The Story

I always thought I would cry, when the time came.

But instead I just laughed--a giddy, unbridled happy laugh. I think I said, "oh my gosh" and I might have said, "I think I'm the happiest person in the world right now."

I don't really remember.

I should have seen it coming, really. But you see, Sam's always romantic and thoughtful. It's not unusual at all for him to show up with flowers and to remember that six months ago we met for the first time. We usually go on fun, well planned-out dates. He's always so sweet. And he didn't seem nervous at all!

We snowshoed up to Donut Falls. It's a significant place in our courtship, so it was a fitting place to end it and begin our engagement.

He asked me to marry him! We were taking pictures like we always do--I go stand in the frame while he sets up his camera on the tripod.

One moment I was squinting into the snow, the next I look up and there he is, the love of my life down on one knee. And he's holding a ring in a little gray box.

It's perfect. I've never worn a ring in my whole life. (OK, maybe I wore a CTR ring for a few days when I was 8.) I'm just not a jewelry person. But this is so different. It signifies so much, and it's so beautiful, and it's exactly my style.

Sam and I have been calling and texting and visiting so much this weekend. We have to let everyone know our exciting news. Getting back to life and focusing on essential things will be difficult, but somehow between now and July 12, we're going to be planning our new life together.

I'm going to New Orleans for the ACES conference in April, graduate in May, and get a job... all while planning a wedding.

I am so blessed! Sam is so wonderful. He is the perfect man for me. I'm so happy and in love, I think I'm going to explode. It's been hard not to blog as much, mostly because before now, I couldn't share all these exciting plans with the world. But now, I will have so much to write about. This is the start of a beautiful journey.

I have such a wonderful family, and my new Thornton family is so kind and loving. Our friends have been fantastic and supportive. There is so much love going on!

Oh, and lest I forget! Happy Grammar Day!

-Meg

psycho

Hey yo! I totally feel like a crazy psycho late night post.

Because I seriously just learned to spell "psycho." And now like using it to describe things, although most aren't as gruesome and psycho as that movie.

So once I get through this week of school, it's a BRIDAL SHOWER themed weekend. Yes, that's two of them.

The soon-to-be-Mrs. Norris is getting married a month from today and so that means we're going to shower her with love, gifts and slightly naughty games. This is good, but somewhat fraught with peril.

Do the math

Brittni + Me + pink + zurchers + david's bridal * hormones = extreme madness

I can't wait to post pics of this extra-ordinary event. There will be paper lanterns, candy, umbrellas, flowers and retro musical music.

OK, now I'm feeling guilty about putting a picture of psycho on this post about lovely lady bridal showers. Well at least it got your attention, right? And this post was a great othering* activity.

Be cool, peeps. And wish me luck as I deal with double objects. Oh syntax. So psycho.

-Meg

othering: verb- doing something semi-productive instead of homework (often used as a gerund)

11:58 p.m.

I was just thinking about all the stuff I have to do.

There's the usual stuff. Like reading about syntax--which I barely understand. I have to write a paper and cram for Spanish. (There's no studying ahead for Spanish. It is all cramming. We do so much and in so little time.)

Then there's the unusual stuff.

I have to do an observation for Anthropology and write about it.

Today I just finished helping out throw together a Valentines FHE. It felt so good to spend this day just working on serving other people.

It reminded me about 2 Valentine's Days ago. My great-grandma was spending her first Valentine's alone since her husband had died. I never feel comfortable with Valentine's Day, whether I'm seeing anyone or not. But I didn't want to mope, so I went up and cooked dinner with her and visited for a long time.

So I think I want to start a tradition for my Valentine's Days. I want to find ways to serve people every year. Because after FHE, I was still tired. I still had tons of stuff to do. I still am behind and my room's still a mess. But I feel so much stronger, and ready to go do anything.

I'm ready for the weird and tedious and boring and complex and the hard. I love being busy. I can do this. And I have some pretty amazing people by my side. I couldn't do it without them.

-Meg

Much Ado about Shakespeare

Dear Shakespeare,

I love you. I love that you never ONCE say "There are no words to describe how I feel." You always have words.

But you left me more than words.

You left me people. I see myself up there, reflected in those characters and I that frightens me but I don't care. I give the actors the credit they deserve, but you are the one who wrote them there. You gave them people and places to interpret.

You make me miss Elder Hill. Oh, he is Benedick. Benedick is he! I was doing so well at hiding and suppressing everything. I was distracting and stiffening myself until I saw Benedick and Beatrice and Shylock and Pip and Biddy and Portia. Now I'm an emotional catastrophe. I'm emotional and romantic. I watched 2 chick flicks today! (Actually they were rather dull and utterly boring compared to your work, but, after all, romance comes in all colors.)

"Serve God, love me, and mend"

"Shall quips and sentences and these paper bullets of the brain awe a man from the career of his humor? No, the world must be peopled. When I said I would die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I were married."

There are many more quotes, and I will find them as I reread this play. I am sappy and romantic and tired. And there are shooting stars that are all the easier to see in all the darkness of the country.

-Megan