The night I made Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader was the night of my senior prom. No one knew that I had tried out except for my family, so imagine the fun it was to tell everyone that I had just made the most famous cheerleading squad in the world!! I just had one month left of high school and then I was leaving for college.

I attended Southern Methodist University my first year as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. I would go to classes all day and then scramble to Valley Ranch where we would practice usually until 10 or 11 every week night. I must admit that my brain was a bit "fried" from all of the new choreography, formations, and yard lines that I had just learned. Studying was the last thing on my mind! I did though, usually while my dorm mates were out having fun and at parties. There would be more college experiences that I would miss. The freshman "15" (except for maybe 5!) and a campus sorority. There was really no need for a college sorority... my sorority was my fellow DCC. If you think about it, a sorority is nothing more than a group of people with common goals, ideas, values, a place to find life long friendships and mentors, and know that you are welcome. I had found all of that with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. You might look down on the sidelines and see a variety of girls from a 5'9 redhead to a 5'1 blonde but inside we are all 'sisters'.

After cheering, I dreamt of moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting. I have been in several national commercials, had parts in movies and television, and even had a small recurring role on "The Young and the Restless". The one thing that I was always amazed by was that the first thing every casting director and director would ask me after seeing my resume was about being a DCC!! Here, in LA, where stars are as numerous as the sand on the beach, directors want to know about my experience as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader!! Life, though, is ever changing. On March 25, 2004, my dad, Larry, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 52. I have always been super close with my family and this was so shocking, and quiet frankly unreal. I wasn't prepared for how or what to feel but I had many DCC family to lean on. The one thing I did know was that auditions and movies all of a sudden didn't seem that important anymore. I got rid of both my agents and my manager and took a break. Besides, I had bigger fish to fry. My sister, Lori, who is 3 years younger and could be my twin, and I now found ourselves in the unfamiliar role as company owners. We inherited the family plumbing company that our Papa (grandfather) had started some 48 years ago. Yes, I said plumbing!! At one point, the company had been one of the largest independently owned plumbing companies in Dallas. When Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith went to build their massive homes, we were the company they called for all of their plumbing. Lori and I were living together in LA but decided it would be best for one of us to move back to run the company. At the urging of her fiancee, they moved back to Dallas to take on this new adventure. I would stay in LA and work on advertising, marketing, and promotions via the computer. I would also travel to Dallas every 4-6 weeks to work at the shop. Being a woman owned business is tough especially in this field. My sister and I have many new ideas and directions for our company. Things that would not have been possible for our Papa and Daddy are happening for us. We recently received our HUB and Woman Owned Business Certifications and are now actively seeking contracts with the government. Even in these hard economic times, Reeves Family Plumbing has continued to strive and pass each quarter in sales. This past quarter has far exceeded any sales goals we had projected and we know that the best is yet to come!!

Life is really a full circle. Once I dreamed of doing nothing but moving to LA, far from Texas, and now I find myself longing and thinking about my next trip to Dallas. Yes, I love my life in LA. I love my daily runs to the beach, the wonderful shopping and restaurants, and mostly my boyfriend Ali. But my heart will always belong in Texas and I will ALWAYS be a DALLAS COWBOYS CHEERLEADER.

Sideline Q & A

What one story brings a smile to your face?

Carrie: For sure one of the funniest things that happened to me was at the beginning of a Thanksgiving Day game. We had all just come out onto the edge of the field to do the pregame performance. I was (miraculously!) on the front row closest to the Cowboys bench. The music comes on and we all start our sexy run out and all of a sudden the tip of my boot gets caught on the turf! I think I crawled almost 10 yards on my hands and knees that Thanksgiving Day! Regina Tucker (fellow DCC alumni) later told me she thought she was going to have to hurdle me on the field!

Favorite Memory of Texas Stadium?

Carrie: I remember walking down the tunnel to go out on the field... the smell, the cool, brisk fall day, the sounds of the fans cheering. I remember thinking, "it doesn't get any better than this."

If you could have one thing from when you were a Cheerleader, what would it be and why?

Carrie: I would want one more year! I still have dreams about cheering and I miss performing and wearing the uniform. It speaks volumes!