20 By 20

A few days ago, I left my teen years behind forever as I hit the big two-o. And with my birthday, the blog had a birthday as well! The Dream Factory turned two on April 8th, only a couple of days after my twentieth. 

I've been reflecting a lot on my life recently, as someone who has just entered her adult years tends to do. I've been around the world, met new faces, had plenty of adventures and learned so much along the way. There are still some lessons to be learned (hopefully during my next twenty years), but I wanted to share with you what I've lived and learned so far. (Warning: This post is a long one, because I have lots to say. Make sure you take a bathroom break in the middle if you need to.) 

So, without further ado: Twenty Lessons I've Learned by My Twentieth Year. 

In list form, because lists are rad. 

1. Travel often. Travel often because it opens your eyes. You get new perspective. Your horizons are wider. And now, according to science, it makes you smarter. Even if you can only visit a new town in your state. Get out there, people.

2. Never be afraid to ask the hard questions. People may give you weird looks, they may laugh, scoff, or turn away in disdain. But don't be afraid. Sometimes these questions that others may avoid may be the ones we need to talk about. I once asked a possibly-but-I'm-not-sure sacrilegious question to my philosophy professor. Instead of brushing it off, he offered to discuss it. Of course, he's a philosopher, so that's what he does. Despite the fact that I go to a conservative Christian university.

3. Sometimes forgiveness is a daily process. When I first moved to America, I knew nobody. It was rough starting a whole new life from scratch. But soon, I had made a friend. She became one of my best friends, and was always there for me. Only a couple of years later, she stabbed me cruelly in the back, twisting her knife deep. Of course, while our friendship may be broken, we speak civilly to each other now. For years, though, every time I thought of this girl I had to mentally forgive her. Over and over again. And recently, here at college, I've had a tough situation with a couple of good friends. So I just applied the same concept. Trust me, this can take years, but it helps so much in the long term. 

4. Make your beliefs your own. I am a Christian, and I am very proud of it. My Christianity is something that makes me who I am. However, I understand that not everyone shares my beliefs. But this point is about choosing your beliefs and sticking with them. My parents are strong Christians as well, but at some point, I decided that I was going to choose to be a Christian. I could have chosen not to. But I have used my free will to remain a Christian, and my belief is my own. Use your free will wisely when it comes to your beliefs.

5. One-on-one time is important. This one may be easy for me to say because I'm an introvert. I really find merit in one-on-ones though. Sure, group time has its perks, but everyone needs this intimate setting, where they can focus solely on one other person. This is a way that many relationships can grow stronger.  

6. So are moments of peace. Another one that speaks to my introverted side. Even for extroverted types, though. Peace is to be appreciated, if only for a few minutes. It's important to give the mind breaks and let it rest. Peace helps the soul rest.

7. Never be ashamed of who you are. I am not normal. But that is something that I am slowly coming to terms with. I am called to be different. And that's okay. There is no shame in who I am, because I'm loved deeply by the One who created me. That goes for you too. Never be ashamed with who you are. You are you. That doesn't mean that you're perfect, but you're a work in progress. And there is no reason to be ashamed of that. 

8. Love can be letting go. Cheesy as it sounds, this one's still important. When we love something very much, sometimes we can obsess over it. And sometimes, that's just not healthy. We keep ourselves in a prison of our own making as we try to hold on to something that has the potential to destroy us. Don't be afraid to let something or someone go.

9. Sometimes it's okay to be angry. There is more than one type of anger. There is a sense of injustice, that all is not right, and something needs to be fixed. Now. There is bitterness. There is rage. If you are angry at injustice, you can use that anger to fuel your drive to change it. This is okay. What is not okay? Allowing your anger to destroy you. Anger will harden your heart and burn your soul. Don't give it that chance. 

10. Try new things. As a very wise science teacher once said, "Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!" Don't be afraid to try new things! Who knows? You may like it! And if you don't, then at least you gave it a shot. The plunge into newness is the hardest part, but once you're in, you'll never know what you'll find. 

11. Never shoot someone down intentionally. I'll give you something not so say in one phrase: "I don't care." When someone tells you an idea, shows you something that makes them shine, or lets you inside their walls, when you say something like "I don't care", you're stabbing them right in the gut. That's just cruel. Even if you're not interested in something, just nod politely and, if you absolutely must, change the subject when you can. 

