Lauren Clark

Lauren Clark

Wienie Dog Parking?

Posted June 19, 2008

My O.C.D. finally kicked in enough to put together some of those bits and pieces that I have wanted to share with anybody who may care (or at least read) See...I don't usually have one topic or subject I'm blogging about...well, I do have stories, but don't usually type them...I don't take time! I rather just TELL lots of smaller things/happenings (hence my dream of being a reporter, not so much a writer) I guess I think writing takes too long? But I'm putting that idea aside to give you "this here blog" (said w/ a 66-year-old-man-from-Texas-draw) Good grief, what a long intro...

Parking. I never cease to be blessed by God with a fantastic parking spot when I head to the Rivermarket. Never fails. Be it some random day during the week or the busiest Saturday night at 10 pm, I get a great spot. Yes, this has something to do w/ timing (and I have a little secret I've discovered about parking in the Rivermarket :) but it also has something to do with God. I'm thankful when I get a good spot (and safely at that) and take a second to thank Him. The Bible says "He who is not thankful for the small things will not be thankful for the big things." Right now, STOP and think of some small thing you take for granted and realize how much you appreciate it. Now, thank God.

A few days ago I went to On the Rocks (in the Rivermarket, with a fabulous parking spot, mind you!) I went to take "party pics" which is what I do. The Gettys were playing. For those of you who don't know who The Gettys are, I'm sorry. For those of you who do, 'nuff said. They are a high-energy, talented, fun group of guys who put on a great show anytime, anywhere. I was visiting with a friend who, when I told him I was going home, decided to walk outside with me to take a picture. Matt (lead singer of The Gettys) walked with us. He possesses awesome enthusiasm and showmanship on the stage. Off the stage, he's a loving husband and father. I'm not saying we're best friends or even talk often for that matter. I just want to give a public shout-out and thank you for your words the other night. Maybe you were caught up in the moment, maybe you were just flattering me. But I doubt it. Because I think I got a little bit of the on-stage enthusiasm with the off-stage sincerity in that brief talk we had on the sidewalk in the Rivermarket. And it made an impression on me before I walked to my nearby parked car ;)

The other day I called my sister (she lives in Texarkana with her husband and 3 kids.) My nephew Brett (5 years old) answered the phone. But he didn't have much attention for the phone as he was watching cartoons. So he passed it off to Zoe. Zoe is the 4 year old QUEEN of the family. Imagine the most the hot pink, prissy, glittery, feathery...you get the picture. I asked her what she was doing. After she told me "watching cartoons" I decided to expound on that. "If you were going to be a cartoon character, what would you be?" I asked. " A shark!" was her response. (She has never seen a shark, been interested in sharks, or even watching a cartoon about a shark. That's just the random imagination of a 4-yeaar-old) I proceeded to ask her a few other family members and here's what she answered.

Brett (her brother) an octopus

Gabby (her 3-year-old sister) Tinkerbell

her mom a spider

her dad a giraffe.

I hesitated to ask her about Aunt Lauren. Not ceasing to surprise me, her answer was...a wienie dog. Lovely. A wienie dog. BUT! Her mother told me that I should feel honored, because Zoe actually holds wienie dogs in high esteem, ever since her previous pet wienie dog Prissy (or was it Sassy?)

Thank you, God, for good and safe parking spots. Thank you, Matt and Tim, for your words. Thank you, Zoe for...being you. In the end, that's what we all need to be, right?