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So how exactly did a 24 year old with a love of shoes, a background in architecture and absolutely NO RETAIL experience make Scarpa one of the most beloved shoe stores in Virginia? As Amy Gardner put it (I’m paraphrasing this divine quote) “It’s like having a baby at seventeen, you know it’s possible and people have done it before.” But at 24 how did Amy Gardner pull off the shoe lover’s dream? As a side note not only is Amy Gardner an articulate, interesting, bright, and charismatic shoe store owner, or “the keeper of the shoe mecca” of Charlottesville, she is the type of person that you want to be friends with. She is thoughtful, fair, witty and a wonderful listener. On the flip side I’m a big talker. She really is the type of person you immediately want to be friends with in Charlottesville. Throughout my interview with Amy her sense of loyalty, a dead on moral compass, and well, I’ll try to paraphrase it on my own words, a sense of integrity, was a consistent and comforting undertone throughout all of our conversations.

Any way back on point–Amy acknowledged two things that stood out most for her as a 24 year old commencing on a pretty big adventure. First of all, she had the fearlessness that both youth and visionaries of all types have along with the attitude necessary. “I’d rather do something and fail than have to look back twenty years from now and wished I’d tried.” Second, (which just happens to be something I value VERY much in other people) SHE DIDN’T KNOW EVERYTHING. I’m still working on that one… so she wrote a business plan, got as much input from shoe and retail conferences/markets in the summer of August 1993 and then she went searching for the BIGGIE… capital. After capital came one of the most important investments in time and energy a budding business owner comes across… location. As they say…LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION. Amy found it at Barracks Road and has not looked back since, as it has remained Scarpa’s permanent home!  But how exactly did Scarpa go from a store for UVA girls who had to drive out of town for shoes, to having a clientele that reached all over Virginia, and also has a dedicated “cult following?” Well that’s Amy and her vision of Scarpa. Her vision became conceptualized, with a couple of different values. First, have enough name brands people have confidence in. Second, fresh new designers. Lastly, like any good portfolio with risk and reward, diversity–representing products with a wide range. Over the past 20 years Amy has driven through Scarpa’s fabulous, yet varied, eclectic shoe collection with her belief that Scarpa gives women an atmosphere and a foundation to become “confident in their own style.” That women can have a sense of empowerment through “shoes”–and yes, empowerment through clothing is possible but that my friends is a whole new topic for another day!

After a couple of hours of chatting with my feet up beside Amy, laid back comfortably in an office chair, I asked her how she would describe Scarpa’s range of shoes right now? Sitting back thoughtfully, she mused, “Rock star goes to the country club for lunch, but with a little bit of Rock n’ roll…”  Keep Rocking Amy Gardner! She is giving women an option with shoes that may give a little more confidence, some inspiration, and maybe can help them envision who they want to be and where they want to be today and in the future. Hey its just shoes, right? Try uttering that phrase to a shoe lover, you won’t get very far!

Hopefully we will be hearing A LOT More from Amy Gardner in the future!

Check out Scarpa here:

Scarpa

www.thinkscarpa.com

2114a Barracks Road

Charlottesville, VA 22903

434.296.0040

Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm

Sunday 1pm-5pm

Brands:

Fiorentini and Baker

Stuart Weitzman

TKEES

Hunter

FSNY

and so so so much more!!!!!

xoxo Mags

One of the most fascinating parts of Scarpa is the woman behind it, Amy Gardner. As usual, I wandered into Scarpa completely stressed out about an upcoming business trip. And, of course, I had mismanaged my time and had given the interview only 45 minutes.  Now for those of you who don’t know me, I tend to be a little bit of a “talker.” I would like to think that I’m a pretty good listener in interviews… but that’s being pretty optimistic on my part. Anyway, back on point.

As I arrived in quite a frazzled state, I entered into a heavenly Zen- SCARPA- the best shoe store ever. Being five minutes late, I profusely apologized to Amy, who intuitively calmed me down. And in true Amy style she quickly brought me at ease, and became both the interviewer and my therapist for the hour.

I’m going to back up a little bit and tell you a little bit about how I first met Amy.

