?  We.had.fun.

October

Was a whirlwind.  Midterms were brutal this time around.  We all seemed to manage but our fun was had literally in the last weekend of that month.

First weekend of October- Oktoberfest.  I'll be back this October.  Don't you worry. 

The Cards won the World Series.  That was such a crazy time.  I think we were all on pins and needles during game six.  I went home from the bar thinking we would lose.  Ha.  They pulled it out and Tuck got to be there for the big win.  That weekend we also celebrate Halloween.  The Cards victory parade.  Tuck's first weekend to stay an extra night.  And my first break-in...thank God he stayed. 

November
We attended our first hockey game.  Lots of fun. 

I'm assuming not too much else happened.  We spent Thanksgiving at my Mimi's.  It was a strange Thanksgiving because we were all at her house...but she wasn't there.  Don't get me wrong, she's still here.  I never advertised that she fell a few weeks prior to Thanksgiving.  In her backyard, picking pansies.  Poor girl shattered her shoulder and BROKE HER BACK.  They did a total shoulder replacement, while her back had to heal on its own...like in a brace.  We went to visit her at the rehab facility.  Made my Thanksgiving.
Tuck spent Thanksgiving with me.  The next day we went and I met his father's kin.  His Nana?  I love.

December

Well, well.  I still managed to have a little fun.  I spent a lot of time being miserable, on my own accord.  I wanted to be with Tuck.  I didn't want to do schoolwork.  I didn't want to study but had to.  Just knew I would "fail".  I didn't.  Here we are having fun.

I was SO HAPPY to be home when finals were over.  I got home the 20th.  December 23rd we headed to Mimi's for Christmas.  That day, Jenty called to tell me she was engaged.  I knew he had the ring for quite some time.  Every call from her, I knew "this was it".  I cried as she told the story...but if you REALLY want to cry...let him tell you the story.  The boy goes all misty...ol' Jenty isn't much for the waterworks.

Christmas was wonderful.  Different.  But wonderful.  We took a trip to the cemetery on Christmas Eve.  I never thought I would want to go there.  Surprisingly, I did.  I'm not sure my trips would be complete without a visit.

The carolers came as usual.  The gumbo was served.  As we say, there was "much wine"...much much wine...if I'm being truthful.  The laughter was abundant.


That day there was one we couldn't stop thinking about.  There was one who was working who we really missed.  And then the others who are normally scattered.  Santa visited our chairs.  We had wonderful food.  And that night?  I left my family to be with Tuck's.  I.cried.the.whole.way.there.  I was totally fine when I got there.  I had just never left before.   I had a marvelous Christmas there too.

My Christmas miracle this year?  Watching Mimi.  I mean this so seriously.  The woman is the strongest person I know.  Nothing gets her down.  At Thanksgiving, she was in a bad way.  Probably not as bad as the initial fall, but it was hard to see.  Christmas?  She was doing so well.  She sat with us.  Didn't push herself too much.  Even got out of the house a few times.  Another plus, the brace (that we thought would be on for at least another month) came off this week. 
But possibly the best example of selflessness and true friendship was watching Mrs. Ann care for Mimi.  She came every night around 8:30 or so after Mimi got out of the rehabilitation center.  Yes, even Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  Every. Night.  She tended to her every need.  Created a routine for her.  Cared for her.  Was so gentle with her.  I am so thankful for her.  She truly is a special lady and means a lot to our entire family.


2011 was a pretty great year for me.  It has its obvious up's and down's. 

2012 is already looking to be amazing.  Let's hope so.

365

One year ago (tomorrow) I met Tuck.  1 year.  365 days.

I know you know the story.  Well, pretty much.  I never imagined that night would start a new chapter in my book.  But it did and it has been one of my favorite parts yet.

You know, I had been hearing about Tuck.  When he walked in that night, I was instantly attracted to him.  Sports coat, baby.  Upon further observation, he was wearing a white Columbia PFG under that coat.  His sense of fashion has been influenced for the better over this year.

Jusssst like this one.

We had to race out of Jackson the next morning because the Snowpocalypse of 2011 was moving in.  We awkwardly chatted on the way to his car.  I said he should come to the Big City for a baseball game after tax season.  He then asked for my number and I remember being really hesitant about giving it to him.  I mean, I lived all the way in the Big City.  Why keep this up?  What was this, anyway?

But, in typical girl fashion, I wanted him to text me.  To say anything.  I wanted to blow a tire so he'd have to come rescue me on my way back.  I wanted to stop in his town and linger...so we could "randomly" bump into one another.

He did text me on the way back.  "Just to make sure you made it back ok". 

He would text here and there.  Sister encouraged the conversations.  I wasn't so sure.  But before I knew it, I was hooked.  

I jumped. Started having 2+ hour conversations every night.  Poor guy would stay up listening to me blabber on even though he had to be at work super early.  I found I could talk to him about anything.  I rarely hold anything back, but with him...he got the ugly truth about everything.

