One Tree Hill fans (are you out there?) are probably wondering on my timing on this blog post. I'll admit it. I have had the last five episodes in my Hulu queue since they aired back in March and April. I couldn't bring myself to watch them. I finally watched the first three of those five in May. I couldn't go through with watching the last two because that would mean it was really over. I know, I am a huge nerd.
I'm the nerd that when Justin and I went to Wilmington for a wedding, I insisted we visited the OTH studios. We didn't get to take any photos inside, but it was seriously one of the most memorable moments of my life. I will never forget standing in Nathan and Haley's house, Brooke's condo, Red Bedroom records . . . even Justin, who was completely indulging me, had to admit it was cool standing in these places that he normally just glanced on our TV screen, trying to avoid watching the show with me. My only regret was not having enough time to drive over to see the river court. Here are some pictures we were able to take:
 |
| In front of Brooke's store, Clothes Over Bros, at the intersection of Front St and Grace St in downtown Wilmington |
 |
| The front of Tree Hill High School (actually Cape Fear Community College) |
I started watching the show my last year of college. At first, the premise was crazy to me. Nathan and Haley got married in HIGH SCHOOL. Couldn't relate. But I got sucked in. And somehow the 21-year-old me found a show that I would continue to watch religiously for the next 9 years. I was thrilled when they skipped the whole "college years" and did a flash forward instead. Genius. Despite this and the many fans that continued to watch, every year the CW would put One Tree Hill on the chopping block, and every year I would fret over what I would do when it ended. It was actually supposed to end last year and I spent the entire year psyching myself up for the ending, giving myself pep talks. Miraculously, the network decided, no, next year will be the last year. We'll do 13 more episodes.
Last night, Justin had a work dinner to attend and I realized it was a good opportunity to watch the final two episodes. Of course, I had tissues on hand because if I've learned anything, this show can make the tears flow like crazy. As I was watching the final scenes, all of the characters' dreams were coming true. And they weren't necessarily unrealistic dreams -- they weren't "TV" dreams - they were dreams that anyone could attain. I started to think about how much this show has influenced me in a positive way because I truly believe that life should be as great as it is in Tree Hill. Some people who know me may say that my expectations are too high or that my standards are impossible to meet. Some people may think I'm stuck up or high maintenance because of this. But what I realized while I was watching the last show, was that Justin and I have a beautiful home and a baby on the way and all of our dreams are coming true because I believed in them. We believed we could make them happen and we worked hard to make sure they did. And why not? I don't think anyone should ever have to apologize for their successes in life. We should celebrate them, for ourselves, and we should celebrate other people's successes as well, instead of being petty and jealous and creating these lines between the haves and the have nots. If a person works hard to get where they are, they should be congratulated for it.
Yes, I'm also the nerd who is soul searching during the 1 minute Hulu commercial breaks of the series finale of my favorite show. And I couldn't resist posting about it because of the closing monologue, delivered by all of the different cast members. It summed up exactly what I had been thinking during those commercial breaks. It was the perfect good-bye to nine years and now, it's the perfect way for me to share with all of you why this show meant so much.
“It’s the oldest story in the world. One day you’re 17 and planning for someday. And then quietly and without you ever really noticing, someday is today. And then someday is yesterday. And this is your life.”
“We spend so much time wanting, pursuing, wishing. But ambition is good. Chasing things with integrity is good. Dreaming.”
“If you had a friend you knew you’d never see again, what would you say? If you could do one last thing for someone you love, what would it be? Say it, do it, don’t wait. Nothing lasts forever.”
“Make a wish and place it in your heart. Anything you want. Everything you want.”
“Do you have it? Good. Now believe it can come true.”
“You never know where the next miracle’s gonna come from.”
“The next memory. The next smile. The next wish come true.”
“But if you believe that it’s right around the corner . . .”
“And you open your heart and mind to the possibility of it. To the certainty of it . . .”
“You might just get the thing you’re wishing for.”
“The world is full of magic. You just have to believe in it.”
“So make your wish. Do you have it?”
“Good. Now believe in it.”
“With all your heart.”
I told you it was the cheesiest entry I would ever write. When you are two and a half months away from turning 30, sometimes it's more important to just say the things you are feeling and not worry about what other people think. If I can't show people the real "me" by now, when can I?
As the OTH theme song goes and Gavin DeGraw so appropriately puts it, "I don't want to be anyone other than me."
No comments:
Post a Comment