Dani's Dirt

It’s beginning to look like my favorite time of year… Fall.

Cooler weather

Oklahoma State Football season has started

Hunting seasons are opening, making my favorite male eye candy—camo clad—easier to spot.

Pumpkin Spice Latte’s are back at Starbucks.

This year however, things feel a little off. A few months ago an uncle of mine was taken from this world too soon. It’s been a very emotional time for my family, to say the least.

Here lately though my Uncle Chris has been on my mind even more.

September 1st was opening day for dove season in Oklahoma as well as Oklahoma State’s first football game.

My Uncle, Aunt, and two cousins are residents of the state of South Carolina so seeing them wasn’t something that happened often, but for my uncle and I Okstate football and bird hunting seasons was how we bonded.

Since he, as well, was an Oklahoma State Alumni, we both shared the same love for America’s brightest orange. After almost every home game last season, he would text me so we could discuss the game, then after Bedlam and becoming Big 12 champs, I could practically feel his excitement as he asked me about the game.

“I got to storm the field Uncle Chris!!!! It. Was. The. Most. Incredible. Thing. Ever!!!!” I said.

“I’m so jealous, if I had been there I would’ve stormed it with you,” he responded.

“Well too bad you weren’t, you could’ve gotten me out of trouble. Mom’s ready to tan my hide for that stunt,” I had told him.

“Don’t worry about your mom, I’ll talk to her. I’m so proud of you!!!” He said.

During various hunting seasons, (dove, quail, duck, geese) our conversations were always about how the hunting was in South Carolina and Oklahoma, how Chad (my cousin) and him were fairing on bird killing, and how my filming/photography was going (this is my contribution to hunting season… camera woman).

I could practically kick myself everyday for erasing all my text messages this spring, there is no way I could have known how precious those conversations would become to me.

This past weekend I attended my first at home Oklahoma State football game for the season. There was no text that followed after the game.

Even though I knew there wouldn’t be, it broke my heart… again.

Cherish every moment you have with the people the your life. Make memories. Laugh. Love. Cry. Hug. Be silly. Do the unexpected. But most importantly, live. Life is short and everyday is a gift.

So Uncle Chris even though I’m sure you have great seats to watch in Heaven, OSU kicked some Ragin’ Cajun butt, and from the looks of Facebook, Chad’s holding his own pretty well this season. Oh… and we all miss you.