12. Read everything. And don't give me that "But I don't LIKE reading" excuse. Do it anyway. You don't have to read books. Read something else. Newspapers, blogs, STREET SIGNS. Reading expands the mind and perspective. It enriches the vocabulary and challenges the thoughts. It helps you grow. 

13. Enjoy each little thing. Don't take moments for granted. Enjoy even the tiniest things that come your way. Treasure them and hold them close. Even the smallest shards of happiness are precious. 

14. Sometimes we just need people to tell us that everything's going to be okay. This past school year has been my hardest yet. And, I'll admit this right now to you, dear Reader. My life is in shambles. I feel like I'm on a tiny sailboat, tossed in the mightiest hurricane in the middle of the widest, darkest ocean. Sometimes I don't even know how I'm going to survive the next five minutes, let alone the next few decades of my life. Then I have to have outside reassurance. There is a friend that I text, often at odd times of day, asking him to simply tell me that things are going to be okay. He does, and Reader, sometimes that's the most comforting thing that I can be told. 

15. Tea is important. Tea is always important. If you're not a tea person, then coffee will suffice in a pinch. There's nothing like friendship over a steaming cup of tea. 

16. It's okay to cry. Crying helps, especially if you have a pillow or a shoulder to cry on. Crying releases pressure in the body. Do not be afraid to weep when your heart is breaking. Even if you're a dude. Even guys need to cry. Let yourself cry. You'll feel much better. 

17. Laughter is from Heaven. It is truly the best medicine. Do things and spend time with people that make you laugh. If you marry, marry someone that makes you laugh. Laughing is one of the most underrated and greatest gifts. And it's universal. There's nothing like two people who can't even speak to each other being able to enjoy a laugh. 

18. Don't treat others how you want to be treated. Treat them BETTER. A short expansion on the "Golden Rule." Even just a smile to someone you don't know may brighten their day. I never said that this lesson is an easy one, but it is very important. Don't just be nice to people because they are nice to you. Treat everyone with kindness and respect, even if they hate your guts. ESPECIALLY if they hate your guts. 

19. Everyone has a story worth telling. This phrase helped me realize my passion for storytelling. Because everyone has been on all different walks of life, each of us has a different story. None of these stories are insignificant, no matter how mundane they seem. We are all valued, and each of our stories matter. A great example of this? Brandon Stanton of Humans of New York. If you're not familiar with HONY, look it up. It's worth your time, I promise. 

20. Never, ever lose your curiosity. This is one of the greatest pieces of advice from my professors. Always keep learning and asking questions. Maintain that child-like desire to discover. Make sure your curiosity doesn't lead you down some dark roads, however. But keep it alive. Try new things. Ask questions. Be willing to learn.

That's a lot of stuff right there. And if you made it all the way down here, I heartily congratulate you, dear Reader. I hope you enjoyed my journey through twenty years of life. Thank you so much for reading!

Bloggers Note: Remember, after this post, I'm going to be on hiatus for a while. I need to set some places in my life straight once more. But no worries. I'll be back soon. 

A Quick Update...

...Just to let you lovelies know that I'm not dead. I just wanted to say thank you for your patience on waiting for my posts. The next one, while it's a few weeks late, has been those few weeks in the making, so it's a doozy. A rather important doozy to me, so I hope you'll enjoy it. 

The post should hit the blog by the end of this week/beginning of next week. 

News part two. After the post has been published, however, I've made the executive decision to go on hiatus for a couple of months. 

What? 

Life has been getting too much for me to handle recently, and I haven't been able to keep up with you guys like I promised I would. I want to keep blogging, because I have so many stories to share with you. 

But I am unable to right now. 

I also have the future of the blog to consider. I love blogging, but I feel like I'm not getting anywhere with it. Now, this doesn't mean that I'll stop blogging forever, but it does mean that this hiatus is in order. 

If there are any major changes, I'll be sure to post them. 

Enjoy the next post my friends, and I'll see you later! 

A Conversation with my Art Professor

Now, as many of you may or may not know, I am a graphic design minor. This is my second semester with my art professor, and by now, we've formed a bit of a strange relationship. Because we sit at the same table cluster in the design studio, the snarky comments go everywhere. 

The following is a true conversation we had a week ago: 

Art Professor:  Now, Maggie. If you make three mistakes, we'll have to take you out back and stone you.