About eight years ago, I was running about an hour late for a close friends wedding in Keswick. Unfortunately the night before I had… well… a little bit too much fun. I arrived at the wedding with a popped blood vessel in my right eye, a thrown together black suit and beautiful red Sergio Rossi heels with Swarovski crystals.  The heels were beautiful, unlike my “had not been pedicured in weeks dirty toes, and well… that eye.” The wedding was the best wedding ever with an amazing bar. A couple of glasses of Veuve Cliquot later I found myself chatting away with Amy Gardiner, who I quickly learned owned Scarpa. From there the interrogation began. Amy, who is one of the most gracious human beings I have ever met, clinked her glass with mine and began telling me all about Scarpa.  To be honest with you, I kind of felt that I was in the company of a celebrity. Growing up in Lynchburg, there was absolutely nowhere to shop. Then when Scarpa opened a cult following of shoe lovers all across Virginia began to follow.  When I absolutely refused to wear white shoes for my debutante ball (I hate WHITE SHOES with a passion!) my father and I began a battle of wills that almost hit a nuclear arena. That is, until my mother calmly negotiated the purchase of the same shoes I wanted to wear although in white, that could only be found at Scarpa in Charlottesville.  Thankfully, I arrived at Scarpa in the nick of time without a speeding ticket for going 90 in a 55.  (Caution readers: Going 90 in a 55 is not a good idea, and when I did get caught there went my license.)  Amy and I reminisced about shoes for hours in the perfect setting. After a couple more glasses of that Veuve Cliquot, the God and Goddess’ nectar, an epiphany was reached: Amy and I wore the same shoe size!  Her shoe size is a perfect 6.5 mine is, well it’s between a 6.5 and 7! From then on an Amy and I formed an instant bond over shoes.

But what I didn’t learn from that “perfect” night with Amy Gardner, reigning Shoes Goddess of Virginia, was how she started a successful business at 24 and how she took a dream and made it reality.

Stay tuned for Part III on Scarpa and Amy Gardner!!!

www.thinkscarpa.com

One of Charlottesville’s retail gems just happens to be filled with one of the most important inventions in human history, SHOES! Scarpa, at Barrack’s Road shopping center, is full of them. You can find everything from Hunter Boots to Stewart Weitzman heels. Amy Gardner, the reigning shoe Goddess of Charlottesville, opened Scarpa in 1993. She found that there was a lack of shoe options for not only the shoe obsessed but also for the woman who just needs a little extra “oomph” in her closet.  Scarpa has grown from a small shoe store to giving women in antiques the same great options in sunglasses, TOM FORD!, unique jewelry, high quality fashion choices, fabulous scarves and a host of other divine nick knacks. Not only is Scarpa one of my favorite stores in Charlottesville, but Amy’s story is absolutely fascinating. So in the next couple of days, it will be “All about Scarpa!”  Find out why Scarpa adds to Charlottesville’s unique and diverse retail choices and how Amy, at 24, made a dream a success!

Feel free to check out their website at: www.thinkscarpa.com

So this continues the ongoing process of my Spring Cleaning and Redecorating!!

Now the last and the hardest part of giving my apartment its “spring face lift” was furniture shopping.  To get some inspiration I wandered down to the one of my favorite home furnishing stores- The Artful Lodger. Chris, who owns the Artful Lodger with his wife, is a fabulous guy and is always willing to take time to sit with you. He helps you go through both the fun elements of decorating and the TEDIOUS details.  I fell in love with a huge mirror (when I say huge I’m talking about like 6 by 6 feet) the last time I was there. Now the mirror didn’t really fall into the category of BUDGETING… but it was definitely a STATEMENT piece.  Not only was it massive, but it also was a mirror encased in an antique Indian doorframe.  Luckily, my birthday is about a month away and Mom and Dad gifted me with a generous, VERY generous investment piece which not only gave my living room a major facelift but allowed it to double in size.  The great thing about the Artful lodger is that although there are statement pieces, that might not be as “budget friendly,” in general you can find pretty great sofas, chairs, farm tables, and contemporary home furnishings for a pretty reasonable price. I was also in luck because when I wandered down to the Artful Lodger they just happened to be in the midst of an upholstery sale which happens annually- 15% off special order leather and upholstery and 20-50% off in-stock leather and upholstery (visit their website here: www.artful-lodger.com). Now I don’t really know anything about upholstery, and I felt that I was about to make a very adult decision picking upholstery, but first I had to find the final piece to my apartment- my much longed for chaise lounge.  When I’d finally cleaned out all the crap in boxes throughout my bedroom, I finally found a large area beside my bed and beside the small French doors that lead to my Romeo and Juliet windows that I could place a small chaise lounge! It’d be a perfect place to curl up and read one of my favorite books!! You may be asking, where did I find the perfect chaise lounge at a great price that was just waiting to be upholstered at an even better deal?  Well armed with measuring tape, I headed to… Circa. (FYI- I am a spatially challenged human being and I learned that measuring tape had become my best friend when it came to furniture and hanging pictures)  Circa is one of the best resources for “quality used furniture” and antiques for those of us who aren’t ready to start shopping at Sotheby’s auctions… AT LEAST NOT YET!!  It’s located right off McIntire Road across from Cville coffee at 1700 Allied Street (their website is located here, check them out!: www.circainc.com). My first day at Circa proved to be my lucky day and after a quick 5 minute look, I returned, sure I had found the perfect chaise lounge to curl up with a good book and ready to learn how to be upholstered by an ever patient Chris at the Artful Lodger. Needless to say I left Circa with my dream piece! The price was not bad for a piece I’ve always dreamed about and pictured being part of my “relaxing and dreamy” space!!  For right now my Spring Cleaning and uplift is through. But I’ll be sure to update you when the upholstering is done and the apartment is through. (I still have some ideas up my sleeve)  Although the apartment will probably be through, just like me it remains a “work in progress.”

