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Well, where to begin? It’s been a hell of a ride this year. While it may not have seemed a busy year to the onlooker, or listener in the case of Hungry Lucy, it has, indeed, been busy underneath the veil! But, this isn’t entirely about what I’ve accomplished. It’s also about what I’ve enjoyed.

In early 2009, I went to the cabin, in the woods, in Tennessee. With me were my parents (George and Sharon), Warren’s parents (Peter & Carol) and, of course, Warren. When six people share one space for 4 days, one of two things could potentially happen. One, they could feel trapped and proceed to infiltrate the space with negativity and general unpleasantness. Or, two, they could embrace the chance to get to know each other and learn more about one another. Happily, it was number two in this scenario. Warren brought along enough musical equipment to write and record if the mood struck, and boy did it strike! Every few hours he’d go up into the loft, bang out a tune, and then come back downstairs and join the rest of us for a while. I loved that he felt comfortable enough to listen to his musical need and go do what was natural for him to do. No one minded that he would, occasionally, and without warning, just go upstairs and not come back for a few hours. It was great! I even had the inspiration from those few songs to write stories to them as I previewed them in Warren’s headphones. A few of those turned out to be on the new album (which will be released in early to mid-2010), and were written from such a pure place. For me, as the lyricist, it was immediate reaction to the music that inspired the vision in my head. That, in turn, made the words flood out in story form rather than lyrics. We let those “cook” once we came back home and they became yet another form of Warren’s original piece. That’s one of my fondest musical memories of the year… working with Warren in a cabin in the woods, and then again at home with new inspiration for music. It really is powerful to create music away from your usual environment. There was something very pure and special about the whole process. It was beautiful.

So, we all chatted, played games, cooked together and just enjoyed time as six individuals, learning more about each other. Mummy Carol with her crosswords and books, Papa Peter with all of his questions and stories, and all of us just enjoying the company and the quiet of the woods. I immensely enjoyed my Dad teaching me how to play Poker, and not doing a bad job at all, I must say! In recent years, I’ve become very close with my Mom and always jump on any chance to get a little closer with my Dad. I was happy for that time. I’ll take more of that, please! I’m excited to say that we get to do the cabin thing again in early 2010. Wheeee!!! Who knows what this visit will bring? That’s part of the fun. No one knows.

In non-musical news, I did manage to finish a second draft of my novel-in-progress, “Days with Indigo”, before the mad rush of the holiday season. My goal is to release the book mid-2010. Completing the final draft is a bit slower than I’d like, but it’s progress nonetheless. I’ve posted many updates on the book, so I’m not going to ramble even more at this point. All I will say is that the feedback I’ve received from some volunteer readers (one finished the book and the second is currently reading it now) is very positive at this juncture in the draft. The scary thing is, I think I may have managed to actually write a good story! I can’t tell anymore. After reading and re-reading it so many times, the story is a little lost on me. But, the feedback is good! To have actually done this much really makes me feel great about accomplishing something of my own, on my own. Speaking as a person who usually has so many “ideas”, and doesn’t see many of them come to fruition, it’s a shock to the system to have come this far on something I simply wanted to “try”. Try, I did.

In non-HL music news, I fell deeply, happily in love with Fever Ray. This was all thanks to a twitter posting from Imogen Heap (another music love of mine, and Warren’s) who had mentioned how cool the video “When I Grow Up” was. I knew this woman had talent way beyond the usual musical realm. Her music comes from somewhere deep, hidden, beautiful and weird. And, the funny thing about me is, I usually LOVE to sing along with artists in the car. However, with Fever Ray, I just want to hear her voice and the music. She makes me shut up. She makes me listen. She makes me wonder. Then, the opportunity to go see her perform in Chicago presented itself. We jumped at the chance! We met up with our friend Sam, and some of his friends, in Chicago and had a great time before, and during, the show. I just adore being able to spend time with friends that I don’t get to see very often. I think the show was made all the more special because of who we saw it with. It was a lovely experience. Lovely memories. Music has such power, no?

