'Over You'

As I have posted before, I love music.  LOVE it.  It makes my world go around.  I'm one of those people that has to know what the words are, and figure out what the song is really about.  One of my favorite singers is Miranda Lambert.  Her new album came out on Tuesday, 11/1/11. 
This album is a lot different than her past releases, but I am loving it and have listened to it A LOT already!  

There is one song in particular on Miranda's new album that is so touching to me.  I'm not normally a sappy, love song, cry in your beer type of person, but this song just hit me.  "Over You" was written by her and her husband, singer Blake Shelton.  It's about Blake's brother that passed away.  Some of the references in the song are completely surreal to me as they totally line up with Johnny's passing. 

I digress to share some details......

Johnny is my ex-boyfriend.  I hate the term "ex"......it's so harsh.  There was never anything harsh about Johnny and I.  He was/is truly the love of my life.  Our relationship was so special and strong.  We had the type of relationship, even long after we split up, I could pick up the phone, after not seeing or speaking to him for months, and it was like I had talked to him yesterday.  Still to this day, I have never met anyone with even a smidgen (yes, I said smidgen) of his spirit.  He was the light in many people's eyes and still is.  

We met through a mutual friend, during my senior year in high school.  Johnny was four years older than me and a hot mess.  The cutest, brown-eyed, Wrangler wearin' mess, I had ever seen.  It is safe to say, I was instantly smitten.  He was a cowboy, who loved team roping, riding his horse Skipper, and hanging with his dog Max. Johnny loved working on the land, with the animals, and at his job at the paper company.  The work ethic in that man was beyond remarkable.  We dated through most of  my senior year in high school and freshman year in college.

Me & Johnny in 1991
(aren't you diggin' my large hair?)

One of my fave pics

This was on his birthday, June 18, in 1991.

My high school graduation.

My birthday, July 1991.

His show colt at the fair in 1991 or 1992.

But then, I was in college, he was at work, and basically, we just grew apart.  School, basketball, and my new experiences got in the way of our relationship and we broke up.  Hindsight is 20/20, of course, and knowing what I know now, I would have spent more time working on our relationship. :(

Johnny passed away on Valentine's Day in 1995. 
After the fact, I see how fate and the good Lord intervened and gave us a more proper and pleasant goodbye.  In late December of 1994, my senior year in college, it was the week between Christmas and New Year's.  School was out, all I had to do was sleep and go to basketball practice.  Some of my basketball player buddies and I went out for a night of dancin'.  We went to a country dance hall that's no longer in business.  As we got out of our cars, headed in for some two-steppin', who did we run into in the parking lot?  Johnny and his buddy.

There he was, in his Wranglers, cowboy hat, and that amazing, ornery smile.  Oh, and those killer brown eyes.  I hadn't seen him in quite awhile, not sure how long, but it had been months.  We were so happy to see each other....he was so happy to meet my friends.....we were happy to just get to hang out and enjoy each other's company.  We danced, we talked, we flirted with each other, we laughed and laughed.  It was almost like meeting for the first time, all over again.  That was one of the best nights ever.

At the end of the night, he walked me to my car.  We shared an amazing kiss, and hugged like it was our last hug ever.  Unfortunately, it would be.  Again, like a first time meeting, but so comfortable, nice, and familiar.  We talked on the phone a few times after that night.  We never hung out again. 

 That horrible February, I passed him in the car on a Sunday,
in the little west side community where we both grew up. 

We waved to each other like little kids.
That was the last time I saw him alive.
He passed away the following Tuesday, which was Valentine's Day. 

 

Miranda's song references how "mid-February shouldn't be so scary" and that "it was only December I still remember."  Seriously, how relevant are those lyrics?  Then the final reference, that pieces the whole song together about "it really sinks in, you know, when I see it in stone". 

Please read the lyrics and listen to the song. 

It's beautiful and sad at the same time. 

Everyone has a special someone they have loved and lost.  For me, this song is a deeply touching tribute to someone I have loved and will love until I see him again.    

Over You  

by Miranda Lambert  

Weather man said it’s gonna snow
By now I should be used to the cold
Mid-February shouldn’t be so scary
It was only December
I still remember the presents, the tree, you and me

Chorus:
But you went away
How dare you?
I miss you
They say I’ll be ok
But I’m not going to ever get over you

Living alone here in this place
I think of you, and I’m not afraid
Your favorite records make me feel better
Cause you sing along
With every song
I know you didn’t mean to give them to me

Chorus:
But you went away
How dare you?
I miss you
They say I’ll be ok
But I’m not going to ever get over you

    

It’s really sinks in, you know, when I see it in stone
Cause you went away, how dare you?
I miss you
They say I’ll be ok
But I’m not going to ever get over you