Happy Birthday, Witty

So today is Lauren Witty's 24th birthday. Tomorrow marks 6 months since she left us. I have been dreading today for quite a while, not really sure about how I would feel and how to celebrate the birthday of someone who is not here to celebrate with me. Initially, I thought that I would just stay in Nashville and try to keep busy to keep my mind off of it but, I decided that wasn't fair to Witty. We ALWAYS celebrated Witty's birthday in Martin and it just seemed wrong to pretend that it didn't exist. My next plan was to come back to Jackson and "celebrate" on my own. I decided that was the worst idea possible. So, yesterday Melissa and I got together and ran a few errands, ordered a pizza, and spent the night reminiscing on memories and laughing at pictures. It was the perfect way to celebrate. I know Witty was there with us laughing right along. I still can't believe she's gone.

For this blog, in honor of my dear friend's birthday, I thought that I would share some of the memories that still make me laugh. I thank God that I have these memories:
(in no particular order...)

*When Witty lived with me in 401 Martin Place. She had clothes and groceries there and we made up my couch every night for her to sleep on.

*Lisa's What Not to Wear Party- in this picture, we are doing the "I'm So White Dance"

*"And I bet you $5 that I can make you put that lampshade on your head.."

*The first night that we hung out with the Bethel Boys and Witty assisted Notches when he got sick.

*Keg Party for Witty's 21st birthday.

*Dressing up as KISS for our Dynamic Duo social.

*Going to Jackson with Witty, Shannon, Lauren Gleason, and Kathryn to get Witty a new CD player for her car and eating at O'Charleys

*Dressing up as pirates for Halloween (one of my favorites!!)

*When Witty went to Searcy, Arkansas with me for the weekend to visit Erica.

*When Witty was going to a wedding in Memphis and didn't want to go by herself so me, Amber, and Lisa rolled out of bed and went with her. While Witty was at the wedding, we drove her car all over Memphis listening to Oldies.

*Going to Memphis the night before the first time we went to RMH with Dowdy and Kasey Jenkins and spending the night with Witty.

*The night I met Ryan. Witty took such good care of me that night. Years later we still laughed about the "if you break Jessica's heart I will kill you" speech that she gave Ryan that night.

*Spring Break in Florida ESPECIALLY the "WHAT AM I WEARING?!?!?" moment!!

*Going to Florida with Witty over Labor Day. We drove from where 45 began until it ended!

*Going to New Orleans- especially Witty and Amber sticking with me when I was super slow because of my broken foot.

*Throwing Witty's Day-Long Surprise 20th Birthday Party, which included taking her to Huddle House for breakfast ridiculously early and the most perfect scavenger hunt ever.

I think my favorite memories are just daily laughs and knowing I could talk to her anytime and I would always leave feeling good about life. Happy birthday, Witty.

Losing My Blogging Virginity

I am starting blog #1 by answering a few baisc questions:

Question: Who am I hanging out with these days?
Answer: Ryan. A lot. (I mean we are getting married in 221 days so that's fair, right?) Melissa Coleman on our weekly date to Don Panchos. Erin Jordan when she goes to Ryan's football games with me. My parents on the weekend. Recently I have seen Martin friends, Savannah and Juliana, and Erica.

Question: What have I been up to?
Answer: WELL. I quit working as a nutritionist for Blue Cross Blue Shield of TN in August to start my Dietetic Internship in Jackson. So, as sad as it made me, I left Ryan, my parents, and my Nashville friends, and moved to Jackson, where I am living in an apartment with no cable and no couch. In Jackson, I worked for Regional Hospital of Jackson doing my clinical rotation and now I am working for Jackson Madison County General Hospital doing my food service management rotation until the middle of December. I also go back to Nashville every weekend to watch Ryan's football team play.

Question: When are Ryan and I getting married?
Answer: June 26, 2010 and I can't wait!! We are getting married in Nashville. So, for those of you that do not live there, you have plenty of time to make plans to get there!!

Question: Where can you come to see me?
Answer: In Jackson!!! PLEASE come see me!! I have a big apartment all to myself and I need company!

Question: Why did I create a blog?
Answer: Reading Amber Niblock's blog made me very happy and made me want one of my own!!