Helloooooooooooooooo Planet Garthians! I guess this is a weird piece for me to write. It's more of a "for your information" type piece than anything I guess. I've talked with Brandon over the past months about slowing down on the columns. I know they have came to you sporadically, and I do apologize for that. It's nobody's fault but my own. You could at times have called it burnout, writer's block, sickness with me and the girls, or just plain "I CAN'T DO THIS RIGHT NOW!" I do however, want to thank those of you who have waited patiently, those who have gently pushed me along when I needed it, and those who just sit back and waited till the words came to me.

I looked back the other day in my notebook where I keep the columns. It was hard for me to believe all that had been once inside this head of mine but made it onto paper. It gave me renewed inspiration to continue with my own personal writing. That, along with a few more personal reasons is why I have reached the decision I have pertaining to the Planet Garth Columns. From now on, I will only be submitting a column to Brandon on the last weekend of every month. Therefore, it should appear on PG the first week of each month. This will begin starting with February. So, your next column should be posted the first week of March. I still would like, encourage, and sincerely ask for your input in the Forums.

Some people have asked me why I'm doing this? There are a lot of reasons really. One being that yes, Garth is taking time off. (I'm still waiting for HIS brain to comprehend what that means.) I believe I am going to have to resort to taking that huge tube of Super Glue to G'ville sooner or later. The man doesn't get the fact that time off...means you RELAX! With Garth taking some down time, which we all know, he never really does, there won't be as much for me to write on. Also, I guess in my own heart, its a matter of respect in some ways. He wants a break from it all...here's my own chance to contribute to that.

But, before I go...there's a few things on my mind that can't wait till next month. One being the fact that while I was looking over my columns from last year, the one on my Garthly New Year's Resolutions. I just had to laugh. I wanted to share a few thoughts with yall. I guess, we can call it, Resolutions Revisited.

Well, first thing off, I noticed a lot of resolutions did come true! I believed, therefore, I am! :-) I made a resolution to get to more shows and more shows I did! I started off 1998 in Memphis, TN and then onto Nashville, TN (the place where dreams were made and came true) and I ended it in Tampa, FL on a trip I will forever treasure and carry in my heart. The shows were still as fresh, as amazing, as enjoyable as they were back in 1996 when the tour first began. Looking back, on the memory of...well, let's just say...I wouldn't have missed that dance for the world.

There was a resolution that gollygeeGarthwhiz I had to see that infamous WOOHOOdance that Garth had taken to doing when he was picking on Jimmy. Well, I saw it...ohhhhhhhhh, did I see it, and ya'll, I will NEVER be the same! What more can this female Garthnutt say than "WOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!"

And, lo and behold, Garth had added a new move to "Shameless" like it needed anything extra! But, I resolved to see that too and again, see it I did. The Shameless Thrust nearly did me in but women, I am proud to say I lived through it, and not just once! Blessed...that word comes to my wicked lil mind...blessed! And, along with the new Shameless move, there was a rope pullin thing going on now with "Ain't Goin Down." I saw it too. Again, mountains moved. Oceans parted. Um, all I can say is it WAS worth the wait.

I made a resolution to get me another GarthSqueezie which was then long overdue. It had been eight months at the time since I'd had one and it would be four more before I got one! Yes! A year...a full tortuous year without a GSqueezie! The horror! It's unspeakable...heaven help me...I never want to do that again! Now, here I am...sitting here and I'm thinkin, it's been eight months now since I had one again. Garth!! WHERE are you? I need a HUG!

Along with that Squeezie resolution was one to just have a talk with Garth. Bout everything and nothing. As usual, I forgot half the things I should have said to him. But, there is always next time! The important thing was, for a time, he gave me some of his time and worked that magic that makes you feel you are the only person on the earth with him. Alas, I failed. I folded. I wimped. He had on the cologne. I sniffed. I relished in it. I hugged closely and it rubbed off on me. But, I didn't beg and plead for him to tell me what kind it was! Geez...you know, like I said, that WAS eight months ago, I really should wash that shirt I was wearing.

There's one resolution I'm really proud of. I resolved to make sure that man got more cookies than his tummy could hold. Well, thanks to MANY of you Garthnutts along the miles...I have to say, I think we probably did it! Those cookies were hauled to arenas across the USA, Canada, and Ireland. They were lowered down by rope to the buses, they were smuggled into arenas where "no food was allowed" to be brought in, they were taken into television shows cause well, cause, Garth would be expecting them...really...come on Sir, take them back there and see! You all never ceased to amaze me with the stories that came back to me about those cookies and how they reached their destinations! I just hope Garth got as many giggles out of it as we did. The one that keeps popping into my head is the night someone took him some to a show and he opened them up on stage and took off running with a cookie in his hand. Hey! THAT'S our Garth!

One of the sweetest resolutions for me was that I wanted to take my girls to another Garth concert before this tour ended. It was with a lot of pride that I took them along with my husband to the show in Memphis. That was the night that my girls got to meet and have their picture taken with Mama Brooks. I look at it sitting by my desk now and I just have to smile. Then, the Big G shined down on me once again, with a lil help from a magical phone in Pennsylvania and a lady my girls call "Aunt Judy", they once again got the opportunity to share in the magic.