Me: Fine, fine. *makes a mistake* 

AP: I'm going to have to stone you! 

Me: You can't! I haven't made my third mistake yet! 

AP: Oh, very well. Here, what are you having trouble with? 

Me: This cut. 

AP: *helps me with challenging cut* 

Me: *procrastinates on the last cut*

AP (a few minutes later): Maggie, what are you doing? 

Me: I don't want to mess up!

AP: You're delaying the inevitable. Now, class, did you bring your stones today? We may have to take Maggie out back. 

Me: Okay, okay. I'm going. *straitens ruler to prepare for cut* 

AP: It's do or die this time, Maggie. 

Another art professor wanders in. 

Other Professor: What's going on? 

AP: This is Maggie. If she makes her third mistake, we're going to take her out back and stone her. 

OP. Well, I've got some bricks. We can use those! 

Me. HEY. 

OP; Or some cinderblock. 

Me. You would only need one of those. Just one would crush me! 

OP: It just depends on how fast you move. 

AP: Or how many we throw at you. 

Me: CAN WE NOT. 

Me: *makes perfect cut* HA.

Both professors: *approving nods*

AP: Looks like you lived today, Maggie...

Me: Until next time, when I get out the paint. 

A few minutes later. 

Classmate: Oh no! The paint! NONONONO.

AP: No worries. Just let it dry. 

Me (from across the room): I SEE HOW IT IS. 

I enjoy my 2D Design class very much. Although it's tough, I like the challenge and learning about new ways to express myself. My skill is nowhere near those of my classmates, but I'm learning something new every day, and in the end, that's what really counts! 

Twenty Days Too Long

...since I last posted. And I was trying to hard for consistency. So today, I'd like to begin with a couple of serious things, then leave that behind to move onto some happy stuff.

First of all, I seem to be at a crossroads. And a rather large one, in fact. It's completely normal for a college student to be at this stage, but I'm at a place in my life where I don't even know what to do with myself. This affects much of what I do, my outlook on life, and how I spend my time.

HALP.

Second, concerning the blog. NOPE. I'M NOT DELETING THIS THING. Scared you, didn't I? Anyways, I'm not sure about the direction that my blogging will take. There's so much I want to write about, but this particular blog doesn't seem to have a niche. I know it's just a simple starting blog for a beginner blogger, but where do I go from here? There's so many things I love to do! Photography, acting, writing, movie reviewing...I'm a pretty artsy character, and my blogging, or whatever I choose to do, should reflect that lifestyle.

BUTBUTBUT.

Serious ramblings aside, let's get out of that nasty cloud. Happy First Day of Spring! Tulips are starting to bloom all around campus, and I love love LOVE walking by them on my way to class. They help a little with the fact that spring break is over and done with. It's always wonderful to go home and see my family and some of my high school buds.

I creeped on some fishermen. Got some great portraits. I also got to fly a plane. That was pretty cool. And I got to celebrate my brother's eighteenth birthday.

Even cooler. Because he's old. And is so much taller than me.

Nonsense.




Blogger's Note: Look for the complete scoop on how I got to fly a plane in the next post!

My Room is a Mess

That's the problem with having a creative mind. Sometimes I put off straightening things up, because my mind is elsewhere, deep inside some cesspool of creativity. 

The dorm room is a mix of two worlds. My neat, organized roommate, and my crazy explosion of organized chaos. 

My part of the room has gotten messier ever since I started taking up painting. Now, I'm not very good yet, mind you. I've just begun, so my brushstrokes are zigzagging everywhere and my paintings are simplistic. 

But it's been helping me. 

Many of you know (and as I've hinted in earlier posts), I'm currently in a dark, rough season of my life, and sometimes it's hard to function. Sometimes I can't even function. 

But when I stick a brush in my hand and swirl it through the paint on my palette, everything seems okay, if only for a little while. 

I enjoy all forms of art: dance, written word, drawing, photography (especially the last one), but right now, painting holds a special place in my heart, mind, and soul. It's the peaceful part of me, the part that's buried deep. 

You could almost say it keeps me sane. 

Light at the End of the Tunnel

And this past week has been a tunnel, my friends. A long and dark one, like the ones that we're supposed to travel down when we die.

