What really is a Chaparral? (and other things I'm still learning)

There have been so many things I've learned since moving to Texas. Important things like pick-up trucks being the main source of transportation -- the ability to consume salsa out of your OWN dish at mexican restaurants -- and then there's new words like "janky" and "chaparral" that have slipped into my vocabulary courtesy of my environment. Let's be honest, I've maybe used the word "chaparral" a handful of times, but besides hearing about it from the book Lonesome Dove and reading it off the sign for a two-stepping club off of I-20, I had know idea what a chaparral* was. More on that later.

My sister graduated college last weekend. I was able to take a few days off of work and head on over to Tennessee for such a celebration. I flew in late one night and stayed until the weekend was over. I really enjoy visiting and hanging out with my younger sibling and this time was no different. There were bouts of singing, dancing, really good conversation, watching Juno, shopping, laughing, and all those wonderful thing sisters are blessed to do with one another. I found myself the night before her graduation writing her a card and realizing how much growth she's had over these past four years. My sister is a phenomenal human being and I am continually encouraged by her love and service for others. Big life moments like her graduating college really allowed me the chance to stop and take in all that she's done. Our mom came in the next day for the actual graduation and joined in on the festivities and then that Saturday, we took a trip over to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, TN. Dolly Parton's hometown. I am enjoying my family more and more as time goes on.

This past weekend was full of a whirlwind of activities. On Friday night, a few of us from our department had our end-of-the-year staff party at an all you can eat catfish restaurant (booyah!) and then took part in some wonderful games at none other than FIRE MOUNTAINNNNNN! Try saying that in your best "Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!" voice. Entertainment for hours. I felt like a little kid because all day I couldn't stop thinking about the chance I would get to ride the bumper boats. I was not let down. I feel like this has been a very quick (overall), good, challenging year for our department. I've been getting quite nostalgic over the past few days just thinking about the people I've been so blessed to have spent time with over this past year. We all have lots of fabulous memories and stories that could probably serve as the next New York Times #1 Bestseller if written down. I've been thinking about these times and then I get nervous about what's the come for this next year. I'm excited, but anxious to see how it all goes down.

One of my dear friends, Jansen, had a surprise birthday party last night. Full of yelling (on his part), eating, slap-bracelets, and good times on the dock of the Binder house. We'd all been good secret keepers about this impending party over the past week and we were finally able to see it through last night. He was surprised. We win. We all ended up on the dock after I caught everyone a delicious dinner full of catfish (ahem...sike!) and then the spontaneity happened. We decided to go two-stepping at this really shady dance club that we pass most every day on our way to work. Usually when these kinds of ideas get tossed around, a lot of us punk out based on our ability to stay awake past 10:30pm. However, last night was different. A bunch of our staff stayed out dancing til early in the morning and it was some of the most unexpected fun I'd had in a while. I'm almost positive I said the phrase "I love dancing" about 83 times. I didn't grow up two-stepping in the mountains of NC, but I absolutely loved taking part in yet another Texas tradition. So here's to dancing, friends, and me getting sentimental once again.

*Main Entry: chap·ar·ral

Pronunciation: \ˌsha-pə-ˈral, -ˈrel\

Function: noun

Etymology: Spanish, from chaparro dwarf evergreen oak, from Basque txapar

Date: 1845

1: a thicket of dwarf evergreen oaks; broadly : a dense impenetrable thicket of shrubs or dwarf trees