you can take the girl out of chapel hill.....

i was having lunch with my old friend kelly today & we were discussing great locations for pictures.  i had planned to scout out downtown chapel hill for a shoot i have planned for next week.  it's been forever since i have  walked around in my hometown.  i knew i was back in town when i had to drive all over creation to find a parking place.  then, when i did finally u-turn in the middle of the road to find a metered spot, of course the meters only take quarters in chapel hill, & the quarters buy you ten minutes. awesome.  i will say, that the nice stroll made up for the reminder of the lack & expense of parking.

 as i was walking through, i was in the middle of the buzz of students & faculty, there was some cheering coming from the student union area.  there was also a girl on her cell phone obviously stressed about something, pretty much in tears as if it were the end of the world.  having been there a million times, i truly had to resist the urge to go up to her & tell her it would get better & today was really a speck in time.  but it also brought me back to how much i loved every part of growing up & becoming me in such an awesome town.

 if you grew up in chapel hill, you have no doubt seen the emails that talk about all the things you remember:

franklin street when it still had barrel of fun

peppers pizza in the original location

going downtown for halloween when you were 12, & feeling safe

apple chill: the original

school kids records

the sad day when the intimate bookstore caught fire

the even sadder day when the rathskeller closed (i hear it's reopening- please say it's true!)

going downtown when carolina won a championship

collecting blue plastic cups by the dozen

one high school

i haven't even scratched the surface.  but the point is, unless you grew up in it, it's so hard to understand.  i feel so lucky to say i was born & raised in such a great place.  i think i have spent the last 3 years talking about how bad i want back into the 27514 zip code- that's another one i missed- remember when they had to add 27516!?

 i feel like i have the chance to look at a lot of things on the other side of the lens.  it reminds me to literally stop & look around, take in my surroundings, & just slow down.  i love the new energy i have & appreciation for just being able to move around comfortably & as much as i want.  don't forget to slow down, take it all in, & appreciate the moment.  here's to making new memories in my old & most favorite town.

"every child is an artist.  the problem is, how to remain an artist when we grow up." -picasso

live.laugh.love.click.

-hs