I needed him this year for a lot of things.  He was the first person I called after Chad died.  Gasping for air and completely hysterical he was able to make out what was going on.  He knew what to say even after not "being together" for that long.  He has been my rock during times of stress and feeling overwhelmed with school.  He constantly has an encouraging word and a prayer for me.  He knows when it's time to listen, time to talk, and time to just be still.  He's the glue.  I'm weak.  He's kept this thing going during times that I've really struggled with the distance. 

Here's to you, John Tucker.  

 

I'm ready for year two.

I love you.

She's Gettin' Marriedddd

This might sound crazy but I've been dreaming of this day.  I never could imagine WHO my Janety would marry, but when I met him...I knew he was it.

Janety is undoubtedly one of my best friends on this planet.  Before our junior year of college we (Jenty, MAP, Jeansy, and myself) decided we were going to live together.  (If you haven't read the roomie blog, you should reference it for a complete background on my favorite year of college.)

I didn't know Janety that well.  We were on opposite ends of the hall sophomore year and on very different schedules.  We began spending more time together at the end of our sophomore semester- I suppose so we could "mesh".  I have to admit I was nervous about what I was getting into when I watched Janety and Sister Virg (her mother)...literally throw her room into the back of the car, as well as hurling things out of her 6th floor window.  I had meticulously packed a million Rubbermaid boxes and had them neatly stacked in the back of my pimped out Explorer.  Opposites attract I tell you.

That summer?  We meshed.  We became pin pals that summer while she was at camp.  I would draw her pictures and write her letters.  But my favorite thing?  Scoping out the High School Musical "singing" cards for her at Walmart.  I wanted her to be excited.  I loved waiting on her to write me back.  I loved that she would call me when she exited the wilderness every couple of weeks.

Junior year we connected.  I learned: the girl could single handedly dominate a box of Cheese-It's, she was scared of the dark, she would body slam you at any hour of the day or night, her laughter was contagious and that I could easily make her laugh,  she was always the culprit of suspicious odors, watching reruns of 90210 for hours on end did not equal depression, salty > sweet, daily dance parties are always necessary, and that she would strap me with a nickname that would follow me for the rest of time.

She taught me how to share my faith.  How to really believe.  An excellent example for everyone to follow.  We shared so many secrets.  Well, I probably shared but she always listened and locked them away.  The girl has a servant heart and a listening ear.  She's the one you want to go to.

Senior year, she became my boyfriend.  I think I even gift wrapped my house key.  We were inseparable.  That year, I found out I would move to the Big City.  To say I was totally freaked out about what that would do to our relationship would be an understatement.  Right before I moved, I started hearing about JBaby.

The night of their first date, I told Janety she was going to marry him.  I had never heard her talk about anyone that way before.  The girl was giddy.  I loved hearing about him but I upset that I hadn't met the man who had captured her heart.

In January of last year, I finally got to meet him.  He was hunting but came out of the woods...for me...not really but I'd like to think it that way.  He walked into the bar and we just walked straight to each other and hugged so tight.  After two seconds of talking to him you just know.  My heart melted hearing him talk about her.

He brought out this new side to Janety.  He builds her up.  Doesn't hold her back.  They push each other.  I've even seen her clean his house (something I never thought would happen).  Her smile is undeniable when they are together.  Her voice changes when she talks about him.

I've been ready for this day.  I've been busy taking exams and I've been SO freaked out that he was going to propose when I was in a test.  Every time she's called in the past month I've nearly been air-born diving for my phone to hear the good news.  Same story- I always answer, try to gauge the tone of her voice, she talks for a second and then I say....ANYTHING ELSE?  Today was different.  She tried to fake me out.  I knew better.  I screamed...scared my grandmother.  I cried.  Heard the story.  The proposal was JUST as I imagined...in fact I told the roomie a week ago it's how he would do it.  Then I jumped up and down.  Called Tuck...who answered the phone IN THE WOODS.

I'm so excited for these next few months of planning.  I can't wait to see what the future has in store.  I love you both so much!

Sticking it Out

Long Distance.

Have you ever tried it?

I'm about sick of long distance.  This is the longest we've been apart since like February-April.  I'm not enjoying it.

We are Christmas people.  We love the lights, the music, the reason, the hot chocolate, the ice skating...the whole season.  Today marks day 14.  We have 8 more to go.   It's hard, no doubt about it.

I realize it could be worse.  He could be overseas serving in the military.  I could be further away.  He could have a job that offers him little flexibility for traveling to see me.  The possibilities are endless.  I know this.  Yet, I've been horrible to him.  Imagine that.  This weekend was especially rough.  He was in another wedding that I couldn't attend, the rest of my friends were at another wedding I also couldn't attend, and my family was together celebrating my grandmother's birthday.

I felt 1 million miles away.  I was sad.  I wasn't happy, so he shouldn't be happy either.  That's fair, right?  Maturity at its finest.

He is the sweetest man.  He doesn't get mad.  I do.  And sometimes?  I just want him to.  He is so understanding.  I've tested his patience.  For whatever reason he loves me.  And he sticks around.

We're stuck. 

We're sticking this out. 

The good always outweighs the bad.