A shout out.

By Sarah Horrigan

Have you ever had one of those moments that seems quite normal at the time, but as you look back on it, it becomes unforgettable? I have this one simple memory that I keep reliving from the past few weeks. A friend of my came over for the afternoon for a good, long walk. We hadn't gotten to hang out one-on-one in awhile, and we had both been going through a lot, she more than I. But this was the amazing thing, even in the rough road she was facing, she was quietly listening and encouraging me as we strolled. After walking for a bit and talking my guts out, I suddenly realized how selfish and one-sided the conversation had been. I began to apologize, but my friend stopped me and began telling me a story: 

"One day," she said, "my mother was sitting in a hospital with a sick friend, and she was going on about how horrible my teacher was at the time (or something to that effect).  And suddenly, just as you stopped, my mother stopped talking and burst into tears, 'Listen to me rambling about teachers when you are battling cancer,' mom cried. And Laura, do you know what her friend said? Lying there sick in bed, my mom's friend said, 'We all have our cancers.' So, don't apologize - this is your cancer right now."

I was astonished. What grace and empathy to understand and care about my mole hill next to her mountain! And as we continued walking and talking, unexpected dark clouds rolled in and unleashed their fury upon our walk. The downpour had a movie-like quality, mimicking our unbridled emotions and making the moment feel so private. We were completely separate from the world, only able to hear each other in the shroud of rain. And then it eased up as quickly as it came. We both began to laugh. We had walked through the rain like it was sunshine, almost unknowingly, and our clothes stuck to us, hanging heavy and unflattering. Whatever this was, it was friendship; it was a God-send. 

So, now a shout out to a girl who really knows how to love people well and who has just started her own blog chronicling, ironically, a very different kind of walk... Check out Keep Walking: The Story of Mary Anna Caldwell by Kari Caldwell.

And I guess too this is a blog to say, treasure those little memories and the sweet nuggets of wisdom that come from friends. I certainly don't do that often enough.

A YEAR AGO:

Today, I looked back at my calendar from a year ago, and this was written in July: 
(By the way, a week from today - ONE YEAR OF MARRIAGE!)

Moving EVERYTHING to Auburn (Annie and me playing in the tissue paper hehe).

FINAL DRESS FITTING!!

AND the Bachelorette Weekend.
I just cannot fathom that it's almost been a year since we got married, and I must say, I wish I could do it all over again; Good thing I get to keep walking through it with friends. As cheesy as it is, this quote about memories sums it up:

"Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, 

the things you are, the things you never want to lose."  

(Wonder Years)

ODE TO AUBURN.

(click picture to enlarge)

Today I am celebrating with Auburn University. Congrats on being ranked #1 in the BCS! Still, we must remember, as best put by Gene Chizik himself, "This place was great way before we got here." How neat to be part of such a rich history.

So, want some Auburn History? Today, while I was supposed to be learning about teaching research in the library, I was, of course, not listening and found this little picture in an old Glomerata. Man, in 1952 Auburn must have been a sexy place to live. Just look at those couples. This looks like it could be any dorm in the quad, and let me tell you, I never experienced this hot-and-heavy atmosphere at Auburn. I guess, considering that no coed anything existed, everyone had to hang around outside.

So, maybe this is not really a history or a football celebration, but an ode to the passion of Auburn.

Zora Neale Hurston (from Notasulga - just 15 min. from Auburn) put it best, saying:

"Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place."

We love you, Auburn.