MerrinDonahue.com

Let’s get something straight: I was given a choice of venues for the James Taylor concert, as Dallas was not an option on this tour, choices which included Austin or Norman. Normally, I would have said Austin every time. I’m a Texan, for God’s sake. Hell or Oklahoma, it’s just geography. I’m a UT fan. Always have been. So the timing was the critical factor. I couldn’t go in the middle of the week (the Austin venue was on a Wednesday), so we were forced to take the Friday tickets (Norman). I can honestly say that I felt like a stranger in a strange land, sitting there in Lloyd Noble Auditorium, surrounded by OU paraphernalia. I was waiting for someone to point at me and see me for what I was: a Longhorn at heart. Thankfully, we escaped with our undercover identities intact, and we proceeded to have a wonderful two days, which I will now tell you about.
Friday, we had a leisurely drive up through Gainesville, which I think Kevin will agree is a place I’m never allowed to visit ever again. What follows is a verbatim account of actual events:
ME: “No, Kevin, we’re only shopping for other people. I don’t need anything, and neither do you.”
KEV:“Ok. Are you sure you don’t want to look?”
ME:“Well, maybe I’ll just peek in here.”
I then proceed to shop like a woman possessed (and I hate shopping. It really is my least favorite thing). Poor Kev left there with a significantly lighter wallet, and I still have to finish Christmas shopping for everyone, since I only bought stuff for me. Such is life.
On Friday night, after we checked into the hotel next door to–ahem–Border’s:devil, we went to a lovely dinner and then to the concert. (Big thanks to Sara, our waitress, for giving us alternate directions. We were never stuck in traffic!) James Taylor played for 3 hours, and he sang just about everything we wanted to hear. Hooray!
On Saturday, we were up and at ’em early for Krispy Kremes and a “quick trip” to the Oklahoma City Memorial. Well, the quick trip lasted about 2 hours. If you’ve never been, please take the time to make the short drive up and see it. It truly is amazing, and one of the most moving things I’ve ever seen.
Then, we hot-footed it back to Ft. Worth so I could be at work by 3:00.
All in all, a full weekend, and once again, I am reminded of how lucky I am to have a husband who loves me. On this, the eve of the 8th anniversary of our first date, I am more in love with him than ever before. Thanks for a great weekend honey.