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New Year’s Eve was one of those nights where new friendships were deepened, and Johnny Cash ruled supreme.

Squirrel Queen (who is starting to blog again, Yippie) and I trekked over to Weakley County’s best place for what I think should be Bonnaroo North by Northwest.  Our friends, Mark and Steph hosted a small intimate gathering at their home. The farm is lovely and even has this hip cemetery of his ancestors set nestled in the distance of naked trees settled in for the winter. Steph used to work in the music industry but fell in a deep puddle of love and alas, she is here. Speaking to her last night, she wouldn’t change a thing.

You see, Steph and I have a lot in common when it comes to moving to Hooterville. I’m a native who left and came back, but she made the choice to move here, leaving Nashville behind.

Funny things about choosing to live in Hooterville, but that is another story for another day.

I think it was an adjustment for her (that goes without saying. Hell, it was for me as well) but she has embraced living in a rural setting and made it her own. The thing is I get it. I understand the culture shock and adjustment. And I think Steph (remember, not Squirrelly. This is another Steph) and I have a bond here.

And then there is Cash. Last night, during the festivities, she and I talked about working in the music industry. We shared war stories from working in the studio setting and although I can’t speak for her, I can say that there was more I disliked than liked about it. But it was fun to reminisced about what we had been through. As we were listening to music last night from her I Tunes Library, we started talking about Johnny Cash. Steph hails from Hendersonville so we popped over to You Tube and watched the video Hurt. Then we watched it again.

And then again.

She saw the visual imagery of the town she grew up in. I saw the perfect anthem for a year filled with so much loss, and I think she and I, in our own ways, said goodbye to the bitch of a year that 2006 sometime was.  It was one of those moments you share with somebody that you know has meaning and that also is a jumpstart to the start of something new.

So the night was filled with many things. First, me staying up all night listening to Cash with new friends taught me one thing. I’m too old to stay up all night listening to Cash. But on the other hand, it was a nice way to end a year and a good way to start another 365 days.

As I’ve said on this blog (well the other one) I used to be the tour guide at  the Country Music Hall of Fame and one of my gigs was the Johnny Cash room. I loved talking up Cash. So there was time for remembrance last night.

Because he was the world’s first rock star. And we listened to his ragged voice that filled the library of her farm while the world around us melted away and felt at peace with the world.

And that was of the good.