True to tradition, Lori threw the bouquet as they left the church and I caught it. I loved that because Lori was just the best friend in our high school days cruising the exciting streets of Stillwater America, looking for the cars our crushes drove and eating pop tarts and oreos. Her bouquet represented the romantic story of her wedding and the best of our high school days. After the wedding, I placed the bouquet on the top of my dresser and dressed for the OSU basketball game at Gallagher-Iba Arena (GIA) - having no idea my life would change for absolute ever. My 501's accompanied a white plaid shirt my mother had made for me in high school; I curled the long ends of my hair under and placed a head band behind my ears. My only goal was to cheer my Cowboys, coached by Eddie Sutton, on to victory and to dance with a few boys - because boys are good for dancing. After the ball game, the girls and I went to Tumbleweed, a country music dance hall, to dance. There's nothing like two-stepping at Tumbleweeds.
About an hour into our dancing adventure, a Cowboy football player wearing snakeskin boots, guess jeans and a white dress shirt charmed me into dancing with him, and I danced for the next three hours. His one-liners so sharp, his charm so intriguing, I had to keep saying yes. His dancing wasn't too shabby, either. His brown eyes danced as each new verbal barb crossed his thoughts, and gleamed when he delivered the line with skilled tactical precision. He had a deep, rich laugh and hands and shoulders that held a strength I would learn about and lean on later. When the lights came on, he asked for my number and just to match his quick intellect and wit I volleyed with, "It's in the book." and walked away - turning back over my shoulder to give a smile, an invite to say- I hope you look. (clearly phone books still existed and were used then) I never did give it to him; he did find it, and he did call.
This morning that same Cowboy texted me offering this memory.
"You had to be pretty impressed that I noticed you that night clear across GIA".
He remembered.
It is a good thing to give away your heart and have it loved and cherished so well.
#onespeed
#Joeysgirl
#golighttheworld