Damn, I LOST.

I woke up early this morning and turned on the TV to find out who won the primary elections last night.

NOTE:  Waking up "early" is normal for me -- I never set an alarm anymore.  Enjoy it, kiddos -- your time will come...

I was surprised that my normal morning KXAS (5) was not showing the results.  Switched over to WFAA (8) and they were there big as life, so good.

NOTE:  Of course, I did switch back at 7 am for The Today Show, creature of habit AND creature of love for Matt and Al...

So, I watched the results.  Some of my candidates won and some didn't.  That's life. 

It made me start thinking about all of the elections that I lost.  All of the times that I didn't get the part that I wanted in the play.  All of the times that I wasn't chosen by the nominating committee to chair committees or serve as the president of volunteer groups.  All of the times things didn't work out like I wanted them to.

But, as sure as I am sitting here writing this, I know that those disappointments changed me for the better.  Some made me stronger.  Some helped me change the path I was on and led me to something even better. 

NOTE:  Certainly some of these disappointments showed me who my real friends were.  But, let me tell you that while some of my friends didn't vote for me/support me at the time for whatever thing I was trying to win/be nominated for -- I forgave them and am even better friends with them now.  But I still know who you are -- ha!

Now, I know that the kids we help at Community Partners of Dallas have been subjected to things far worse than losing the student council race, but I still tell them the same things I'm telling you today.

Here's what I know for sure (If you caught the Oprah reference -- 10 points!):

1. Forgive those who you feel wronged you.  They probably made the decision they made at the time thinking it was the best decision.  Most people try to do the right thing.  And their decision may very well have been the best decision for you too -- you just didn't know it yet.
2. Losing a race has taught me more than winning.  Don't get me wrong -- a win is wonderful and tons of fun and very gratifying.  But losing stays with you longer and can drive you to do better.
3. As you get older, you will remember the bad things that happened, but none of it will hurt as much as it did then. 

Life is too short to dwell on disappointments.  Go to bed early, wake up tomorrow, and hold your head high.  It will all work out.

The Hangover Excuse

Where were you on Friday night at 7:45 pm?

I was sitting between Maria and Helen seeing the opening number of Catch Me If You Can at the Dallas Summer Musicals.  We had finished a quick dinner at Salum and rushed down to Fair Park, just in time to be seated for the show.  The opening number is "Live in Living Color" and it was just getting going at 7:45...

At 7:45 pm Friday 5-week-old Spencer Claire White was alone with her 20-year-old father in Garland.  The father said he had a hangover and a headache and was trying to quiet the baby when according to The Dallas Morning News he "placed his hand around the back of her neck and squeezed too tight".  You can see part of his jailhouse interview here from WFAA:  http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/Man-accused-of-killing-baby-talks-to-News-8--191895301.html

When a child dies -- and it makes the news -- we shake our heads and talk about the tragedy of the death.  About how someone could do such a thing.  About what sort of person could do that.

Where were you when Spencer Claire died?  Most of you were probably having dinner or watching TV or any number of "normal" things.

I wish Spencer Claire had been with me.