June 2024

TEXARKANA MAGAZINE

I don’t blame my father. I blame this fallen world in which mental illness is a very real weapon of destruction the enemy uses to divide families and cause chaos. I choose empathy and compassion for him every day in order not to end up the bitter avenger of his shortcomings. Holding grudges is exhausting! I need to focus my energy on staying out of fast-food drive-thrus. The dad-sized hole in my heart began to shrink the day I forgave him, and it’s been a slow burn process ever since. From time to time, we have even managed to maintain a level of communication. As Kacey Musgraves says, “healing doesn’t happen in a straight line”, and it sure as heck doesn’t happen overnight! When I think about my dad, I choose to focus on how I was blessed with part of

his musical talent. I sing and play the guitar now. I inherited his exuberant personality. I also admire his fearlessness. He toured around the United States, and that must have been scary. He is a free spirit. When he is at his best, he’s funny, he’s creative, he can paint for days, he’s personable and social, he loves talking to people, and he is one of the most fun people I’ve ever

known. Without him, there would be no me, and without me being me, I would have no connection to the Father to the fatherless, and the true lover of my soul, Jesus Christ. Moral of the story—living in resentment is torture. Choose redemption. You didn’t ask for your pain, but you can choose your healing. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.

LOCAL EVENTS June 1 Tough Kookie Foundation

June 7 Hospice of Texarkana Good Grief Day for Community Youth Landmark Pentecostal Church 10 am-2 pm June 7, 14, 21, 28 Children’s Movies at the Texarkana Public Library 10 am & 2 pm June 7 & 21 Food Truck Fridays Courthouse Square 11 am-2 pm June 8 Children’s Story Time with local author Cal Davis Salty Boutique and Books 11 am June 11 Silver 55+ Bingo Texarkana Public Library 10 am June 14-16 Runnin’ WJ Benefit Barrel Race Four States Fairgrounds

June 14 Downtown Live! 6-9 pm June 15 Miller Co. 4-H Shooting Sports Fundraiser Rocky Creek Outdoors 9 am-12:30 pm June 21 36th Annual Adult Juried Exhibition Opening Reception & Awards 6:30 pm June 22 Communities Unlimited Cardboard Boat Race Bobby Ferguson Park 10 am

Reggae Summerfest Silvermoon on Broad 6-10 pm June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Texarkana Texas Farmer’s Market Courthouse Square 8 am-noon June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Gateway Farmers’ Market 602 E. Jefferson 7 am-noon June 4, 11, 18, 25 Teen Movies at the Texarkana Public Library 10 am June 5, 12, 19, 26 Free Yoga Southwest Center 5:30-6:30 pm

LIVE MUSIC June 1 TXK Jazz Collective 1923 Banana Club, 8 pm June 6 Chace Rains Fat Jacks Oyster & Sports Bar, 5 pm June 7 David Howe & Will Bullock Redbone Magic Brewing Company, 7 pm

June 22 Sophie & the New Relics Redbone

Magic Brewing Company, 7 pm June 28 Lynch Mob Fat Jacks Oyster & Sports Bar, 8 pm June 29

The Gold Standard 1923 Banana Club, 8 pm June 29 Don Louis

June 5, 12, 19, 26 Line Dancing Class Texas Elks Lodge 6:30-8:30 pm

For more events visit

Crosssties Event Venue, 8:30 pm

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Jaelyn Bunch One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

Coltin Clack Breaking Bad on Netflix

Samantha Mitchell Candace Owens Podcast

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