Last Monday started out with a bang. Bedbugs. Everywhere. Our neighbors had an infestation and my roommate and I were forced to pack up our belongings and evacuate the room for 24 hours. After that, it seemed like both our lives seeped through our fingers like water, our cupped hands outstretched trying to catch at least a drop of happiness.

But this past week, our hands were dry.

The room after about two hours of cleaning. 

Everything that could go wrong, did. We were behind on everything that week. We skipped classes and work. Panic was rampant. We constantly encouraged each other, but each night as we laid on the floor in a room covered in a layer of white, powdery chemical residue, we knew we were slipping, and something was going to change.

And it did.

I cannot speak fully for my roommate, but I had a wonderful weekend. The light at the end of the tunnel, you could say.

-I helped successfully plan and execute a surprise birthday party for a sweet friend
-I finally got the right poster board for my art class.
-The chemical residue is gone from the room. My roommate and I are snoozing easily in our own beds.
-I went on a date on Valentine's Day. No, we're not a couple. And it's only been the third that I've ever been on. (My first was Valentine's last year. Go figure, right?) Dates make me nervous, and this one went pretty well.
-Got my laundry done. A bit overdue, but now I have clean clothes! YES.
-Friends. Just all the friends I got to see this weekend. They brought comfort to my soul.

I don't know what tomorrow brings. This could be another hard week. But I'm thankful for the good memories I was given, and the friends and family that God has blessed me with.

It's not champagne I swear.

Just Weary

I wish I could describe to you just how tired I am, friends. I went into this semester feeling burnt out and weary to the bone, and it doesn't seem to go away.

But every day I try even harder to catch every ray of light, seek out every moment of beauty, and breath every breath of air I can, because I'm alive.

I'm alive.

Life has been a bit like a storm at sea lately. Some times I think that I've hit my mid life crisis already, even though I don't turn twenty until April.

But I haven't given up hope yet friends. I'm exhausted, but not dead.

I'm alive, and I have so many more stories to share.


Blogger's Note: As you can tell, I've hit a bit of a rough patch. I'll share more about that later, but I wanted to let you all know how I was feeling at the moment. Sorry this post is so short! 

A Morning at the Waco Farmers Market

I am not a morning person. I could probably count good reasons for waking up early on one hand. The Waco Farmers Market, however, is most certainly one of the fingers on that hand.

A few of my friends from church and I piled into the car last Saturday for my first trip to the Farmers Market. It was rather cold, so everyone was wrapped in scarves and jackets. Yet everyone was cheerful, as we chatted excitedly all the way downtown.

In the heart of Waco, under a small grove of trees, next to an old tower, sits the white tents of the Farmers Market. The cold didn't stop too many of the locals, as they gathered around the stalls with their children and dogs playing close by.

My eyes caught on a muffin stall, and my life group leader was kind enough to buy us some fresh baked mini muffins!

My sweet friend Emily and I holding our muffins close. 

There was also purple cauliflower and delicious blueberry jam! Many delicious purple things. I also purchased, and devoured ravenously for the next few minutes, a strawberry and nutella crepe! I hadn't had a crepe in years, and luckily, the line for the famous crepe tent was short at the time.

Something another girl bought was a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich called "The Boss", with Gouda cheese, bacon, and basil on sourdough bread. She even let me try a bite! Unsurprisingly, it was absolutely wonderful. The sharp bite of the Gouda and the juicy follow up of the bacon was perfection!

That sandwich isn't the only one who's a boss! 

Besides all the food, it was nice to chat with friends and Wacoans alike, as everyone gathered under the trees and took a break from life.

Happy New Year!

Hey friends!

So, my little blogging break lasted slightly longer than I first intended, due to the adventures that were Christmas, the Cotton Bowl on New Years, and heading back to finish my sophomore year of college.

I'm also going though a rough season right now, so that's set me back life-wise quite a bit. I hope to talk a little about that, but those are stories for another time.

This year is gearing up to be one of the most interesting, as my brother graduates high school, I exit my teenage years (and all those nasty hormones too, I hope), I move to another country for a semester, and who knows, maybe I'll find my significant other and settle down to have a family...


NOT.

(That significant other part isn't in the plan anyway. No ring by springs here!)

Exciting adventures and new stories await!

Blogger's Note: I may need a little time to get settled, but active blogging should return shortly. Keep checking back! 

