Back in the day (see early 90’s), I used to love to watch TNN when they’d show the Country music videos.  I think TNN pretty much only showed music videos, infomercials, and NASCAR.  Oh wait, I also seem to remember some show with a woman name Lorrie or Lorrie-Anne, and a dude with a receding hairline and a fab 80’s mustache.  Stand by while I Google.

Yep – Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase.  I could be mistaken, but I think they were pretty much the radio personalities in country music at that time. I digress….Let’s go back to my original thought.

Anyways, back when Tim McGraw wasn’t as refined as he is now and still sported black long-sleeve piratey shirts, and a mullet – and Faith Hill was singing a song I never knew was by Janice Joplin, I would watch music videos while talking on the phone with a friend – or just by myself. Martina, Trisha, Garth (back for they were married), Reba, Alan, Confederate Railroad, McBride and the Ride, George Strait….the list just goes on. I would watch, and was sure I could *totally* have been in that video.  We definitely could have done that (whatever that was). For some reason Toby Keith’s Should’ve Been a Cowboy comes to mind….haha! I’m sure we believed we could have been in every video that came on. Two videos – ten minutes of commercials…..two videos…and the cycled continued.

Fast forward to tonight. Videos are easily accessed whenever you want to watch them. TNN is no longer a thing. I have no idea what happened to Crook & Chase, I’m fairly certain Tim and Faith have aged more gracefully than most people can hope, and a couple of years back I realized that Rhett Akins was old enough to have a son that had his own music on the radio. I took my niece to see him in concert her Senior year. Actually, we went on a freezing cold night to Biloxi for her to see FL/GA Line, but both agreed that night that Thomas Rhett put on the best show.  I never did get to see his dad in concert, but I do still listen to his music.  And now, his son. And maybe it should make me feel old, but if anything is going to make me feel old…it’s probably going to be the fact that my own son is 18, and I have laugh lines when I’m not even smiling.  Wait, let me see…nope, I still don’t feel old.  Again….I’m off track.

I’m sitting on my bed, having just showered after breathing in steaming salt water, and then torturing myself with the Neti-Pot in an attempt to get rid of this sinus funk, when a friend calls.  We catch up a minute and she starts telling me something, when I interrupt and say: Oh girl, no!  No!  Please tell me you didn’t forget to file for homestead exemption!  Please tell me this isn’t where that’s heading.

And, y’all, I had to laugh.  This is where I am. Homestead exemption filings, taxes, and insurance. Grown-up observations, and responsibilites.  I definitely don’t watch music videos and believe I could be in them. I watched something on tv the other night and felt like the poor little girl should have been allowed to put on more clothes before she had to come out and drop it like it was hot, while singing and slinging three feet of hair around.  She was probably 25. I’m not old, but I spent a good amount of time pronouncing Uber as “You-ber” and seriously thought Spotify was “Spotifly”…..until my niece and son pointed out on Christmas that I wasn’t spotting a fly.  Whatever.  So, that’s it…I’m 37 and have realized that it has been a long time since I thought I could be in a music video – or even wanted to be in one….but if anyone needs someone to sell your tax services, insurance, or even your homemade Southern cooking – I could probably be your girl.  Just make it a business name I can pronounce.  hahahaha!

This is a beautiful life.

Side note – A little over 20 years ago now, in October 1996, I skipped my Senior Homecoming dance to go to my first real concert. Not one at the fair, but a real concert.  It was Alan Jackson…and I never regretted it.  For Christmas, I gifted JD with tickets to see him with Lee Ann Womack in just a few weeks…his Senior year.  I have no doubt it will be even better than it was 20 years ago.  You see, a couple of months later – in December of 1996 – I got tickets to the concert of the time…GARTH BROOKS!  I was sure nothing could have been better…but two years ago, when I surprised my son with tickets to see Garth Brooks in Atlanta for his 16th birthday, I realized I was wrong.  For all that has changed in the last 20+ years, some things get even better. Garth Brooks with JD – while scream singing “Friends in Low Places” with him, my sister, and nephew…was way better than the memory of my Senior year. Here’s to the memories, but here’s to today. It might be homestead exemptions, taxes, and insurance….but it’s so much sweeter than that, too.

No, seriously, it really is a very beautiful life. Now, I’m off to listen to a little “That Ain’t My Truck” or maybe hunt down that old Toby Keith video to see who I thought I could have played.  Or maybe throw some clothes in the dryer, and prepare for tomorrow.  haha!