25.

1.  I’m very proud of the fact that I was born and raised in Charleston.  This wasn’t always the case.  When I was in Elementary School, I would tell my friends that my dad was from England, my mom was from New York City, and that we moved here from LA, leaving behind my cousin, who was … wait for it: Jonathan Taylor Thomas.

It wasn’t until I moved away for a year to go to college in Anderson, that I realized how lucky I am to be a born and bred Charlestonian. I was blessed to spend my childhood tromping through pluff mud, building drip castles whenever I so pleased, and climbing the hundred year old oak trees down by the Battery, always in a sundress and bare-feet. As a teenager, I feel in love for the first time walking hand in hand along the cobblestone and swinging on the swings down by the waterfront.

2. And now as an adult , despite all of the city’s many charms, the first thing I think about when I think of home is my family. My little sister will always be a baby to me, regardless of the fact that she could beat the life out of me if she felt like it.  She’s tough and she’s pretty, and that’s one deadly combination. My brother Charlie is taller than any of us now, with a ridiculous ear for music and a talent to match.  He’s also kind and considerate (albeit a bit aloof :)!), with what I’ve always suspected to be, and now is quite evident, a poet’s soul.  My youngest brother Hampton is the jock. He’s about to start high school this fall, and I have a feeling he’s gonna be breaking hearts and taking names. I’ve always loved how quick he is to be apart of the joke, and I LOVE listening to him tell stories!  His laugh is contagious.

3.  I have 4 parents. Mom and Richard-Daddy, and Dad and Gina.  My mom is my best friend, and my Richard-Daddy is hers :) They love each other so much, and I love them.  My Dad and I are both so thankful for each others friendship, and both so thankful for Gina. She takes really good care of my Dad, and with both of them traveling so much together, it’s good to know that he has someone he loves by his side. I love them too :)

4.  Some of my favorite things are: documentaries, coffee, street style blogs, folk music, dresses, airports, wine drinking, beaches at night when it’s cold enough to wear a sweater, and the home decor section of TJ Maxx.

5.  I am a Wander-luster. Big time. I want to live everywhere one day.

6.  2006 was the year I went to Zambia, and the year that turned me upside down to shake off the debris from the major shit storm that had been my previous couple of years. It was also the year that began to slowly breath new life into me, while at the same time handing me a shield and whispering, “take good care of yourself, little lady.”

7. 2008 was the year that showed me that sometimes taking good care of myself means setting the shield down, little lady. 

8.  Last year, I opened for Jay Clifford of Jump Little Children.  I’m pretty sure his manager asked me to play so that I’d give Jay a ride up to the venue, which was in Charlotte.  We took my mom’s excursion.  He drove. Our 3 hour conversation on the way to the venue illuminated and encouraged a lot of what was going on in my spiritual life at the time, and even in my politics.  I hearken back to that convo often, and consider it to be a major turning point in the behavior of my mind and heart.  

9.  My best friend Laura forces me to be a stronger woman. Over time, she’s mastered doing this in the most loving way imaginable.  She will never ever tell me what I want to hear if that’s not what I need to hear.  Thank God for that.

10.  I have a banjo. I’m gonna play it really well one day. And not just Sufjany Stevensy stuff. I’m gonna be playing hardcore, punch you in the face, pickin’ and grinnin’ bluegrass.

11.  If I could edit anything in the bible (uh oh, that’s dangerous ground Haley!), I’d make all of the stuff about adulterers and prostitutes GENDER NEUTRAL.  Ugh. Makes my blood boil the way I’ve heard and seen these verses being thrown around, misused, and mistreated. 

12. God is Love. I believe that. And love is changing me. Hallelujah.

13. I <3 NYC.  If it weren’t so damned expensive, I probably would have moved there instead of Nashville.  Well that, and if Nashville weren’t the place that I knew in my bones was where I was supposed to be.  So yay! For being poor and for going where you’re being called to.

14.  My favorite meal is goat cheese on a croissant with a side of split pea soup at The Fast and French on Broad Street in Charleston.

15.  My friend Joey and I went to see “Away We Go” the other night, and it’s by far the best movie I’ve seen this year. It’s officially raised the bar for all future potential suitors. If you don’t treat me like Bert treats Verona, then no dice. Or no Haley, rather.

Note: Alexi Murdoch does the entire soundtrack. GO SEE IT.

16.  I could sleep for 12 hours if I let myself. I’m also kind of an insomniac. This makes me a night owl and an occasional day waster, and I hate that. Well… not so much the night owl part.  If I could sleep for only 5 hours every night, I’d be happy with that.

17.  The first song I ever wrote goes like this:

Got turned down by an angel

what does that say about me?

Sittin’ in the middle of nowhere

not what bird and not one bee

Life can be confusing

but don’t let you heart turn sad

’cause if you do, I’m tellin’ you

it’s gonna drive you mad

… It’s a country song.  I was 9. I sang it for my music teacher, who didn’t believe that I wrote it. But let’s be serious… I was kind of a liar (refer to #1).

18.  I had only one onstage kiss in my entire acting career (way to go Mama, for putting my tendency to “tell stories” to good use). It was as Bielke the youngest daughter in The Fiddler on the Roof, and I think I was in 5th grade at the time.  The guy who played my father had to kiss me on the forehead in the first scene. He always smelled like the whiskey he’d drink in the greenroom before the show. The director had to ask me politely to stop wiping my forehead immediately after. It was getting an unwanted laugh from the audience and ruining the scene. Whatever. It was gross.

19.  Radiohead is the best band I’ve ever seen live. Really, I could have just said, “I’ve seen Radiohead live.” The same information would have been communicated.

20. On my 20th birthday, I woke up in Africa, and by 10pm I was drinking a pint at a pub in London. Afterwards, as I was walking around with my friend Dan, I had what is to date the absolute worst case of deja vu I’ve ever experienced. And it had to do with a row of buildings that I’d obviously never seen before, considering that was the first time I’d ever been to London. Creeeepy.

21.  I would give my right arm to be an amazing artist. Although I suppose that would be counter intuitive…

22.  The only athletic things that I’m good at, or even like doing, are wake boarding and frisbee throwing.  I’m getting worse and worse at the former, and the latter is the yuppiest sport ever created by man. Besides croquet. 

23.  Just recently, I read Eat, Pray, Love because my friend Tawney made me. It took me two days to finish it, and when I’m done with my current book, Freakanomics, I plan on reading it again. It took me a long time to get around to reading it at first because I thought it was going to be trendy, fluffy, dumb, etc. When I’m wrong, I’m wrong. 

24. I love to go on hikes and I don’t do it enough.  Day trip, anyone? I’d love to live in Asheville one day (refer to #5)

25.  “Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love – for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.”