You know, I nearly forgot that Warren and I saw Tori Amos again! After Fever Ray, all past performances kinda fell away from memory for a while. I absolutely LOVE Tori, but I must admit that I preferred seeing her with just her pianos at a previous concert. The 2009 show was definitely more of a “rock” performance, complete with a full band, and seemed more showy than I was used to with Miss Amos. It was great, but I did find myself ready to leave before the end. All in all, I love whatever she does. She’s a HUGE inspiration of mine, and I admire her greatly. My own fault was that I didn’t allow the show to be its own experience. I expected what I saw before. Have I learned nothing over the last few years? No two performances are ever the same. Nor should they be. What a silly girl!

Then, we got to go to England! We stayed with Warren’s sister, Tracy, and her husband Tony. Such a great pair of crazy kids! I could totally see living there in the future. No problem whatsoever! It was so nice to troll about the South Shore, Tony at the helm, taking piccies-a-plenty and enjoying time with T&T, being so silly and having more fun than should be legal! It’s just so lovely to have such common ground with people and not be afraid to be myself. I can’t even describe how I felt while I was there. It was so lovely. I absolutely adored it. Every moment was a treasure. Best of all, Warren got some time with his sister. That’s always a welcome treat. It’s so lovely to see, too. Since I was the part-time “car wife”, as Tony called it, Warren and Tracy sat in the back seat together when we went on car trips (I get insane car sickness, so Tracy happily gave me the front seat. Thanks, Trace!) and they would chatter about together, like kids. Cute doesn’t touch it. It was extraordinary. I could really go on and on about that trip. Again, I want more of that, please!

The holidays have come and gone with much visiting of family from near and far. We had multiple gatherings for November and December. No stone left unturned. I have a large family. It takes a friggin’ village to get us all together! Actually, we ARE the village! Martin’s, Harrison’s, and all he branches in between. We met briefly, laughed and loved, and will hold that moment in time for a little while until we see each other again. As my Aunt Tommie said earlier this year, “All this because two people fell in love all those years ago.” It’s so easy to forget the simple things like that once people are gone. They are the reason we are here. We will always be tied together. Always.

On a more personal note, I turned 35 this year. I don’t know what power this number has, but things are happening to me that I didn’t expect. I almost believe there’s been a switch turned inside my brain. In point of fact, inside my heart. I feel different within myself. I feel, well, like a more concentrated version of myself. The ideas I have are actually becoming something other than just ideas. They’re becoming physical things I can see, hear and touch. I’m not complaining. I find the whole thing rather fascinating! I don’t want to die not doing what I intended with my life. I’m only just now understanding that my purpose in life is to tell stories. Whether that be in music, books, photos, films, whatever. I need a vehicle to tell a story, and I have many within my grasp. How cool! If I want to say something, now is the time! Now’s my chance!

Also, with 35 I realized I wasn’t the physical “me” I wanted to be, nor what I used to be in my younger days. Who says Vegetarians can’t be unhealthy? I’m a pasta addict. Bread, too! So, I’m trimming down and staying a whole hell of a lot more active! Then, I decided, after much debating, to chop my hair off again. It had been many, many years since I’d done this, so I figured why not? Plus, I’d colored it earlier in the year and I never quite got it to a happy state for me. It was dragging me down, making me look old. So, I cut it off. Like, OFF off! I loved it at first, as one tends to do when making such a drastic change, and felt it lifted a weight off of my shoulders. I felt better. I even looked better. But now, after time with short hair once again, I feel the pull of a desire for that which I do not have. Long hair. I knew it was inevitable, but I didn’t know when it would strike. It has indeed struck now. But, no matter. It is, after all, only hair. It will grow back–and probably in less time than I expect! My family is known for how quickly our hair grows. It’ll be back before I know it! Such a fuss we make over appearance. When it comes down to it, it’s really not that important. It’s what our hearts say that matters. I can hear mine now.

I guess it all comes down to where I allow my focus to lie. For now, I’m letting the focus be on creating. I have so many stories I want to tell, and I have no intention of slowing down. If anything, I need to pick up the pace a bit! I do have a rather relaxed schedule. I need not take it for granted.

Here’s hoping 2010 brings a sense of completion for both myself as a new Author, and for Hungry Lucy on our 4th full-length album! Also, I hope that it brings more time with friends, family, and enjoying life rather than wishing any time away. I’ll try to savor. I’ll try to be diligent. I’ll just try and be me.

Be you and know that I love you for what you already are. No change is necessary.

Here’s to a wonderful 2010!

With Much Love,

Christa Belle