'12. Not 1912.

Last year, I was really against a year-end post.

Which is funny, because 2011 was such a big year for me.

So big, really, that I thought 2012 would quite pale in comparison.

But upon reflection, it has been quite remarkable.

And what else is a blog for?

Top 12 about Twelve:

(not ranked, because that would just be too difficult)

(and obviously this is only the good parts.

there have been plenty of bad ones.

don't get the wrong idea.)

1. First time to California.

And I did it twice.

Needless to say, I'm in love.

Me at La Jolla Beach.

2. First birthday party since I was in eighth grade.

And 3948593 people showed up.

With the birthday banner Killy & Tim made me.

3. Went inside two pioneer-made temples 

for the first time this year:

Salt Lake City in February and 

St. George in July.

And attended the Brigham City Temple dedication in September.

Jess & I at the St. George temple.

4. New job description at work,

with more opportunities to plan and train.

And associate with the best people on campus.

In the Freshman Mentoring office.

5. Relief Society president for a semester. Eep!

Seriously, so blessed during that time.

Went on so many dates :)

Here's a nice picture of me from that time.

6. Sent a ton of friends on mission this year.

First her.

Michele: England

Then her.

Rachel: Florida

Then her.

Shelisa: New York

Then her.

Jessica: California

And last, her.

Cassie: Spain

And the other half of them are leaving next year.

But, good news,

the boys my age came home this year!

7. One of my favorite parts of this year

was really just my summer dinner group.

I mean, you get free dinner every night with good company

and you only have to cook thrice over the summer.

The best time was when I made a pioneer feast on Pioneer Day:

barbecued pork sandwiches, potatoes, biscuits, baked beans, strawberries & blueberries, root beer, and peach cobbler.

And then we went to an Orem Owlz baseball game,

and then to Denny's.

It was all very American.

Somehow Jess had never been to a baseball game!
And there was a rainbow.

8. Friends married!

First, Katie. One of the best friends from home.

With all the girls.

And then Lizzie & Clark.

They were a huge part of this year.

Somehow we let all this time pass without a good picture of us being taken.

I think I took this picture.

That's why it's off center.

The night they got engaged!

9. Brought a couple of grades back from the dead

(like that Emily Dickinson class, remember?)

and ended up without a grade lower than an A- this year.

Took the GRE.

And whittled down my list of possible futures.

Linguistics Professor

Museum Studies

Law School

Linguistics Professor (again)

High school teacher

This is John Stuart Mill.
I referenced his theory in a paper I wrote.
And I just love statues.

10. Exactly 100 blog posts this year.

Blogging has been a big part of my life.

Favorite pastime, besides eating.

11. A new development this year that I like to call "Say what you need to say."

When you have something to say, say it.

It helps everyone know what's going on.

And it's done me well.

I don't usually promote these things,
but a lot of this is how I feel.

12. And hey, the world didn't end.

Home.

Today I went to church in the building where I grew up.

This is it. Banisters perfect for sliding.

I probably should have said

in the building I grew up going to.

But I think it was right the first way.

I did grow up there.

At every turn, there was someone I knew,

whom I was happy to see.

A building full of lifelong friends.

Most of my Sunday school class was together

for the first time in years.

And I wonder why we wasted so much time back then

not being better friends.

We were all each other had.

But I hope the love I have for them now can make up for it.

Today, I was at home.

It's a wonderful life.

I recently wrote a facebook status hating on Elf.

So I couldn't write another such status,

or everyone would think I'm a Grinch.

(I like that movie, for the record.)

But I just watched "It's a Wonderful Life" with my parents,

and this is my synopsis:

Two hours of stress 

for five minutes of crying

and a couple of cute little kids.

I mean, it is a good movie.

But sometimes George's life wasn't that wonderful.

Luckily,

having a roomful of friends at Christmas at the end of the movie

is what makes a wonderful life,

and I believe that.

Autobiography.

I tried something new.

I enjoy being a girl.

Today, while browsing Etsy,

I decided

If I'm going to spend my whole life as a woman,

I might as well wear pretty things in my hair

Etsy shop

and scarves

Etsy shop

and high heels.

Etsy shop

There are a lot of things that women can do

that men can't.

And I should do more of them.

A Natural Barber.

In middle school and high school, I loved to write stories.

I've been wanting to post something I wrote,

and today on my bookshelf at home, I found the perfect thing.

I never could write a real plot,

and you won't find one here.

