Let’s Blog

I’ve decided to be a better blogger. Am I a blogger? I don’t really even know what that means as I have never been one to read blogs, so I don’t really know what goes in to these things. Am I supposed to write what I do every day like a diary? Should I post videos of my weekly ongoings? Should I just write several paragraphs about something with a bunch of links embedded? Sure, let’s do all of the above.

So yesterday I was sitting downstairs at the Documentary Channel helping Greg Crofton, DOC Store manager, put together a new promotion campaign for some great award-winning films that we have for educational and public sale. We always get a little side tracked and talk about my recent travel. It is greatly appreciated as that is one aspect I love most, talking with others about my experience and finding ways to relate these experiences, even an ocean away.

Greg lived in London for a while to study and we talked about what London meant to us. Then he asked me what Nashville meant to me now that I have had a taste of how others live. I haven’t been asked that before and I have been thinking about it all day.

Nashville is a weird concept to me. I was born and raised in Murfreesboro, a small city thirty minutes south of Nashville, for 22 years of my life. We would go to Nashville occasionally, but even though it wasn’t that far away, it was a special event to go into the city. I guess because going to Nashville meant spending money, it seemed that I had to take careful measure as to appreciate it.

I remember this time last year I took ten days out of my life to live with a friend in Nashville to take full advantage of Nashville Film Festival. I was a college rep and was granted a pass which meant I could go to any film and any event/party at no cost. The VIP tent was also free reign so I had access to free food and booze most of the time. I packed a bag, took off work, ditched all my classes and had a taste of living in Nashville.

I will always remember feeling so cheeky sitting at the bar at Jackson’s on 21st Ave wearing a fedora, working on my laptop, sipping a glass of wine and munching on a wrap. I was out of Murfreesboro and the world seemed a bit shinier on this side.

Today my office is in walking distance so I frequent Jackson’s often. Two of my main employers are on Music Row and every day when I have to cross 16th Ave South to walk to my car, I feel happy and blessed.

I guess that’s what Nashville means to me. I have seen the city through young, naive eyes and now through eyes that have watched the sun set on the pyramids. It was my safety net through my growth and young professional development. I was fortunate to baby step to Nashville and meet amazing people and work on big projects. I could make dumb mistakes (and still do) and not feel the wrath of a massive studio blacklisting me.

Until very recently have I admitted that I would not mind keeping a home base here as long as I could travel and come home with appreciation of daily mundane life. I was the first to tell you - and I think it’s still posted on my facebook - that I want to get out of Tennessee as soon as an opportunity would allow me. I’m not opposed to that, but now that I was fortunate to see three continents in three months, there is nothing quite like getting in a car with your bags fresh off the turnstyle, looking to the sky, taking a deep breathe, and being happy that you are home.

Perhaps it’s a comfort to just simply be back in your familiar. Nashville still has glorious little surprises for me daily. Right now I am sitting at Bella Napoli Pizzeria in Edgehill and ate a killer a brick oven calzone and joked with my waiter that I come here too much. Then I notice a sign that says “Seven Directions Community Acupencture. Sliding Scale: $20 - $40 per visit. You decide what you pay”. I have no idea what this means, but how totally cool. I love these types of things - a new experience right in the midst of my everyday life.

People are people no matter where you go. Do we have southern hospitality and all that jazz that is stereotypical of Nashville? Of course, but that’s not what Nashville means to me. I haven’t been anywhere else long enough to be shocked by Tennessee’s generous kindness. A lot of people have been really nice to me everywhere. Who knows.

So I take my very recent new love of my hometown city and try to keep my eyes open for it’s little surprises. I would recommend going out and doing something you have never done before wherever you are. Meet people, have a beer you can’t pronouce, and listen a little more. There is no telling what you may find.