"The Time the Bus Died" and Other Stories from the Golden Wave Band

I'm just going to go ahead and tell you guys something. One of my all time favorite parts about going to Baylor is getting to be a part of the Baylor University Golden Wave Band, affectionately known as BUGWB (pronounced bug-WUHB).

I honestly don't know how my friends put up with me. What I do with the color guard tends to come up in many conversations and most of my wacky college stories involve events that occur when I'm with the band, or not even with the band itself, but band people. 

We're all pretty weird. In the best of ways, of course.

The Terrific Twenty of Texas 

I'm not going to say much more in introduction, because most of this post will be stories. So I thought that, as a storyteller-to-be, I could share some of my favorite off-beat tales with you. 

And I've neatly made headings for each. 

Old Sport

This one actually happened last year. So, a little back story. On the way to away games, the band watches movies on the TVs inside our charter buses. For this game, the color guard/trumpet bus ("the Grumpet bus") watched "The Great Gatsby." I'm not sure if you're familiar with "The Great Gatsby," book or movie, but in the movie, Gatsby often uses the phrase "old sport." 

Now, there was a flag move I was having  trouble with at the time. I was often confused about the sequence and tended to put my flag up when the rest of the guard put theirs down.

As we were marching through the show, there on the field in front of thousands, right as the guard performed that part in of the routine, my guard captain turned to me, looked me right in the eyes, and said, "Put your flag down, old sport." 

I almost lost it. But it worked. My flag went down in the right place. 

The Time the Bus Died

Fun fact: I sleep deeply. In fact, it's fairly hard to wake me up sometimes. However, when the mellophone next to you is shaking you vigorously sometime during the night and saying, "Maggie. We have to go. The bus broke down and won't start. We have to move buses," that usually does the trick. 

I was really groggy as I lurched off the bus. All seven band buses were pulled over on the side of the road. I staggered after my seatmate as we journeyed one bus back. The interior was brightly lit as my seatmate gestured to a couple of empty spots. I collapsed into the window seat and pulled my blanket tightly around me and drifted off to sleep. Until I didn't. At one point I woke up and couldn't sleep, so I glared at the moon.

I digress. Luckily everyone lived happily ever after. Except the bus. I don't know what happened to it. I guess it's all right, somewhere out there in the wild blue yonder. 

Hump Day

Unlike my high school marching season, which ends in late October, marching season here at Baylor concludes with the bowl game (if the football team makes it that far) in late December or early January. Which means that as the semester is wrapping up, our practice field looks like a lifeless wasteland. And the band feels like a lifeless wasteland. Especially when it's cold. One frigid Wednesday, it was so cold that the color guard, who forgot to layer as much as we should have, all piled under one blanket on the side of the field.

As there was only a small blanket and 20 of us, there were a lot of heads and legs poking out of our little pile. Somehow we got away with the most minimal practice possible as we tried not to get hypothermia.

We tried. 

Catch! 
The thing about this particular event in the lives of the color guard is that I didn't actually see this happen, but got to experience the aftermath of tears of laughter streaking down faces.

There was a girl visiting the color guard for the Bear Band program. This is when high schoolers have the opportunity to join our band for a football game, eat with us, sit with us, and see what we do. After the game, a color guard member asked our visitor whether she wanted her Powerade bottle. The girl nodded. The color guardian then asked if she could throw it.

Evidently, the visitor missed that memo, because as she stepped forward to receive her bottle, the color guardian lobbed it at her, nailing her right in the face.

Oops. She lived, though. But I'm not sure if she's coming to audition with us in the spring. 

Never Again

Another story from last year.

Sometimes I just hate earrings. You have to keep up with them, always remember to wear them at the right time, and make sure they don't break. But when they do...Extra hassle. My earrings decided to be that pair, and not cooperate with me or my ears all season. Because they could.

And because they could, the back of one of the earrings chose the worst moment to break off: on the bus. On the way to an away game. But thanks to the Mary Poppins bag of one of my fellow color guardians, there was a hot glue gun and a safety pin available. Can you see where this is going yet?

The end of the story was the part where she had to brace my head as the bus rattled down the highway and jam the sharp part of the safety pin through the piercing in my ear.

Welcome to color guard. At least I got my tetanus shot before I came to college.

Behind the scenes of  ESPN's College Game Day. We're just as crazy as you think we are, if not more. 

