How Old am I?

I do believe I can officially call myself an older woman. I can't say I'm all too happy about it, but you get the idea when you stop getting carded for anything. That's okay, I'll take the high road and call myself "seasoned with life experience", thank you very much.

I received a call a few weeks ago from a friend back home. Michelle ( I have a few friends with this popular name) called to tell me that her daughter had just been proposed to. Then she cried. Then I got choked up. Because this baby girl was, well, still a baby in my eyes. We reminisced about how I was there at the house when she brought her home from the hospital and I literally held that baby all afternoon. I was fifteen at the time and Michelle was the wife of my friend's brother. She was a young mother, but very much in love with her husband and new baby. We used to sit and play cards for hours while she waited for the birth of this baby.

Stacey is the name of this sweet baby that I held so close that chilly January day in 1986. Now the poot head is 21 years old and making me feel on the old side. I saw this sweet young lady grow from a baby to a toddler with the curliest hair and enormous big brown eyes. I've seen her struggle through being a teenager and trying to find her way in this world. She's always always always had the most beautiful smile. Even when she did her time with braces. The first time she stood up in church to sing, I just wanted to bawl because she was so brave and I felt like saying "That's my girl up there!" Sure, Michelle and Davie (Dad) can take full credit for creating and raising a woman who is beautiful inside and out. But, I changed a diaper or two and have always had a soft spot in my heart for Stacey.

Now, we gotta share her with Jay. I don't know about all of this. I've gotten nothing but good reviews about this fellow, but I might need to spend some quality time with the young man before I let go. He's only met me recently and I probably didn't make the greatest first impression when I informed him that Fred has connections with Navy Seals and, you know.......

Regardless, I gotta hand it to the guy. He did the beach proposal and is building my girl a house. He is adorable and the potential for beautiful babies for me and Michelle to spoil is a plus, too. He treats our girl so good and I appreciate that more than he knows. All I ask is that he keeps up the good work or there'll be Navy Seals involved. I'm just saying.

This is one wedding next August I will do everything in my power to attend. I want to be near the front with a good seat. I want to remember tissues as I know I will cry. I want to see Davie give Stacey away and know she will be taken care of.

It is with great pleasure and happiness that I announce the engagement of Stacey and Jay for all the Internets to see. This is my girl and I love her. I look forward to loving that Jay, too!

This is engagement night. Trust me, the ring is gorgeous!

This is at the USC game. Bite your tongue, it's UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA. We are in no way related to that other team who try to use our letters on a regular basis.

CONGRATULATIONS, STACEY AND JAY!