The
past two weeks have been among the most exhilarating of my career.
This weekend marks the one-year anniversary of my job at Billboard
Magazine. I give God all the credit on that one. What a week to
celebrate it with a one-on-one with Lisa Marie Presley backstage
after her Opry debut this past Tuesday night. I am blessed. There’s
no doubt about it, and I don’t take it for granted!
A
few people have asked me how she was. She’s very quiet and
unassuming. People have said before how shy Elvis was, and I see
where she gets it. Of course, she gets her charisma and looks
naturally. Between her father – as well as her mother, she’s one
of the most stunning people I ever have been around. It was truly a
night that I won’t forget anytime soon.
There
have been a lot of those moments lately. A little bit of nostalgia
mixed with a wave of the future. Last week, I became heavily
interested in a Facebook group that included my fellow classmates
from DCHS, Class of 1992. My 20th class reunion is coming
up in a few weeks, and unless a business trip takes me out of state,
I am planning on going. That is a big step for me.
It’s
not that High School was a bad time in my life. Truth be told, I
wasn’t really there. There is a record of me being a student from
1989-1992, but I tried to get through those three years as quietly as
I could. I spent more time studying the music business than I did
anything else. That’s where my passion was even then. I remember in
eighth grade English class, I got into trouble for reading a magazine
in class during something else I should have been doing. The
magazine? It starts with a B. I say that not to boast. If your car
breaks down, I am useless. Plumbing around your house? A call to me
would be a wasted one. But, I just have always been drawn to music –
even then.
You see,
this isn’t about what I did or what I do now. It’s something that
I have learned over the past two weeks. Some of the things that my
fellow classmates have written have made me realize that we are more
the same than I ever thought before. There were a few comments that
stated they were just trying to get by day-to-day, or talking about
how other people’s words made them feel inadequate. And, the ones
saying these things surprised me. Some of them were on top of the
world during those years – in my eyes. Good times – or bad times
– are not always what it seems.
I
thought I was the only one who was scared of getting made fun of.
Turns out I wasn’t. Don’t get me wrong, while nobody is ever
liked by everybody, I only had a problem with three people during my
days on Cougar Hill. Now, neither of those three have made those
comments, but I bet those years weren’t as careless and fun for
them, either.
I
guess what I am saying is that I see a lot of things (and people)
differently than I ever have before. And, that’s very refreshing.
You never know how you are looked upon – then or now. People have
thought I was a snob at times, I am sure. I – even to this day, am
so scared that someone is going to reject who I am or what I do that
if I don’t know you, I am going to be very quiet. But, if I ever
have offended anyone as being aloof or snobbish. I do apologize. I
didn’t mean to. I was simply insecure. Even twenty years later, I
still am to some extent. Though I had plenty of friends back then, I
wish I had been more extroverted. Might have been a lot of fun! If
anyone reads this who is in High School, I say not to worry about
what others think because (as my Sociology teacher Emma Hall once
tried to teach us) – the people who you think are thinking about
you more than likely
– aren’t.
But, also get to know people – deep down, they are not as
intimidating as they seem to be!
I
want to close with a preview of what my next blog will be about –
LOL...you’re on pins and needles right now, aren’t you? I want
your advice on something that I have had a few discussions with
people about lately....the off switch. Being connected all the
time.....good thing or bad thing? Would love to hear from you on
this......Have a good week, everyone!
