No, there has not been a terrorist attack, political assassination attempt or the death of a rock star….One of my favorite USC players was injured yesterday in a weight lifting accident. He is lucky to be alive and out for the season I would assume.  Yes, I can hear all my Sooner friends rejoicing. Their dislike for my team dates back to the 2005 Orange Bowl and for good reason, but they have their own injured players to keep them occupied with these days.  

In fact, USC’s Stafon Johnson has a lot in common now with Oklahoma’s wounded quarterback, Sam Bradford.  Aside from being stellar athletes in their chosen sport and all around great guys, they both will be watching their team from the sidelines as they worry about their status for the NFL draft next year.   

That can not be fun.  

I know, I know, it is easy to become obsessed with a high school or college football team and get caught up in that school spirit. But it is completely something else when you have actually had the chance to meet a player or two, exchange a few words and realize that these guys are truly inspirational on many different levels.  

For instance, take this particular USC running back, Stafon Johnson, who is currently in critical condition at a downtown Los Angeles hospital, he is one of those players. This past summer, Stafon took some time out of his day to motivate and encourage a couple hundred young, aspiring football players at a USC football camp. He spoke of persistence, determination and discipline and his words were gobbled up by these kids. When he was finished speaking, instead of bolting out of there like he had better things to do, Stafon stuck around for quite some time apparently not just to take photos with the kids, who coach Carroll had already sent back to drills, but he was chit chatting with their parents -most of whom were hanging around waiting for their chance to talk to the coaches, the players or snap a photo with USC’s #2 on the depth chart RB (running back).

Myself included.

I’m not shy.  

That would be a pirated version of the Earth, Wind and Fire song the Senator and I love so much. We l-o-v-e this song because it is so….so…well, reminiscent of our youth?  Maybe that is a stretch, but it sure makes for fun dancing music.  The Senator and I have other reasons to love this song however, in that the title is September!  The month we got hitched!  Who cares if we amend the date a little bit each time we hear it, right?

I love this photo of our wedding for many reasons, but the best is what you don’t see in the picture. Aside from the big grin and wide smiles on our glowing face, while we were strolling down the aisle and out of the church the Senator had a little wardrobe mishap.  Yes, the vest he was wearing under his jacket decided it would fly the coop and pop off.  Bing, just like that, and timed its release right at the moment this terrific photo was being taken.  

To make this much more of a dilemma, it would be our FAVORITE photo from the wedding ceremony. A trauma for which the Senator’s mother-in-law had never seen the likes.  Trauma, because this happened waaay before the digital age and it was not like our fab photographer, Mr. Dinsmore, would able to select the next one in the series of 500 matching shots for us to choose.  No, this was it.  The only photo and our particular favorite.

Well, the Senator’s mother-in-law assured us this problem was quite fixable and had that “fab” photographer prove his “fabness” by asking him to delicately airbrush the very white and shining star of the photo, the strap to the Senator’s vest, right out of the picture.  Which is why this is my most favorite pic of them all.  Aside from the fact that I was now the Mrs. Senator and a very, very happy one to boot.

I dare ya to look for the strap.  Airbrushing was an art form in 1994. 

Paris. Paris. Paris.

Cannes. Cannes. Cannes.  No explanation needed!

And, a little treat just for you Senator, on this very special most wonderful day!

Love, from the Mrs.

And that hair!  Oh that hair. Mine, not his of course!  Whatever was I thinking?  This was 1994 yet I look to be still stuck in 1985.  Does anyone wear bangs these days? Did they back then? 

I have fond memories from the night before our BIG wedding day fifteen years ago.  The Senator’s mother hosted a lovely dinner for us, hence the formal attire, and lots of our friends and family gathered to help us celebrate.

I remember being overwhelmed at the kindness they offered in the form of best wishes, words of congratulations and silly, obnoxious toasts.  What is it with the pre-wedding toasts when all of your very dear and closest friends, friends who are like family, feel compelled to let every skeleton out of the closet?  Not sure I ever got that.  Anyway, our friends began appearing several days before our wedding to help us celebrate and it is their friendship and the memories of those last few remaining hours before my life would change forever that linger. 

It’s safe to say that the last fifteen years have been one heck of an awesome ride. Thank you Senator!