Musician's Widow

Running behind today due to being busy, busy, busy!! A good thing. I love being busy! Especially when I’m off doing things I love to do. In fact, this week’s photos features a few of my favorite things to do…

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Love ring. My niece gave it to my Mom. I thought it was sweet! (And pretty!)

Clumps of pollen

Shelby Street Footbridge... one of my most favorite sites in Nashville.

Aggie Muster Roll Call

Boscos Beer! My husband and I went out for drinks after Muster to celebrate the ceremony going well. I'd been working on it for awhile, and I was feeling great! We each had two beers before heading home.

Tennessee countryside. My husband and I went for a drive out in the country one afternoon, and I thought the views were so breathtakingly beautiful! I live in such a gorgeous area!!

Pink flowers that showed up in my yard. They weren't there last year!

Gibson guitar.

Wait, wait, wait... I thought I married a piano player!

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All photos taken using a Nikon Coolpix L20.

All of my photos available on my Flickr stream.

Roll Call

There are days every year we all look forward to. Birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries. Days that just shine on the calendar, and we find ourselves counting down to them.

For me, April 21st is one of those days on the year.

April 21st means Aggie Muster.

I wrote about what Muster means to me in depth last year in this blog. So, I won’t go as in depth as to what Muster is, but I will once again reiterate: it humbles me.

I get downright ANGRY when anyone “teases” me about being an Aggie, and its things like Muster that cause that anger to bubble up.

I have found that a majority of the time, the people who tease are those people who see only one thing: football. A university’s worth is only measured by how they play on the football field.

I like football. No, I love football. I get just as wrapped up in it as anyone else. But, I didn’t go to Texas A&M University based on the football team. I went because its a FAMILY. There is a camaraderie with Aggies that I could never explain, nor could I ever expect non-Aggies to understand.

We honor our past. We encourage our future. And we stand together every day. But every April 21st we come together, all around the world, to do all of these things at one time. We honor those who have passed. We welcome new Aggies to the tradition with open arms. And we put our arms around each other in a familial hug to comfort as much as to encourage.

So while others judge a school on their football team, I’m going to judge mine based on traditions like Muster and Silver Taps. On academic rankings and its connection to our armed forces. On school, state and nation. On a love for fellow Aggies, even those we’ve never met in person.

We gather here to mark the day Aggies proudly stand.
To honor those who’ve gone before to the promised land.
Each name is called upon the roll, comrades answer “Here.”
Trumpets sound their sad good-bye to those we held so dear.
All heads are bowed in silent pledge never to forget.
While rifles fire their last salute echoes answer yet.
To their mem’ry we’ll be true; we will take their place.
One for all and all for one ever in Thy grace.
We’ll meet again another day, reunion while we pray
To ask Thy blessing on each one on this Muster day,
Aggie Muster Day.

Mrs. Earl (Margaret) Rudder

On April 21st, I proudly answered, “here” to the roll call at the Middle Tennessee Aggie Muster. And for as long as the Lord lets me walk this Earth, I’ll do it again every April 21st to come.

Aggies Mustered in Middle Tennessee

I am flying home today. And yet, I’m at home.

I’m blessed with two homes. The one I have with my husband and our crazy, wonderful life in Nashville. The other in Texas where I grew up and where my family is. Like I wrote in a note to my brother tonight, “I have the best of both worlds. I am happy to be going, but I am sad to be leaving.”

How wonderful a feeling, to know you have two places that you are loved and that you call “home.” I am truly blessed and so very thankful.

Today, as I fly home to Nashville, I wanted to pass along a challenge for today to be a day for Random Acts of Kindness.

See, my sister-in-law’s second cousin was killed in a car accident last month.

She was only 16.

Today would have been her 17th birthday.

I didn’t know Lauren personally, but I know she meant a the world to her family and friends. I’ve read and heard many stories in the last few weeks about the good she did in her short life — kindness that many of us dream to aspire to do, and yet somehow often will fall short.

Her loved ones decided a way to honor her memory would be to make what would have been her birthday be a day to commit “random acts of kindness” in Lauren’s memory.

[Article from KBTX - Bryan/College Station about the movement.]

This world is so filled with an “all about me” mentality. I think a day to focus on someone else would be refreshing. And to have to be in memory of a life cut short? Well, that’s an added bonus.

I will be flying from Austin, TX to Nashville, TN today. And I fully intend that somewhere in between — or perhaps a few times in between — to participate in this day of good deeds…

Won’t you join us?

My apologies to all the Weekly Winners people last week that I failed to come visit. It was a busy weekend, followed by a super busy week. I don’t think I’ve come off the adrenaline rush of the last three months of tax season. It’s all over, though, and time to move forward! First, though, a review of the last week! (The first three photos are actually from Apr. 10th, when I was out of town and couldn’t include it in last week’s post. So a little cheating going on there.)

For more weekly winners, please go visit Lotus and share some love with all of the participants!

Looking back as I speed ahead

Boots

My husband at work. I can't help it but be mushy... but I love that I caught his wedding ring in this photo. Makes me smile.

Tax season draws to an end. Crossing that day out on the calendar, was a lot like shifting gears in your vehicle. My days and pace change dramatically now.

Fried pickles and an icey Coors Light to celebrate the end of a good season.

Drove over Lake Belton one afternoon. The sail boat made for such a peaceful image.