On Mother's Day 1998, I had the privilege of having my parents, my sister and brother in law, Jason, and my girls accompany me to the Nashville Arena where they all got to witness that place that I go...that place where only Garth can take me. That night, I didn't sit with my girls, I'd say it will probably be the only time I'll ever go to a show with them and not sit with them. But, I was given a special gift that night from a special lady. I became her guest in third row on the floor. My girls didn't really understand it, but they knew, in their young minds, that Mama had the chance for something special that night, and graciously and generously, they allowed me to accept that seat without any guilt.

It was the most precious Mother's Day gift...shared with so many in a place that I still can drive by today and my eyes water. The three days we all shared in G'ville for those shows were nothing short of magical. Most of all, I treasure that I got to share not one more, but two shows with my girls before this ride came to its end.

I resolved to meet more of you. Heaven knows, like I said, those Nashville shows took care of that! Garth went "home" to play and we went "home" with him. We knew it would be a hard crowd. It would be a hard sell. There was no way we'd let him face it alone. So we came. Somehow, this heart believes, he was as proud of us, as we were of him. Then, Tampa rolled around. This girl didn't want to face it. I don't know that I still have. But, again, I felt that call...that distant voice going "you have to be there." It wasn't easy, but we made it work. Onto that big blue bus my husband and I went along with some of the sweetest people I've ever met. We shared so much...there's still no way to capture it all.

Again, as Garth took the stage, we took the arena. We had to be there. It was as natural as life and death. It was never a question of NOT being there. Somehow, we all just knew we would be. But, above all, there was you. I can now, close my eyes and just put in the Double Live CD and find "It's Your Song" and I see us...standing there with those signs...holding each other...tears falling down our faces...our hands and our hearts reaching out to Garth. That night...thank you Garth...you made it our night, it WAS our song. It was the night when you told "the people" exactly what we meant to you. It's a memory not even time can wash away. You knew on that night what we held in our hearts and we knew what you held in yours. Cause, like it says..."if there ever was somebody who made me believe in me, it was you." It works both ways Garth, it works both ways.

I also resolved to increase my collection of Garth memorabilia. This was hard as I have no GarthRoom now. Poor Garth, he's under my bed, in my closet, in my cabinets, he's all over the computer desk, he's plastered in the living room. But, still, I did manage to collect some dear precious items. How I long for the day we build a house. I see it now. Us, in a meeting with an architect. Me, trying to explain, that we need five bedrooms: one for me and Jas, one for Kayla, one for Lindsey, one for guests, and one for Garth!

This brings me close to the end of my list. This one, well, it still eludes me. But, hey, I BELIEVE. There's still my favorite photo of Garth...the one from the '96 calendar. The month is March. The picture is um...sorry...this IS a family website and only us female Garthnutts would understand. But, I will NEVER give up on my quest to have that picture made into a door poster! Nothing but life-size will do!

I made twelve resolutions last year. That's ten of them. My eleventh, I realized as I looked at it, came true years ago. It was a "needless" resolution. But, I realized more how many times it came true this year. It read, "Eleventh resolution is to get front row seats to a show. Somehow, someway, somewhere, there is an arena...with a front row seat...with my name on it. I just know it. I feel it. I believe it! It can happen and it will."

You see, this selfish heart of mine finally realized that EVERY time I've ever saw Garth, I've been in that front row. I've been center stage. EVERY time, EVERY show I've ever been too. He's took me there. No matter if my seat was second level, or third or first...I was center stage on the floor...front row. Not once did he ever let me down.

And, I lived those nights with those of you who did actually get there in body. Bev, Harriet, April, and countless others who shared their stories of the times they reached out and felt those boots, tugged on them Wrangler legs, had GarthSweat drip down on them, ( I know you men are goin "ICK!"). But, you took us there with phone calls and with written accounts on the Garthbox. Your excitement was contagious and we all knew, that when you stood there, we stood there with you.

Yes, I can't say that the dream of sitting center stage, in that front row, will ever go away. But, I can say, that thanks to an entertainer like Garth, I've already been there in my heart.

My last resolution was relatively simple. It was to just be happy. I wrote about how if I actually was fortunate enough to get all those resolutions I'd be so happy I'd burst! Well, um....KABOOM!

The year of 1998 was not only the best year that Garth Brooks ever had, I'd have to say it was also the best one I've ever had. He played a big part in making that happen. YOU all played a big part in making that happen. I have high hopes for the year ahead but no resolutions this time. No pressure. I just want to see where the road leads me, so to speak.

I also want to make one last comment. I had planned to include in this column my take on "Garth Brooks Double Live." After reading what Judy Humphrey wrote about it and shared with us all, I knew my words would just ring hollow. She said it all. She said it with class. She said it with dignity. She said what my heart felt but hadn't as yet been able to verbalize or write. Judy, you honored not only Garth with that piece, you honored us all. Then, along comes Harriet and Bev with pieces in the Garthbox and I just completely throw out the window all the things I might have written had I wrote about Double Live. You two, you also honored Garth and did us all proud. The three of you took the essence of Double Live, and captured it perfectly...my congarthulations to you all.

With that, I'll close this column. I'll look forward to the monthly columns and hope that you all will too. Thank you again for sticking by me, for encouraging me, and always making me feel like you understand my words and what comes from my heart. Like always, its been one sweet ride!