Mini Tales

So here are a couple of stories that are a couple of sentences each. I still wanted to add them, and even though they aren't long, I gave them their own category. 

A Quick Snooze

The day of our first performance, I fell asleep on the floor of my captain's house. According to the rest of the guard, they watched me sleep for a while. How nice.

Canned
On our way to the stadium one afternoon, I made a passing comment about how I could fit into one of the nearby trash cans. Seconds later, I felt two strong arms wrap around my waist, as another color guardian tried to physically lift me into the trash can. I was having none of that, so I kicked my legs until she released me. Probably the closest I've been to actually being canned. 

Hope you enjoyed them! Not to worry, there are plenty more where those came from! With the bowl game coming up in a couple of weeks, I'll have some more stories to tell about my adventures with BUGWB.

Blogger's Note: Just a heads up: I'll be taking this coming Friday off. Because Christmas. And no internet. Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas! 

Thoughts of Home

Take a bus, take a train, go and hop an aeroplane,
Put the wife an' kiddies in the family car!
For the pleasure that you bring when you make that doorbell ring,
No trip could be too far!


Oh! There's no place like home for the holidays,
'Cause no matter how far away you roam,
If you wanna be happy in a million ways,
For the holidays you can't beat home sweet home!


I love that song so much. 

This time of year fills me with excitement. All my finals are complete, most of my packing is done, and tonight is my last night in the dorm for a while. 

I'm coming home tomorrow. 

But what is home? I've been asked that question so, so many times and I never know what answer to give? 

What home should I tell you about first? I've lived in so many places! My first home in Cleburne, Texas? Or how about my childhood homes in Kitakyushu and Higashi-Kurume? What about my adolescent home in Missouri, where I will be traveling to tomorrow? Maybe even the newest place I've come to call home, the green and gold campus of Baylor University? 

Do I even have a home? 

I don't know. 

But one thing I've learned through my nomadic life, is that home is not just where your rump rests (Lion King quote, anyone?), but it's where you feel welcomed and loved. Everyone around you wants you there with them, because they love you. 

Love is what makes a home a home. 

And I am more than ecstatic to spend my favorite holiday with my favorite people. Christmas is a time of giving and sharing love, through gifts, through time, through laughter and joy. 

I may have a slight "home crisis", but does that matter? Sometimes. 

But what's most important is that I get to love and be loved where I am and where I am going next. 

Time Lapse

Blogger's Note: No, I haven't died! I've just been really busy the past few days. Sorry about that. 

A few days ago, after a year, I finished watching all nine seasons of The Office on Netflix. I don't even know what to feel right now.

As the characters grew in the nine years that take place during the span of the show, I grew with them as I watched, although it was a shorter amount of time. 

Look at how much they've grown:

Me too: 

Let me assure you, I haven't gotten any less weird. 

It's funny how much can change in a year. Friendships, ideas, activities, beliefs, life. It's funny how much life can change in a year. How much you can achieve or lose. New adventures, new places, new memories. 

Thinking over this past year, I realize that I've done so much. There so many hellos: I went on my first cruise,  my first date, I got my first job, I finished my first year of college. But there were also so many good byes: I said farewell to one of my best friends as she entered the mission field for a year and a half in the western United States, I said farewell to my guinea pig Saeli as she died this fall, I've decided to set color guard aside for a year as I study abroad in London next year, I've said farewell to sanity, as this fall has been one of the hardest seasons I've ever lived. 

Life is hard. But I'm grateful for the breath that's been put into my lungs each morning for the past 365 days. The new year is coming in a few short weeks. 

I wonder how much will change in the next year? 

The One Time I Acquired Seven Boyfriends Over The Course of One Weekend

Sorry Mom and Dad. 


First of all, I see no problem with being forever alone.

Second of all...I will admit that the zombie was pretty rad.

But what was I doing so far down south? Well, one of the many perks to going to a rather large Christian university is that we have a four-day Easter break. Most college kids elected to head home and spend Easter with their families, but as I live 10-11 hours away, my sweet friend Emily decided to spirit me away down to San Antonio, her hometown, for the long weekend.

Flower wreaths for the upcoming Fiesta holiday! 

That doesn't explain the abundance of boyfriends. Honestly, I have no idea where that plot began.

It all started with a chance meeting of Emily's friend Jesus (pronounced HAY-soos) at the local movie theater.

