CULTURE SHOCK

The Dawn of Fun February

Let’s face it--times are hard. I will admit that in 2021 every positive column I wrote for you guys was an effort. Last winter (2021) was a particularly trying time for me personally. I lost my father right before Christmas and my grandmother was not doing well either. I was 35 years old, but I felt 100. I was at least mature enough to look in the mirror, laugh and acknowledge to myself: “Right now really sucks.” I was pretty numb and don’t remember January. Finally, February rolled around and it was dark and cold. I was desperate to feel happy again and knew I would turn a corner as soon as the time changed and the weather got warmer. I don’t recall exactly where I was, maybe at the gym, when I looked at two of my closest friends, Alana and Stephanie, and declared that February would be dubbed “Fun February.” We were going to blitz our way to spring and have fun if it killed us. My plan was to schedule so much fun stuff in February that it would have to fly by. Spring, sunshine and daffodils would be here before we knew it. I was a bit manic about it.

I started a group text and FF was born.

Wednesday night was live music at The Waverly Local, and I booked a table for a party of four every Wednesday that month. I realized that '70s music, along with mac and cheese, was good for the soul. I usually had to call ahead and add chairs. It felt good to be out and dressed up.

I declared Mondays to be Mexican Monday, and we would forever eat lunch at a Mexican restaurant on Mondays. If it is cold and rainy, then cheese dip and good Latin music might make you feel happy and possibly like you are on vacation. We were even known to drink a beer every now and then, but only if we worked on Sunday. That rule applied because Monday was like Friday (remember I’m in real estate, and every day is basically Wednesday). I can attest that Mexican Monday stuck and has rocked on for a solid year. I am very proud of that one. And it’s always the same faces on Mondays.

I rode my horse a lot and cooked a lot of banana pancakes. The sun finally came out in March. Keep the faith, my friends. It doesn’t stay dark forever, and the world continues to turn. If you are hurting right now, just know I get it and I’ve been there. At some point you just have to laugh at how absurdly upside down things can get, but you are still on your feet. I think on my worst days I laughed my tail off.

As I write this on Jan. 27, 2022, it almost feels like

Christmas. Fun February is upon us. It is important to schedule “newness” and always have something to look forward to on your calendar. Support local restaurants and events. Schedule a weekly walk with a friend. Call an old friend every day during the month of February. Get your car washed once a week (I love that one; clean cars feel good). Mail a postcard. Now you all know about Fun February so no excuses. I have shared it with the masses. Tag me in your pictures, and let me know Culture how you decided to #funfebruary. Cheers y’all.Shock Lacey Howell

~ Lacey Howell is a recovering English major from Auburn who now lives on Lake Martin, sells real estate, rides horses and loves good wine. Follow her on Instagram @ LaceyHowell and on her Facebook page.

My plan of attack is as follows:

n Mexican Mondays. Take a new friend each week. n Wednesday night standing reservations at The

Waverly Local. n Attend Thursday night live music at Ocie and Belles and invite a new friend each week. n Get a group to go to Top Golf in Birmingham on a

Friday. I have never done that. n Cook a new recipe each week. n I also plan to travel to Birmingham one day for lunch at Helen, the contemporary Southern grill opened by

Chef Rob McDaniel and his wife, Emily, to visit our forever-local Lake Martin friends.