Farewell Tree Hill: Thanks for the Memories!

 

        Today is bittersweet- its the end to One Tree Hill but at the same time will open many new beginnings for all the wonderful actors in this series. I haven't even been able to write this post until now ( Tuesday- a day before the finale) because I've literally been in denial. Don't think about the ending and it won't happen right? wrong... but that's not always a bad thing. I'm happy with where theses NINE seasons have gone and the memories that I have made along the way. 

So this post is dedicated to those Tree Hill memories... 

When One Tree Hill season 1 started it paralleled with my life- they were in the same grade I was, doing some of the same activities and experiences; Peyton and her Drawings, Cheerleading and watching Basketball play a major part in peoples lives. In a way it made a person feel like they weren't walking through high school alone, because lets face it, high school isn't all glitter and sunshine! 

But apart from the cheerleading, basketball & the drama... there's a message. Each character is beautiful and smart, and flawed in their own way. I think that's what made One Tree Hill so powerful-- every person can take away a different meaning from it- whatever it is they need to grasp onto to get by, OTH had that.

So THANK YOU Mark Schwahn, for letting me and millions of others have the opportunity to learn and grow alongside the characters lives, in which you've created. And to the actors, I THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart.

 Do you ever wonder if we make moments in our lives, or if the moments in our lives make us? - Lucas Scott

  

 Last August, my sister Emilee and I took a spur of the moment road trip to Wilmington, NC where OTH is filmed; both at private& public locations around Wilmington and also Screen Gem Studios. Of course we didn't get to every place that we wanted to see due to time constraints but we were able to see the most recognizable and popular filming locations...

 LUCAS SCOTT'S HOUSE!! This was of course one of our first stops! And a total fangirl moment-- I think more for me than Emilee ;-) but she enjoyed seeing his house also. Seeing where Lucas "lived" made the entire trip seem so real. I wanted to get a picture on the back steps next to the door to his room, but this was a residential home, so I refrained from doing so.

(In no particular order- because honestly I can't remember what days we did everything-- we were all over Wilmington!)

We went around and found the homes of Brooke Davis & Peyton Sawyer. Along with going downtown to Cape Fear community college where the high school scenes were shot. And also the building where Karen's Cafe used to be. They had a sign in the window marked "Karen's Cafe", so Emilee and I made sure to get our picture under it (of course it was POURING rain, so I will not post it! lol) but several years back they used to have the awning up- which would've been so neat to see! Of course it was taken down for C/B shooting purposes. And of course we had to find TRIC!

 on Saturday we took a trip to Screen Gem Studios where One Tree Hill has been set for the last 9 years, and were able to take a tour. Normally they show 3 sets, and told us we could come back next week if we wanted to see all 3 for our monies worth, because they had a "hot" set and therefore we could only tour 2 of them. I had to laugh because there was NO stopping us from getting into that building-- we drove 14hours for this, one less set tour wasn't going to ruin a thing. It was like these gigantic separate rooms built inside a huge warehouse... pretty surreal how quickly the set gets taken down also. We first went through Red Bedroom Records and oh my goodness! The neatest feeling ever! Every little detail was all there- I fell in love. Then we went into Brooke and Julian's home which was actually in transition to being set up for filming, so that was neat to see. There were baby toys and bouncy cribs everywhere! lol

...And last but certainly not least...

 I think for both of us going to the River Court was the most emotional and momentous experience of the trip. This was where it all started- there is so much meaning and love and loss packed onto this court that it was a dream to be able to see it. As of a few months ago, the River Court was torn up. When Emilee and I heard about this we were devastated! But very glad that we had the opportunity to see it before it was gone. So here is my little piece of Tree Hill that I'll treasure:

Port City Clothing 

In November I had the chance to go to LA for Breaking Dawn premiere and was shocked and excited to see Hilarie Burton (Peyton Sawyer) walking down the "Black" carpet! What an amazing experience just to be there to watch all of the Twilight stars, it never even dawned on me that I may see other celebrities there lol. So Hilarie comes over to sign autographs and my friend Tracy asks if she'd take a picture with me. I'm not one to ask for pictures- was in way to much shock that I lost all train of thought, so I'm forever grateful she asked for me. Hilarie was more than willing to take a picture; very very sweet! This was definitely a highlight of the premiere for me :)

totally embarrassing pic of me. lol but Hilarie looks amazing! And the memory is just perfect!

Tonight, as we settle down to watch the final 2 hour episode EVER of One Tree Hill, we may say goodbye to the characters in which we've grown to love, but it's the memories that will stay with us. So, I leave you with this...

-Remember tonight, for it is the beginning of always.
A promise. Like a reward for persisting through life so long alone.
A belief in each other and the possibility of love.
A decision to ignore, simply rise above the pain of the past.
A covenant, which at once binds two souls and yet severs prior ties.
A celebration of the chance taken and the challenge that lies ahead.
For two will always be stronger than one, like a team braced against the tempest civil world.
And love will always be the guiding force in our lives. For tonight is mere formality.
Only an announcement to the world of feelings long held. Promises made long ago.
In the sacred spaces of our hearts.