It’s safe to say that I’ve always been in love with television. But One Tree Hill made me fall in love with storytelling in a way that I will never forget. So as I reflect on (and freak out over) the fact that I’m FINALLY going to see BETHANY JOY LENZ in concert at the end of this month, all my One Tree Hill obsessions are totally resurfacing. So I thought I’d share some memories I’ve collected over the years that are dear to me.

My Cozy Keith Scott Body Shop Sweater-

This was bought as a birthday gift from my friend Kate. I still wear this and it still makes me so happy. I remember wearing it to school one day back when I was in high school and having two girls talking about it behind me- “Oh my god, that’s like Lucas’ Keith Scott’s Body Shop Sweater from One Tree Hill.” I turned and smiled with pride.

Falling In Love With New Music-

Here I am at a Tyler Hilton concert with my friend. We actually got to meet him and I remember asking him what hooptie meant and he said it was an old car and then we all got to give him a big group hug. Tyler played Chris Keller.

“Well I’m cruising El Paseo
In my off-white coup back ’65
Or I’m cruisin down my own street
And my hooptie says to me
You better hang on to your bench seat
I’m gonna take you for a ride.”

-“When It Comes” by Tyler Hilton

The Meet & Greets-

My parents agreed to take part in my obsession and drove me and my best friends to meet what we like to call “Routh”- Marvin “Mouth” McFadden (played by Lee Norris) and Rachel Gatina (played by Danneel Harris.) I remember having a blast road tripping and then waiting in line. We were allowed to make CW t-shirts in the CW lounge they had set up in the Paramus Mall. My dad of course acted like a security guard and got the inside scoop on when the two actors would be coming, haha.

I remember the two of them being so sweet, posing for multiple pictures and signing autographs. I told Lee how excited we were that he finally had his own credit in the show’s beginning credits, he was promoted to a series regular FINALLY.

Meeting Sophia Bush (Brooke Davis) in Macy’s in New York City was EPIC, but left me in tears and with a massive headache and a serious amount of embarrassment. It was kind of surreal, but the moment I went up to meet her I fell apart with no warning. My brother took me and my friends and he’s a photographer so he went up to meet Sophia first so that he would be able to take pictures of us with Sophia. Since the security wouldn’t let us pose for pictures with her,  (seriously they took my brothers camera wile he went up and everything) but my brother tried to get Sophia to look at him as I went up so I could get a picture with her and well, she totally did it but just having my brother say that I was her biggest fan and tried to get that picture for me made me super emotional and the excitement, 7 hours of waiting in line, and lack of sleep all came crashing down on me. And I was a mess, so much so that I almost forgot to meet Daphne Zuniga (Victoria Davis.) I just remember wanting to get the heck out of there, because I felt so silly. But hey what can you do. Emotions aren’t controllable. Feeling is okay.

Random Fangirl Things-

At Macy’s they had this CW-One Tree Hill photobooth. You were basically supposed to go in an film a 30 second clip of why you should be on the show, or some kind of fan contest thing. They were always doing things like that, but clearly I never won. Anyway, the day we met Sophia was so hectic that we had to go back another day to submit our clips.

Recreating the Season 1 signature tangled web pose.

 

I hosted many viewing parties usually for the season premieres and would invite all my friends. And then every week my best friend Roe and I would watch together, switching houses each week.

And last but not least, I am about to share some very embarrassing photos with you. Our obsession reached the epic standard in middle school and continued through high school when my friends and I would have these epic OTH sleepovers. We would choose scenes/or episodes to act out from the show and film them. I still have one of them and every time I watch them I am reminded of my childhood/teenhood. It was kind of freakin’ awesome and I’d like to think that’s where my writing/directing influence was sparked. I would print out scripts, track down similar outfits and create settings and scenes to match the show. I can’t tell you how many times I would re-watch scenes to take notes, because I wanted to get things just right. We even played the parts, mostly we played out the scenes with all the girls, but sometimes we reverse Shakespearean and played the roles of the guys too. Weird I know, but let’s be honest Lucas and Haley had some epic best friend moments! It was all in good fun and we would have a blast. It was an all weekend thing that would last into all hours of the night! I’d give anything to go back in time and relive a weekend like that again. #Memories 

Our favorite episode to do was 2×08 “Truth Bitter Truth”

I played Anna Taggaro (played by Daniella Alonso.) See the resemblance 😉

 

 

Other scene similarities

So big thank you to One Tree Hill for giving me some of my most treasured memories. ❤

I know what you must be thinking, but if you love Bethany Joy Lenz so much, how come you’ve never met her. Well it wasn’t for a lack of trying. Back in middle school when the One Tree Hill tour was on, my best friend and I tried to get tickets and we couldn’t. And then when James Lafferty and Bethany Joy Lenz had their meet and greet, my friends and I found out too late, I was on my way home from vacation with my family from Pennsylvania. But my friend Michelle did go and she filled us in on all the awesomeness. Yea I admit, I was jealous. But now on July 28th I finally get to at least see her in concert with my best friend Roe, and that’s a start. Can’t wait!

*I do not take credit for any One Tree Hill pictures and gifs used.*

*All other photos are my own.*

-<3-