My girl

The story really started almost twenty years ago. Standing in line at Hardees waiting to get some biscuits and gravy with my dad. I was around 7 I think. He probably doesn't remember this conversation but I do. Vividly. You see, in my neighborhood, there was this high school girl. She drove a red 1965 mustang. I am pretty sure her name was Stephanie Hawkins and I thought she was the coolest person alive. I wanted to be just like her so that morning in Hardees I asked my dad if when I was in high school if I could have a red 1965 mustang just like her. He said, "I tell you what if you are valedictorian I will buy you a 1965 mustang.

Fast forward to senior year. I realized that I wasn't quite going to be valedictorian (only months later did I realize I was 1 little point in calculus away from it but that's another story) so I decided to remind my dad of the conversation and see if I couldn't negotiated a new deal. We agreed that I would get a new car based on scholarship offers. December of that year I wrecked the car he had gotten me at sixteen and got a nice scholarship letter from my #1 school. So on January 1, 2001, my dad bought her for me.

She was beautiful. Perfect. Even if she was a few years old. I instantly fell in love. This week, Clay and I will most likely be getting rid of her. In ways I am very happy but part of my heart is breaking.

She was with me the week my 12 closest friends and I headed to the beach to celebrate the end of high school and the beginning of our "real" lives -- you know, back when 30 sounded so old. I still treasure that picture of my two best guy friends asleep in the back seat cuddling each other and a teddy bear of mine.

She was with me the day I drove off to my #1 school. Complete with a letter in the dashboard from my dad telling me how amazing he thinks I am and how proud he was. (I just removed the letter yesterday) And she was with me the day I drove home to transfer schools.

She was with me for more camps than I can count. She has hauled everything from vats of salsa to more dish washing liquid than they sell in Walmart. Unfortunately, we had some spillage with the soap and to this day if you put some water in the back, the carpet will have suds.

She was there when I realized I loved Clay. He was driving when I looked over and then looked to the backseat. I could literally see our future kid seating in his carseat. It was then that I knew he was it for me.

She was there the day we packed up our world, waved goodbye and moved to Texas. She didn't carry much on the trip. She just transported the two most important things --- our dogs.

After just over 8 years, I have put over 96,000 miles on her. These days she is far from perfect. In fact, she probably has more things wrong than right.

But I still love her. And hate to see her go.

I feel just a tad guilty.

I had lots of great plans to type a wonderful, beautiful year in review post. But I just didn't get around to it. I had all the intentions in the world to write an amazing, inspiring post detailing my 2009 to do list (I prefer "to do list" to resolution) Instead, my blog sat alone and un-updated. I think it feels a bit neglected and I feel a tad bit guilty. Unfortunately, my blog is probably going to continue to feel that way.

On Monday, I officially start grad school. If you are reading this blog, chances are you are know that I am going back to school. If not, don't feel bad...I kinda forgot to tell my mom. Ooops. Thankfully, she was pretty understanding. In fact, she informed me that she once forgot to tell her mom that she was pregnant. Boy, I hope that was when she was pregnant with my brother...

Anyways, I am taking two classes over the next eight weeks and hope to finish my masters (in counseling) in about 18 months or so. I may try to significantly reduce that time frame if I am able to balance work, life and school better than I anticipate. I never was one to take school slowly. I am really excited about going back -- just slightly nervous that I won't be as smart as I once was.

I am so excited that I have already started reading and am about one week ahead of schedule. Oh, and tonight, Clay and I made a special trip to Wal-Mart to gather all my school supplies. I think Clay had to remind me two or three times that I was in grad school not elementary. At least I didn't purchase the Jonas Brothers folder!

So all this to say, if my blog doesn't have tons of updates it is because I am busy learning about ethics and human development. And I don't think you really want updates on that.