The Leaving Song

I am horrible at goodbyes. I don't like them. I cry, but keep trying to talk and stutter, and then I sound like the last place contestant on "Toddlers and Tiaras" (or, what I imagine they sound like...all big hair, sequins, and tears).

Anyways, for the past four years of my life, every summer comes with goodbyes. Lots of them. You'd think they'd get easier, but no, no...they've become more difficult. See, these goodbyes come with a completely different forecast than those of our past. Yes, saying goodbye to my childhood friends was so hard and sad, but there was the knowledge that we'd see each other at holidays or summers or whenever we were home. These more recent goodbyes, well, they aren't so lucky. While Nashville isn't our official "home", something about this place drew us all here and brought us all together. We've made this our home. We've filled it with laughter and the overcoming of obstacles, long talks about the future and baked goods, late night study sessions or days when all we did was eat pancakes and stay in pajamas. We've become a special type of family here, the kind that chose to be together.

And then, as expected but always unprepared for, summer rolls around. We pack up our stuff and leave this place. I hate it. I hate it more this year than I have ever before. It just doesn't seem fair, does it? It's not, but it happens anyways. So, I listen to music (and write some..but that is for another day) and smile every time I get a text, g-chat, call, notification of FB stalking, or a in-person reunion. Those are the best. Here are the songs I've been listening to:

1. "Step Outside"-Secrets in Stereo. (Emo, duh. Sorry, not sorry)
2. "Crashing Down"-Mat Kearney
3. "Hands Down"-Dashboard Confessional (I'm not sure why I keep listening to this...but man, I sure love it)
4. "Feeling a Moment"-Feeder
5. "All We Are"- OneRepublic
6. "5:19"-Matt Wertz (This is one of my favorite songs ever, ever)
7. "Everything Will Be Alright"-Matt Wertz (This song is happy and true)
8. "The Sophomore"-Ben Rector (This song is all about transition...)
9. "Where the Story Ends"- The Fray.
10. "Almost Everything"- Wakey!Wakey! (The title of this album is "Almost Everything I Wish I'd Said The Last Time I Saw You"..yup)

So, those are the songs I'm jamming to around town. Some of them are sad (I am an emotional feeder when it comes to music), some are happy (okay, one..whatever), some say the things that I didn't because it never felt like the right time or right place. I have a feeling that I'll be listening to those ones for a while.

Here's to the next chapter, one that will hopefully be filled with as many perfect memories as this one.

Love, love, love

Country, Ya'll

I love country music. I live in Nashville. I was born and raised in the South. And, I don't care what you say, there is nothing better than country music on the radio on a sunny afternoon drive. I took a country music class in college and it was one of my favorite classes ever. The professor wore his cowboy boots to class every day and would do that hair flick thing and I just adored him. I get made fun of a lot for it...haters gonna hate, I suppose.

ANYWAYS.

Here are some of my favorite country songs. Some of them are happy, some of them are not. But they all tell stories about real things happening to real people, which I think is the best thing about country music.

1. "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not?"- Thompson Square. Super cute. Super fun to sing along to.
2. "Cowboy Take Me Away"-Dixie Chicks. This song always makes me smile.
3. "Jackson"-Johnny Cash and June Carter. This song is so funny! I love Johnny Cash and wish that I could have seen him live. His records are some of my most played.
4. "Summertime"- Kenny Chesney. Perfect song for the summer. Makes me think of Braves games and the lake!
5. "Chicken Fried"- Zac Brown Band. "I was raised underneath the shade of a Georgia pine and that's home, you know". Word.
6. "Stay"-Sugarland. Ooooh, I love this song. I love when choruses get changed and have some dramatic ending.
7. "Gunpowder and Lead"-Miranda Lambert. Miranda is sassy. Love it.
8. "Song of the South"-Alabama. Classic country.
9. "He Stopped Loving Her Today"- George Jones. Such a tragic song. I love it.
10. "For a Little While"-Tim McGraw. I love Tim. This song is sad, but in a happy way....if that makes sense?

Ok, some of my favorites! Enjoy :)