jessica.

This is my dear friend, Jessica.

Several years ago, Jessica changed her beloved sewing room into a bedroom for me when I needed a place to live after leaving my ex. Up to that point, Jessica and I were casual friends, but through the next 6 months, Jessica became something to me that I can't really explain. Looking back to that time in my life, I'm just not sure how I would've made it without her. It was the most difficult and transitional time in my life, but Jessica made things so much better. I've joked before that moving in with Jessica saved my life. Maybe that's a dramatic statement, but I can confidently say it saved my spirit.

Last week I was in Nashville for work and stayed a night with Jessica back in my old room. It brought back so many feelings for me, but what was striking was the overwhelming feeling of comfort. Everything about Jessica's house is lovely to me. It's bright, breezy, peaceful, and natural. I think what I like the most about it, though, is that everything in her home has a purpose. I just wanted to share a few photos so you can see what I mean- she can make the most simple, old items so very beautiful.

I just love this old wooden crate that serves as a table and also as a nook for George!

I wanted to steal this and run out the door with it before Jessica woke up. A vintage Tennessee flour sack that Jessica made as a little curtain above her kitchen sink. me loves!

Jess is the queen of healthy snacking. Here she's made herself a little ball jar collection of yummy treats of course with a list of other healthy items she needs. I use to love reading her lists when I lived with her.

My favorite- love the color. and i would just pee myself if i found a map of tennessee like that one.

I took some film photos yet to be developed of other nooks around jessicas. can't wait to get them back and save them in a box of things that made me feel good.

love you, miss cheatham. and a happy belated birthday to you.

p.s.- look at this amazing picture of jessica's parents on her wall. LOVE!!!

worth a read...

Here are a couple of interesting articles worthy of a read that I wanted to share.

The first, a Huffington Post article from Sunday called Why You're Not Married. Man... this article is brutal, but there is a good deal of uncomfortable truth to it. Obviously, it can't apply to every unmarried woman, but I do have never-married friends creeping on 35 to 40 who want desperately to get married, yet find endless flaws in each decent man they date. Like her points or not, it will at least provide some laughs.

Second, this GQ article about the current life of Billy Ray Cyrus. A sad yet poignant look into Billy Ray's life as a father and a soon-to-be divorcée dealing with what obviously is a good deal of depression and confusion. He's candid about his regrets and at the end you just want to drive over to Franklin, TN and give him a big old hug.

saturation point

I remember this same feeling when the Tsunami hit, as Katrina rolled out, after the Haiti earthquake, and now, my beloved Tennessee. I hate to say it's more substantial to me, but you know, it's my home.

Sitting on my couch with Penny, drinking (possibly chugging) a glass (or three) of wine, flipping through channel after channel hoping some national news program will show something, anything, about the southern floods. Frustrated, I turn it off. I don't know what to do, so I sit there and notice the sun flowing in through my windows and warming up my home, flowers all a'bloom outside, and in a very bizarre way, I'm annoyed. I just want to be home in Tennessee.

Now, I'm a smart girl, and I know the "there's nothing you can really do" argument. I gave what money I could. But the feeling of helplessness is overwhelming to me.

I know that I am now at my saturation point. The enormity of the situation there, with me being here, is starting to affect (effect? why can't i ever get this right?!) me to a point that I need some distance.

Jeremy and I are leaving on Saturday for a much needed, not so-cheap, vacation to the Virgin Islands, and I need to get in the right frame of mind. I need this vacation, but Jeremy REALLY needs it- he hates his job, and this trip has been a bright thing for him to look forward to for months. He needs me to be fully present, drink in hand and a cheesy little smile on my face, not the April that I've been this week. He's been so sweet, but I can't expect him to get it 100%, it's not his hometown.

I hope I can start to leave it in the back of my mind, just for one week. Leave the guilt behind, too.

But it's just so hard...

Nashville, I've never been so proud of you. I've been watching as neighbors help neighbors, strangers help families, volunteer lists fill up in a matter of minutes. You are banding together. It's that spirit that makes me think that you truly are where I belong. And certainly that I need to go ahead and get that dirty south tattoo.

See you in a few weeks, Nashville. I can't wait to give you a big old wet kiss.