My Story

 

When I moved to Lubbock in 1994, I moved from my condo in Highland Park/Dallas, Texas to marry my new husband, Rodney Parker.  He was the Band Director at Levelland High School.

 

Through this marriage, I became a new wife and step-mother to two amazing girls Amanda and Erin who were 14 and 10 at the time.  Because I was 40 (and not getting any younger) we decided to have a baby and Taylor was born in December of 1995.  I thought I was going to be a stay-at-home mom -- but NO!  Soon after that, I became the President of the Chamber of Commerce in Levelland and life was developing nicely.

 

So there I was in Lubbock.  My friends in Dallas were saying
"How do you like it out there?"  I honestly could say, life in Lubbock is paradise.  It's safe, the people are so nice,  it's the perfect place to raise a family, the schools are great, the prices for housing are amazing, the traffic is light (if any) ... in fact, it's a lot like Mayberry!   We lived at 88th and Frankford right down the street from Preston Smith Elementary. 

 

"But what is there to do?," they would ask.  Well, I decided I would find the fun in Lubbock and put it on one website so we all could find it.  We started the Lubbock Fun Club and it was so fulfilling.  We were involved in almost everything in the community and eventually on Stars 104.3 with Lew Dee and Diana.  Stephanie was working with me and we started the SOS (singles only social.)  I remember the day when Daryl walked out to pickle ball wearing his cowboy boots.  That was meant to be because he is the Daryl married to Stephanie now! 

 

With Diana Dee's help, we started Empowering Women lunches so the busy among us could finding a resting place where we could learn from each other.  Our numbers grew from 10 to 100 or more.   

 

The day came I was not expecting ... when Rodney would get a huge pay raise to move to another high school.   I remember, piece by piece, dismantling the life we had built to get ready to move. 

 

I remember my last presentation to Empowering Women "What to do when the pieces are all 'falling together" for a direction you never had in mind!"

 

It was "the great unravelling" of all that I loved at the time.  I was so happy that Stephanie and Daryl decided to keep the mission of the Lubbock Fun Club alive.  I'm so grateful to them for that. 

 

I can say all the blessings of Lubbock have never been replaced anywhere.  Lubbock remains the birthplace of my dreams coming true of having a family and the life I wanted.  

Thank you Lubbock!