An aunt's love.

Hearts in clover.

I'm doing a weekly "self portrait" project. I liked how this one turned out for this week.

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All photos taken using a Nikon Coolpix L20.

All of my photos available on my Flickr stream.

This last weekend, I went to two shows to spend the weekend with my husband. He had shows in Katy, TX and then Poteet, TX — about three hours apart from each other — and a no-brainer for me to attend.

Now, before I continue with my story, two things I want to note:

1) No, I don’t “go on the road with the band.” I get that question a lot, and the short and simple answer is, “No.” Now, I know there ARE some acts that do take musician’s wives on the road with them, atleast here and there. However, I’ve not really done it myself.

I’ve hitched a ride on the bus twice. Once when I needed to go to Texas and my husband had a show close to my destination. So instead of flying, the artist he was with at the time allowed me to catch a ride with them down. Then another time I caught a ride to Nashville from Texas. I did get to go to Hawaii for a week with my husband on a gig,too. But past that, if I am at a show, its because I’ve taken myself there, and I’m taking myself back home.

2) This is the second time I’ve done a “two show weekend” to see my husband. Only the last time was about six years ago, and we weren’t even flirting with dating. Ironically, the travel time between those two shows was almost twice the time between the shows this last weekend.

So all that said, back to my story. I went to the show in Katy, and it was the first time I’d seen my husband in a month. I was beyond excited, and I made sure to enjoy every minute of the weekend.

A bonus of the trip is the fact that I genuinely really just love the group my husband is with right now. So I was also excited to get to hang out with these guys that I consider friends myself, and the really cool thing? They were SO aware and accommodating of the fact that my husband and I hadn’t seen each other in so long. A fact that did not go unnoticed and unappreciated.

At the show that first night, I was standing side stage, and when the band was introduced, I was introduced right along with my husband! It’s happened about three times now, and its not something I ever expect to have happen. In fact the first time, I turned bright red (we had JUST gotten engaged that time) and almost ran out of the showroom! I didn’t know how to react! This time, when I was told to, “Wave to the crowd!” I did with a giggle and… what can I say?? It was REALLY COOL!! REALLY cool. I am pretty sure I was beaming. LOL! How can you NOT be blown away by that and get, well, a thrill?

After the show, some fans went and got all the band members to sign a t-shirt… and they asked ME to sign it. “We’ll make you famous too!” they said.

I declined at first, but at their insistence, I signed below my husband’s signature. Bizarre much? Yeah. Definitely. And absolutely something I’m amused about, but let’s face it. I’m certainly not going to let it go to my head, and at the end of the day the only person I care to get recognition from is my husband. I’m his biggest fan, and I have this wonderful fulfillment knowing he’s mine.

THAT is all that matters.

I am compiling this entry on Friday night (Apr. 9) so no photos from the 10th. If I get any good ones they’ll sneek into next week illegally magically. I’m actually out for the night with my husband at a show, so I built this entry and set it to publish at the proper time FOR me.  Ah, if only other things in life were as handy-dandy as Wordpress.

For all other Weekly Winners — check out Lotus and the list there!

Wilbur

Gnaughty Gnome

Bark

Sleeping Snail

Sun rays at Sunset

Orange petals, blue skies

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All photos taken using a Nikon Coolpix L20.

All of my photos available on my Flickr stream.

As 30 looms ahead, I find myself looking at my closet, then looking around in stores, and I find myself going through something of a crises. What should I wear!?

I feel creepy looking around in the Juniors section at 30… but I can’t find anything I like in Misses or Ladies or whatever they call it in the given store. I’m definitely not Petite. That I can mark off the list. With gusto.

I’m too young to dress old; too old to dress young. This is almost worse than puberty.

Okay, I take that back. Puberty was worse.

I mean, I’m not dealing with acne and… oh wait. Still dealing with that, too.  OKay, at least I’m not dealing with hormone driven boys… wait, I work in a bar part time. Still dealing with that, too. Okay, I don’t have to deal with Algebra. There. That makes it not a bad as puberty.

(Instead I deal with taxes, insurance, bills… huh. I should probably drop this argument at this point.)

I am absolutely hooked on TLC’s What Not to Wear, and this last weekend they had something of a marathon going. They did several 29 year olds, and boy was I taking notes! Ultimately, its about taking pride in myself and finding items that work with my body and my goals in life. The section label is just that, just a label. And its all about finding what works for me and projecting to others who I am in a positive light.

This last weekend, Easter weekend, I had quite a rant going about how people dressed for Easter mass. One person even wore old jeans and a concert t-shirt! I was livid at the lack of respect for the church and the Holiday! It hit me later, after I mulled over my irritation, that it came down to the fact that we all seem to forget that how we dress says a lot about us to others — like in my eyes, the t-shirt showed lack of respect and reverence — as well as about how we feel about ourselves.

Any time I wear even just a new shirt, I have an extra spring in my step. When I splurge and get my hair highlighted, I have an extra boost of self confidence. I find myself presenting myself more professionally and positively to those around me. That alone affects how people respond back.

So as I approach clothes shopping as 30 approaches, I have to look in the mirror and ask if what I am buying to wear fits who I am and what I want to project to others. 30 is just a number, and those sections are just labels. There’s no reason to have a pubescent meltdown of self.