I don' hold my breath for snow days. I don' pay no attention to the weather at all. If it happens, it happens. You don't hafta know everything before it happens.

So that's why I'm walkin' down the street in a beat up old windbreaker jus' as it's starin' to snow. Well, look. They all turned out to be right. It was gonna snow. But it didn' help nothin' to chit chat about it. Woulda happened either way.

Mr. Kemp waves to me from the doorway of the barber shop. There he is with a big ol' broom, already sweepin' away the three or four flakes that have had the chance to pile up. But he goes fishin' sometimes with my old man, so I nod back.

Just as I pass his storefront, I hear him call, "Darren!"

I whip around. "Yeah?" My voice is all scratchy 'cause I haven' used it for the past hour and Mr. Kemp took me by surprise.

"How'd you like a job here? Just sweeping the floors?" He grips and ungrips the handle of the broom like somethin' spooked him.

I smile, 'cause Mr. Kemp keeps the word count down, just like I do. I could work for him. He's a real decent guy.

Then I think of a catch. I always look for a catch 'fore I agree to somethin'. 

"My dad put y'up to this?"

Mr. Kemp laughs like he knew I might say that. That puts me out for a quick minute, but soon he says, "No, sir. On my honor as a barber."

I woulda laughed, but my cheeks are too cold. Do ya think they got some barber code of honor? I wouldn' be surprised. Maybe there's a barbers' guild and they issue those red and white striped poles and those aprons.

"I getta wear one of those aprons?" I ask without movin' my lips.

"Standard issue." Mr. Kemp smiles proudly.

I look around like I'm still considering.

"Well, okay. Sounds swell."

Mr. Kemp smiles and beckons me toward the door. A little bell tinkles as I walk through into the warm shop. Whatta nice place. I used ta get my hair cut here, when I cut it regularly. Now my hands fly to the hair around my ears, ashamed.

Mr. Kemp slips into the back room without a word. I look around at the black and white tile floor and the pictures on the walls--movie stars my mother likes, photographs of the town fifty years ago, and advertisements for hair grease and shaving cream. I shuffle around like I'm spooked, but it's justa show.

Mr. Kemp comes back with an apron and Wallace McCann. I forgot--he works here too, don't he? Oh well. He's as gooda fella as any, jus' talks too much.

"Well, Darren Nichols! Whatta guy! How are ya?" Wallace asks. Then he stands with his hands on his hips, waitin' for an answer. Man, does he got bug eyes. After a quick minute, I remember to nod and grunt.

Mr. Kemp shuffles forward and hands me the apron. I slip it over my head like a medal, right over my stupid windbreaker.

"Look at that, Doc," Wallace laughs. "Looks great! He's a natural barber!"

Well that sounds looney.

Mr. Kemp brings me a broom from the closet. "Well uh, let's see how ya do."

I set to sweepin' under the four chairs and under the sinks. It ain't hard or nothin', but I make sure to get all the corners. It's good, honest work. I might even call it swell if I didn't haveta hear ol' Wallace McCann goin' on and on.

"We-el-lllll, looky here! He is a natural, eh Doc? Look at his technique! Reminds me of a young me--yeah Darren, you might not believe it, 'cause I'm a honesta goodness barber now, but I started riiight there where you is now, sweepin' up for Mr. Kemp! Make sure and don' miss those corners! Ha ha ha! Well gawwwlly."

I'm 'bout done now so I stop.

"Done well, Darren," Mr. Kemp says.

I nod and grip and ungrip the broom handle.

Mr. Kemp touches his bald head. "Well uh, can ya manage... an hour? Every day after school? What time does school end these days?"

I wanna tell him I might as well come in the mornings sometimes 'cause I hardly ever go to school, anyhow. But I jus' say, "Two thirty."

"It'll jus' be minimum wage, ya know."

"Yessir." Sir? Yeah, I guess Mr. Kemp is a sir.

He looks out the window. "Well lookit that! It's sure is snowin' now--Get on home, son."

She wears her heart on her sleeve.

On campus this week I saw a poster entitled

"Acceptable Reasons to Cry in Public."

Some googling informed me that the posters are some sort of

public spectacle essay/art installation.

There were some pretty sad things listed on the poster, like

"You saw an old man at the grocery store

buy one can of cat food,

a pint of milk,

and a candy bar."

However, my personal feeling is that any reason to cry

is an acceptable reason to cry in public.