And went downhill from there.

I was able to rack up at multiple "boyfriends" a day as Emily and I trekked around the city of San Antonio, visiting her old stomping grounds as well as more touristy areas downtown.

Besides the sudden influx of men in my life, I was thrilled to be able to re-experience San Antonio. I was a young elementary schooler the last time I visited, and there was so much I had forgotten about the beautiful city.

One highlight was the River Walk. As overcrowded as it is, it was one of the only places I really remembered, and I cried out with joy as I descended the stairs leading from the street above to the river.

It was still as beautiful as I remembered it.

Emily and I sightseeing from a bridge. 

Homemade root beer from Schilo's, a restaurant close by the River Walk!

Not to mention the Alamo. 

I also got to try my first real breakfast taco while I was there!

But on to the the real mystery! Who were these boyfriends? Ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, here is the ultimate list...of my San Antonio man posse.

1. Jesus

It all began with a prank...

2. Cardboard Spidey

Emily's hashtag: "#spideycouple"

3. Decorative cowboy

This guy probably has to put up with so much.

4. Zombie

Classier than the Walking Dead. This one does impressions too. 

5. Ryan 

Ryan was such a good sport. He even gave me his CD!

6. Jailbird Joe

I don't associate with this one much.

7. Buc-ee

He just looks so...happy...

What's wrong with you, Maggie? That last one isn't even human! I know, I know. Quite the menagerie, they are. But going home with a college friend proved to be quite the adventure!

Especially when it came to my non-existent romantic life.


[Shout out to the Emily and family for being such gracious hosts and letting me crash in their house for the weekend!]

Every Man's Mouse

Disney, yes. Mickey, no.

A couple of weeks ago, I was re-watching a couple of movies from my childhood, "The Rescuers", followed by its sequel, "The Rescuers Down Under".

But what are the Rescuers? They're mice. Yep. The Rescue Aid Society is a council of mice that meet within the United Nations building to answer the call to help anyone who needs it. Especially when it comes to rescuing adorable kiddos from psycho adults.

Penny and Medusa from "The Rescuers"
You can totally tell that Medusa's a villain because she's holding a teddy bear hostage. 

Cody and McLeach from "The Rescuers Down Under"

Australia is all fun and games until you get captured by a poacher who wants to kill all of your animal friends. 

The protagonists for both movies are Bernard and his partner Miss Bianca, the Rescue Aid Society's representative from Hungary, voiced by Bob Newhart and Eva Gabor, respectively.

Bernard

Miss Bianca

While the intrepid Miss Bianca could probably have a short post of her own, this post is primarily about Bernard. 

Let me introduce you to this glorious mouse:

Bernard came from humble beginnings. He wasn't always an agent and the representative of the good ol' U.S. of A. In fact, he was the janitor for the Rescue Aid Society, doing his duties without complaint. That is, until Miss Bianca personally asks him to be her escort on her very first mission. 

Bernard is a gentleman. He was the one that suggested Miss Bianca have an escort in the first place. He holds her umbrella, carries her luggage, and above all, saves her life. Multiple times. He never complains. Not even once. 

Bernard believes he's average. A nobody. He's actually quite the opposite. Bernard is ready to step up and rescue those kids in peril, endangering his own life in the process. He sacrifices himself time after time for the benefit of others. When Miss Bianca is accidentally captured. Bernard tames a vicious wild pig and rides it throughout the night to find her.  

Bernard on his way to steal yo girl. 

Unless someone steals his own first! 

Watching these movies again made me realize that I absolutely love Bernard. And here's why. Because he's just like all of us. 

Bernard has no superpowers. He doesn't have money, or power, or fame. He never went to college. He's not a prodigy. He's just your everyday boy next door, with his own hopes, dreams, and fears. But he's willing to set those fears aside for those he loves and for those he's never met. Bernard strives to better himself every day, even though life gets in the way sometimes. He does the best he can with what he's been given. 

And, with the help of a cast of cute characters, always manages to stop the bad guy in the end. 

I think there's a little bit of this mouse in all of us. No, we aren't mice. But we do have potential. And we have been gifted with various gifts and talents. While we may not get caught up in death-defying action, we still are extraordinary, each in his or her own way. 

We've been created for different purposes, and like Bernard, we're often hesitant to embrace them. But once we do, who knows what kind of adventures we'll be swept into.