Here's a Rhinestone story....

I've been giving out a lot of Rubber Boots stories, so I thought it was time for a Rhinestone one, so here you go.

Rhinestones:

I knew I had nothing to worry about. This was simple. All I had to do was go to the church and hand out bags of goodies to the kids, smile for pictures, and hope that the calf didn't poop on the grass. But I couldn't shake the nerves. This was my first official event as a Dairy Princess. I stared at myself in the little mirror in my room, adjusting the tiara, making sure the point wasn't off center. A princess mustn’t have a crooked tiara. I heaved another sigh, and looked at the time. Then rolled my eyes. Nerves. I'm always ready too early.

So I hopped onto my bed with frustration, and snatched my laptop. I'm ready so early, I can fit in another viewing of a Supernatural episode. But as cute as Jensen Ackles was, he just couldn't keep my attention, and fifteen minutes later; I left for the event a full hour early. My mind full of excuses:

“I'm not sure where I’m going. I don't want to be late for being lost.”

“I can drive slow, I get more Foreigner songs in that way.”

“I think I need to get some gas anyways. This will give me the time I need.”

Because, after all, along with a straight tiara, a princess must always be prompt.

Sadly, the swooping, heartfelt lyrics of “I Want to Know What Love Is,” could not help me. My fingers gripped the steering wheel of my Ford Ranger Troy, and my knuckles were white. For some reason I had this horrible feeling that I was going to mess up. But I couldn't mess up. It was so simple.

I have done harder things than this before. Speech tournaments were way more difficult than this. And I was First Alternate last year. I can do this. But the pinching metal teeth of my tiara was a painful reminder of just how official this was. I was representing a whole county of farmers. I had to do this right. The thought of messing up, entered my mind and my heart lurched in my chest.

I stopped at a red light and took a deep breath. Absentmindedly I stroked my hair, the cold band of metal passed under my fingers. Soon memories flashed by, the cows, my family, my coronation, school. I had overcome so many barriers and obstacles in my life. And no way was this any kind of obstacle, for years I had dreamed of wearing the tiara, I couldn't wait. I had wanted this for so long, and worked hard to earn the right to wear one, and now, here was my time. This year, 2008, was my year to reign over Marion County. To represent all the hard working farmers and be the face of all dairy products.

Fear and nervousness was soon replaced with excitement. And I couldn't wait to get to the church and spread the news of dairy.