In the Beginning.....

It has been almost 18 months since I started this blog. A lot has happened in my life during those 18 months including.....

• I saw my last day as an Alderman
• I applied and was accepted to college to finish my degree
• I retired from a profession I had been successful in for 18 years
• I started attending college full time
• I started a new job
• I have seen the sun rise almost every day, but have rarely seen the clock strike midnight
• I have made the Dean's List twice
• I have made 11 A's and 1 B
• I have moved twice
• I am less than 2 months away from graduating with a B.B.A. with triple minors in Economics/Finance, Real Estate and Management/Marketing
• I have made many new friends on the blog, at school, and at work and have reconnected with many from my past

With all of this being said, I think it is time for me to "move on." I was going to put the song "Movin' On" by Rascal Flatts on here. At one time I thought it was fitting, but not anymore! Parts of that song do hold some truth for me, but the whole is about "running away," something I have not done and will not do. My favorite lines:

I've found you find strength in your moments of weakness
For once I'm at peace with myself
I've been burdened with blame, trapped in the past for too long
I'm movin' on

I've lived in this place and I know all the faces
Each one is different but they're always the same
They mean me no harm but it's time that I face it
They'll never allow me to change

At last I can see life has been patiently waiting for me
And I know there's no guarantees, but I'm not alone
There comes a time in everyone's life
When all you can see are the years passing by
And I have made up my mind that those days are gone
I'm movin' on....

For many reasons, I will not be running for Alderman in October 2009. The biggest being because I do not want to! I have moved too far forward to turn around and go back now! Another big reason I will not throw my hat into the "ring" is because I am currently not a full-time resident of the City of Franklin and have not been since August of 2008. Sure, I will be moving back once school is out, but at this time I do not know where or when that will be. My belongings are in storage in Franklin. Driving to Franklin late every night, after being awake since before dawn, took its toll on me last summer. I realized then that if I wanted to live to see graduation, I needed to be closer to school and do my driving in the mornings. Now, I wake up at 4:30 every morning, drive to Franklin to work until 4:30, then back to Murfreesboro to school until 9:00.

There will be people who say I did not finish what I started here. I will disagree. What I started was not for you, it was for me. Sure, I could continue, but what purpose would it serve? There are many stories within the story that I would love to tell, but to do so would do nothing positive for anyone. Many people want to know how the story ends. It doesn't, it is always the beginning. There will always be "doubters," but those are the same people who came into it that way. Just like you cannot convince me, it was never my intention to convince you.

To all of you who spent the last 18 months in whole or in part reading this, thank you! Many of you continued reading to get the scoop, others to see what I was doing, some "just because," and some for a combination of all or reasons of your own. Whether you used anonymous, your true identity, or a screen name, thank you to everyone who commented - in a positive way or otherwise. Many of the people who kept up the most, I think, have joined me on Facebook. Because of other blogs and forums for anonymous commenting, they all know their "identities" are safe from my disclosure. Some of these are people who, a year ago or less, I did not know. Some I still have not met or spoken with, but hope to very soon! I especially want to thank these people for trusting me with their true identities!

To my family and friends who have awoken every morning for the last 18 months worried and wondering what kind of comments were received or what I had written before going to bed, I am sorry for the pain this blog may have put you through and I thank you for letting me do this "my way"! My family and friends are THE BEST! I have never told anyone "the complete rest of the story," including my family and friends. Thank you for not pushing! One day soon I will find that trust again....I want people to know me and like me for who I am and not what they read or hear in the Franklin gossip mill!

So, I guess this is it! I will continue reading the local newspaper (WAM) and I will continue to give my opinion on Drinkin' The Franklin Kool Aid, among other mediums. For the next week or two I will post comments and answer questions here. Who knows, one day I may choose to involve myself in local politics again. For now, however, it is my choice to continue moving forward with my life!

In the beginning........