No real blogs for this week...

I wrote a song instead!

YEEHAW!  HECK YEAH SONGWRITING!!!

So, get yourself a pen and paper y'all do the same.

~Billie.

PS- Apparently I have ads below my blog now?  Sorry in advance if you get something silly.

Goodbye, Winston-Salem.

Hey all,

Wow.

So much lately.

The holidays are finally finished and, as fun as they have been, I am finally ready to get back into the swing of things.

I just found out my school term ends May 6th, which is simply crazy.  I've never had school end so early!  Funny that.  In less than five months, I'll have my first year of grad school stuff in the bag.

That's so insane to think about.

What else is insane?

Leaving Winston-Salem.

12 years of good old 27101.

But, you know...?  It's time.

When I closed the door on my studio space for the last time, I was expecting tears maybe a hint of remorse.  But that didn't happen.

Instead?  I was excited.  Excited about the future and what it would hold.  I never thought this day would come, and it's finally here.

Story time!

My dearest of dear friends, Heather Watkins, stopped by her parents house in Rockwell, NC for Christmas/New Years.  The first night we were there I was feeling a little down, and Heather cheered me up by pulling out tons of old pictures from middle school and high school.  Smiling little teenagers, so excited about life.  Broadway shows, Drama Club productions, running around town, prom... all the essential teenager things.  Heather has a picture of me on her dresser at her parents' house.  It's me from a million years ago as we were getting ready for Broadway rehearsals.

"See that smile?  That's my favorite Billie smile."

I love this woman.  She always cheers me up.

The next day, after I clear out the studio with Dad, I send her a message.  It's 8 PM.  "You guys still up?"  "Yeah!  Get over here!"

Dad tells me to take his truck (since he's the Mayor of Granite Quarry and they tend to watch over such cars) and have a good time.

I open the door in standard high school Billie fashion, which involves opening the Watkins back door and saying "KNOCK!"  And I am greeted by Heather, Heather's husband Monte, Marie Donnalley and her beau, Josh, Brittany, their new little baby, and Mr. and Mrs. Watkins.  (I guess there are more than one pair of those now, which still boggles my mind.)

None of us drink anymore (or if we do, it's rare), so it's basically just us "old" folks sitting around the dining room table and talking about life.  It's funny... I remember Heather and I in the seventh grade lamenting the adults at the dining room table, dismissing them, and hiding in her room to paint our nails and talk about Star Wars.  Or KISS.  Or Aerosmith.  Or The Monkees.

Mrs. Watkins made a fantastic Italian Creme Cake (yuuuuummmm, Heather's mom is an amazing cook).  Yes, it was so good I have to mention it here.  True story.

"Billie!  Give me the hand you write with!" says Marie.

Marie is a palm reader (among many many many other fantastic things) and she proceeds to read my palm while giving me the most incredible facial gestures.  She nails a ton of things that happened in my life (with Heather interjecting now and then with comments about how right Marie is) and gives me some hope for the future.

At some point in the conversation, I comment to the table that I am no longer a Winston-ite.  I mention how I was more than a little surprised that I wasn't more upset about leaving.

Marie turns to me.

"Honey, that's how you know you did the right thing."

And there you have it.

I'm an odd bird (HA!  Get it?  Feather!), and more than a little indecisive and take a little extra time to make decisions (says my palm reading, thanks Marie!) but if there's one thing for certain...

When I FINALLY make up my mind?  I make up my mind.  Decision done.  Over with.  Put and stamp on it and put in the mail.  No regrets.

Winston, you've been beautiful and given me some of the greatest memories of my life.  But, you know what?  It's time.  Someone else can carry the torch, be the socialite, and make a holy mess of things downtown.  My good friends are still my good friends, and for that I am beyond thankful.

Onward to the next chapter.  :)

See you all around soon!

Take Care,

~Billie.