Double T

The Double T is for Texas Tech University. When I was a junior in high school, I went with my best friend and her parents to her college orientation at Texas Tech University. The campus was gorgeous. Tons of old trees, wide open spaces, cool old dorms, a kick butt athletic center. I had a great time, I caught senioritis, and I fell in love with the school.

I ended up going to Tech partially because of this visit, and partially because they dealt with me better than Texas A&M did. No matter what the reason, I spent five years at this school. My initial response to the campus proved to be true. Tech was an awesome school.

Unfortunately, Texas Tech University is in Lubbock, Texas. And while I loved and love Tech to this day, there was no happier day in my life than the one when my father drove us away in a UHaul when I graduated. Happiness truly is Lubbock in your rearview mirror.

Color Guard

My first teaching assignment was at my alma matar. When I was a student there, I was a huge band geek. I was in the marching band and concert band. I loved the daily music fix, and I loved being part of an organization full of people with interests similar to mine. During April of my first year teaching, I agreed to be the color guard sponsor for the marching band for the following school year. (At the time, I planned on indefinitely.)

This was a mistake. My relationship with the head director had not been positive. He played favorites and was not a nice man. I thought as a teacher, this would change, but I was seriously mistaken. What I didn't know when I was happily going about my business during the beginning of the following year is that the person who had been hired to teach the girls in the color guard was not following the rules. So much so, that he ended up being fired for misconduct with a student about half-way through the marching season before he'd finished coreographing the routine.

The girls were devastated. And although I couldn't teach them, I could love them. And I did. I was serious about protecting them from all the things that were happening around them. Even through all the backlashes from the head director, total lack of communication and utter hostility, I came to see these young ladies as "my girls."

One of "my girls", Caroline, gave this charm to me for Christmas that year. My goal is that one day I'll be able to look at it and just remember the great times I had with her and the rest of the group. For now, it's a precious reminder of the importance of loving those you come in contact with.

I was only the sponsor of this group for one year. And even though taking the job was a mistake, I wouldn't change a thing. I learned a lot. And those lessons have ended up being important thoughout my career.

Eye of Horus

I love Egypt. I have been fascinated by ancient Egyptian history for a long time. My favorite part of ancient Egypt is the mythology. The stories of the gods and godesses are so cool. My favorite of the pantheon of ancient Egyptian gods is Horus. He was the god of goodness and light, which is cool. His eye was the moon. I'm a fan of the moon. Especially taking pictures of it. I've always thought the moon was exceptionally beautiful. Given all of the cool meaning, this charm was a present to myself. Hey, I didn't say all of the charms were gifts!