Pushing Comfort Zones: Our Early Adventures Early in a relationship, it’s easy to convince your partner to try new things. One weekend, I decided to really push David’s comfort zone with a trio of firsts: a weekend camping trip at Lake McMurtry, a trail race, and Indian food from my favorite local fusion spot. Before…
Have you ever been told that your handwriting resembles that of a homicidal maniac? I have—and I fully admit it’s not my strongest talent. Yet, despite knowing this, I was determined to hand-address every single engagement announcement we sent. The logical first step? Learning hand lettering. I bought books, watched videos, and even practiced for hours……
When David and I started dating, he once asked me what I liked to drink. I replied, “beer.” He called me “Bud Light.” I quickly retorted, “Ew, no. Anything made by Anheuser-Busch is headache beer. If I have to drink from the domestic big names, it’s Coors Light.” David eventually came to see my reasoning…
In the summer of 2023, David stumbled across an event for Queen by Candlelight. Knowing Queen is one of my favorite bands, he jumped on the tickets faster than you can say “Bohemian Rhapsody.” This was to be our first public indoor event since the pandemic began. David was making a huge deal about it,…
If you grew up in Oklahoma, this should come as no surprise: when your roots run deep, community and family lines blur. It’s a place where non-blood relations are often counted as aunts and uncles, and older extended cousins may be called aunts and uncles too. It’s a respect thing, deeply ingrained in our culture….
As someone who is overly cautious about trusting others with my safety, there are very few people I would completely rely on. Growing up, I rode mini bikes, four-wheelers, and dirt bikes, but I was rarely a passenger. By the age of seven, I had already learned to drive a car, and as I got…
I always carry a small bottle of fragrance with me during the hot months. This was especially true when I worked in customer service for the plating industry. Midway through the day, I’d refresh with a single drop of whatever I had on hand. Usually, these were gifts or free samples I didn’t find offensive.One…
Picture this: it’s a frigid December morning with a biting wind that cuts right through you. The ground is covered in a slick layer of ice as we make our way to Stillwater, Oklahoma, for Bedlam. The temperature gauge hasn’t budged above 3 degrees Fahrenheit during our two-hour drive, and the car’s heater is working…
Picture this: I’m in full-on evening chaos mode—running gear scattered in preparation for a training run, makeup off, glasses on, and fully moisturized, ready for bed. Suddenly, David calls me into his office. I stumble in, feeling more like a feral raccoon than a bride-to-be, and he asks, “Why have you been so cranky lately?”…
Have you ever laughed so hard you had an asthma attack? Well, I (Laurie) can now say I have! For years, I’ve dreamt of adding bold orange streaks to my hair similar to a red winged black bird. I knew David, my wonderfully practical partner, wasn’t a fan of drastic changes in appearance. But this…