The Start of a New Adventure...

There are times in everyone's life that hard decisions have to be made. Ones you battle with over and over; maybe put off until the final breaking point. They're the kind of decisions that you know deep down in your soul or wherever that you need to make. You just know it's going to be really fucking painful to do it. Well my friends...I've had to make one of these decisions lately! While I like to consider myself an open book to my good friends and sometimes to the unsuspecting first time Rambo experiencer; I'm going to spare you the nitty gritty for my own privacy's sake.

After a lot of thought, consideration, and many, many tearful conversations and drives around town--I am moving back home. After 6 years of barely visiting my family and friends back home, after a few deaths, uncertain medical diagnoses, and not being around as my youngest sister grows; I knew it was high time I make the move. By the way, home is 1200 miles from Nashville or a $455 plane ticket! This decision doesn't come at a good time--do they ever? No one wants to leave their team-EVER-nonetheless mid-season. Nonetheless a consecutive 4 year All Star captain with three playoff trips and two champ trips under her belt. Not after setting down roots and making some of the best friendships she's ever had. Not after having helped build a team and a league, through thick and thin, along the side of other just as dedicated woman and men. Understand this came from a place of NEED not just want. I want both. I want my teammates, Nashville family, and my family to be in one happy place all together so I'm 100% content. Someone want to be a backer of Rambo world?

I hate goodbyes and I hate the word "leaving". Whenever I've moved I have ALWAYS said, "see you later". I never like to think I'm gone for good from any one place. Maybe this is my way of coping with hard shit. Maybe this is my way of not dealing with the real emotions of moving on to something new and leaving relationships. Whatever it is, it's my way and it seems to work okay. In no way think that I don't have tears streaming down my cheeks as I write this. The other day one of my best girlfriends back home sent this to me: "True friendship isn't about being inseparable, it's about being separated and nothing changes." Well if that little ditty didn't make me start bawling! (Thanks Meghan, yah jerk!) While it may be corny, it's damn true. I have made over the course of 5-6 years some of the BEST friendships I've ever had. I've met and called friends some of this most talented, strongest, and incredible people this world has to offer. And I'm not just talking about my teammates. Nashville has some of the greatest creative minds I've met. This is an incredible and magical city. I DARE you to visit it for any amount of time.

I have been completely honored to help lead the Nashville Rollergirls as a team captain, coach, trainer, Athletic Director, Vice President and in any other odd job I did over my time there. You hear about leagues that have crazy drama or lots of in fighting, backstabbing, distrust etc. I can honestly say since the incarnation of this organization there has been so, so little of that. Even to this day it's hard to remember and go back to pin point "bad" times. These really were the best of times, the worst of times never came 'round.

So the question(s) on everybody's tongue, "What the hell is Rambo doing next?!?! Who is she going to skate for?!?!" Well, inquisitive minds!...I'm going to take a little break from my boyfriend-that-is-derby and spend the summer on Long Island with this chick:

That would be my twin seeester, Natalie. Her and her man (Rob) invited me to stay with them to work and play on Long Island (more specifically, East Hampton). Yes, I'm going to spend my summer in the Hamptons! Ha! I think this is absolutely hilarious to have my silly ass in the Hamptons for 5 months. It'll be just enough time to remind Nat and I why we never got an apartment together after high school. Hopefully no all-out brawls ensue like when we were 15, all over again. Maybe our older and wiser selves will know better to not push each other's buttons and to just walk away. I highly doubt it. Oh and don't tell my sister I said she lives in the Hamptons, she says she lives in Montauk (it sounds less snooty I suppose). Whatever.

After my short stint on Long Island I'll be officially back to my homeland. For the fall-spring months I'm going to work with my Dad--packing apples, making cider, doing deliveries and whatever else needs to be done around the farm or cider business. This is also when I plan to start derby back up. "Which team Rambo?!?! WHICH TEAM!!!!" Umm, well, that's a great question. I've always said that if I moved back home I'll skate with Boston. This was well before NH had any teams. Now they have multiple teams and two that are really close to where I'm going to live. I'm not completely 100% decided on which team I'll skate for. I do plan on skating with as many teams as possible on the North Eastern sea board over the next six months. By the time fall comes around, I'll have made my choice.

"Buhh, buuh Rambo, what about blogging and your QnDs?!?" Well, I still plan to blog here for Kate in Skates. Kate is fucking fabulous and has been a great support during this time of transition. I'm still a workout machine whether I'm on a short derby hiatus or not. I'm still Rambo whether I'm called Sam, Samantha, or shit head. This summer I'm going to blog about my silly shenanigans on Long Island and all the mischief Bratalie and I get into. And yes, of course I'm going to still do Quick n' Dirty's. You may not realize, but I create them all from doing them myself. So, I do my work out and then you get that work out. It's that simple. :-)

So well....long story short! ;-) Nashville has been an incredible place to skate, live, make friendships, and play. The Music City will always hold a very, very special place in my heart. I know without question I will be back to visit if not to live here again one day. Now it's time that I move on from here, on to new adventures. My homeland calls and I cannot ignore it any longer. 

I'll see you around my friends,

Rambo