Not All Who Wander Are Lost...

...unless it is one of those moments when I am, in fact, lost. 

I can be doing fine...think I got it all figured out. I mean...I'm really good usually. I know that West End turns into Broadway, Church turns into Elliston, Blakemore turns into Wedgewood, 21st turns into Hillsboro Pike, 8th into Franklin...there's a theme here, no? I've got it straight in my head...it's just that sometimes I can be on the right road...going in the wrong direction...and don't realize it until I'm in Brentwood. One thing for sure...my detours are scenic! Beautiful hills and trees and deer! Oh, the deer. I can be in town and see deer! It's very amusing to me.

Anyway, so what's a girl to do when she gets lost in Brentwood? Home food - and by that I mean McAlister's. Shout out to Jared Sexton - the McAlister's Guru who taught me how to order off of the kid's menu with dignity. Oooh Jared - they charge me all kinds of extra for my Kid's Turkey & Cheese AND it was sooo not worth it. You would be so ashamed. (For all of you who know Jared...everyone here talks like him and I love it!)

Two Years to the Day

6.21.06

My first trip to Nashville was pretty amazing. I was doing what I love, meeting tons of new people who are still in my life, and figuring out that this would be my next step after graduation. Nashville had been a place that I had only dreamed of until that summer. Picture a 3rd grade Bethie with her Dolly Parton biography at the lunch table in Elementary School. I used to write about Nashville in an after school writing class with Ms. Sue Anderson - ironically my only Aggie influence growing up and former President of the Aggie Mom's Federation. Talk about FULL CIRCLE! 

I wrote this postcard to myself as a reminder to really stop and take it all in. Now, two years later, I am living in Nashville and reminding myself all over again...

However, this time the feeling of discovery and self actualization is mixed with little pieces of heartache that flair up every now and then. You never factor in the sacrifice when you are dreaming. You don't think about the waking up - the reality that you are separated from everything you know, the people you love and the person that you were by hundreds of miles, thousands of seconds and millions of footsteps.

But...I can fly the miles, pass the time and take footsteps towards the reasons I came here to begin with. As long as I know that you know that I love you and miss you throughout every step of it.

Stages

It’s officially been a week since I arrived in Tennessee. It never really occurred to me that I was “movin’ to the big city” until my friend Josh asked if Nashville , TN was that different from College Station, TX. It’s different, to say the least!

College Station is Texas A&M to me, and shares hometown credit with Pasa-get-down-dena, TX. I claim both, as I grew up in both essentially. A lot of people leave home to go to college – for me…I came home. So moving so far away is an adjustment that hits me in little punches, mainly when I think about the people I love. But life is made up of stages – high school, college, career and everything after that that really matters. I came here to find the stage where I can find my place to shine and grow and move on to yet another stage.

Over the past week I have found that many Texans migrate East to Tennessee. Random encounters leading to, “ Yeah, I’m from Texas too.” Some matching my enthusiasm, some just making conversation. I look forward to meeting more of my people soon!

It took some special blessings to get me here (you now who you are) and they have just kept on coming since I arrived :

• My  Mom came with me and got to stay for a week as we scoped out places to live and got me settled in. It was important to me that she get a feel for where I am and why I love it. She did and as we got lost...over and over again...she got a really good feel for the town! Love you Momma!
• Another blessing in the form of my best friend Liz. She is in DC this summer but half of her family is here in Tennessee and they took us in and have just been wonderful! We got to stay with Aunt Dolly and Uncle Johnny for a few days and I just know that I will be seeing them often. I love that whole family and have adopted them. 
• I found an AMAZING place to live! I mean, I’m a dreamer, but I never imagined finding a place like this. It’s absolutely huge and not just compared to my lil’ pace in Aggieland ;) It is right off of West End and close to a place called Love Circle, which is a hill with the most amazing view of Nashville.  It is the entire upstairs of a house built in 1914 that was converted into an apartment. It’s close to everything and is “ very Beth.”
• My good friend Josh has been wonderful – he’s been a tour guide, a mover, a cable man, a guitar teacher and a GPS system. Thanks buddy! You are the King of side jobs.
• Industry folks here are wonderful. One of my mentors/friends is helping me find a job that suits my talents and I have yet to talk to someone who wasn’t willing to sit down with me and help. This is a networkin’ town and I love people so it’s a great combo. Like I say to Brian and Dos – Do NetWork!

Love Circle

The best view of Nashville. The best part? It's a hop, skip and a really uncoordinated jump away from my place. ( Insert mental picture of me doing those things...funny, huh?)  

I Can't Sleep I'm Dreaming Way Too Loud

 I've got that truck all loaded down...

I should've known how hard it'd be leave this town

I am....

So close now to walking away

About to walk a path I've gotta take

I'm packing up heading out

I can't sleep I'm dreaming way too loud

I'm so close now, so close now 

to getting out 

- Eli Young Band, 

So Close Now

My 22nd birthday marked the closing of one stage and the beginning of another. We drove from Aggieland to Nashville, just Momma and me, driving a U-Haul and pullin' the car on a trailer. Looking at the big picture I'm thinking...What!? But we did what we had to do, like always. We made it through blinding rain and all night drives with the help of the good Lord, Sonic Java chillers where Momma discovered the wonder of Expresso Shots, and my brother Adam calling at perfect times with a Google Map ready just as we were getting lost/confused.

One awesome aspect of having a Blackberry and driving all day on your birthday? All the Facebook Wall Posts! Thank ya'll so much! It was a special touch to a special day!