I am old enough to remember when Waco meant something horrific. Now, among other things, it’s an hour wait for cupcakes. The turnaround is something to see!

Full disclosure, I loved the show Fixer Upper. So, walking into their new “old” hotel, I feel a part of it. “Oh, I remember when we picked out the green leather for the banquettes…and the black and white photos, oh, and those books…” This is what I’m thinking, probably what most of the people inside are thinking. And the truth is, all the decisions were made long before we saw it on tv…long before we got involved…if I can even use the word involved. But I suppose that’s the brilliance of what they do. They make you feel like you are a part of it.

And I guess that’s what we all want — to be connected. It’s why we take the photos. Stand in front of the Magnolia sign. We want to be a part of it. To step inside a true success story. And to know the history, well, that just makes it even more special.

I hope that’s what is being contemplated as they line around the corner, waiting for their sugary treats. I hope they are thinking, “maybe this thing I’m stuck in, I could turn it around,“ “maybe this thing that I’ve survived, I could share,” “maybe this thing that I’m really good at, I could teach…”

The Magnolia tree is an ornamental, but remarkably flexible, and ever green. I like that. I want to be like that. I hope we all can. Be flexible, as we wander through each other’s stories. Patient. Caring. Changing. Admiring. And if we could do that for the stories of others, maybe we could even do that for ourselves. See the beauty of it all! Wouldn’t that be something!