Keep your eyes out in the next couple of months with the conclusion of my Spring Cleaning!

xo Mags

Now that my apartment had a beautiful fresh flower smell, it was time to start on the bathroom. A couple of years ago I invested in beautiful towels from Yves Delorme. However, after a couple of years of use they had begun to look ragged in my bathroom.  While I still get great use out of them, it was time to send them to the linen closet!  Their time as “decorative” items” had definitely expired!  So I headed over to the Yves Delorme Outlet store on the Downtown Mall to see what was going on at one of their annual sales.  Instead of buying full body towels, I found two “French” hand towels to hang in my bathroom. French hand towels are bigger than a standard hand towel but not a body towel.  I got two beautiful ones on sale!! Then I invested in two bath mats that had been marked down twice!! To match the bath mats I picked out two towels on sale, and to give them a little bit of “oomph” I had them monogrammed.  While Yves Delorme is definitely “luxury” you can usually find some unbelievable pieces during their sales and work around them (they have a great website as well! www.yvesdelorme.com). While I was good with mats and matching hand towels, my white shower curtain was stained and the liner was definitely starting to mildew… yuck! However, as usual, my checking account didn’t look so great. Ergo, off to Target I went! The last time I bought a shower curtain I had skimped on the curtain and gotten a thin plain white curtain for around $12.99 and it had lasted less than 12 months. While Target is pretty far up 29 it’s definitely worth the drive. I found a thick, beautiful, white, waffle shower curtain and thank heavens a new liner!  But I still wanted the shower curtain to be as exciting as possible for a shower curtain… so I had a stroke of genius! Have the Target shower curtain monogrammed as well! As luck would have it I found the Charlottesville Monogram Store on Berkmar Circle.  The Monogram Shop can personalize just about anything and give it extra “spiffy” for a lot less than ordering something specially monogrammed.  And believe me, they do everything from bags to coolers to pillows to old shirts! The best part is you can take in sheets or shirts that have already been worn or washed and still get them monogrammed or “personalized” as they like to say!!! You can check them out at their website here: www.cvillemonogramstore.com !

I have a pretty teeny kitchen so there is not much that can be done for that space. So after investing in a beautiful lime green and bright blue (hey I’m thinking Spring!!!) kitchen towel from Yves Delorme (clearly this store is my weakness), I decided that this kitchen towel would be the inspiration for my kitchen. Since there really isn’t much space, I decided to grab a kitchen runner, some bright but CHEAP kitchen towels and some different blue and green bowels to put on top of the small bar. So off to Marshalls and TJ Max I went! This shopping trip was a success and I left with green and blue kitchen rags and three Moroccan style bowls. Lastly, I found a great blue and green striped runner! Kitchen accomplished!

The great thing about TJ Maxx and Marshalls is they have a fabulous return policy so you are able to try things out and return them while also taking your time.  Note: If you decide to go on a manic shopping spree you can return everything the next day…No questions asked. And you’re fully refunded. Thank you TJ Maxx and Marshalls! You both have saved me from having to come up with some serious excuses to my credit card company.

To be continued tomorrow!!

xo Mags

Spring Cleaning Part One!

With Spring in full bloom, “hello allergies,” one of my close friends reminded me that is was time for me to actually “spiffy” up my apartment and not just keep on making unfulfilled proclamations.  “Where to start,” I thought to myself, “and how could I revamp my apartment without completely breaking the bank?”  As anyone who knows me can tell you that I am not the neatest or most organized human being in the planet.  So my top three goals are: organize my apartment, revamp with a budget in mind and simplify, simplify, simplify!!  To begin, I went through my entire apartment and got rid of all my old magazines, newspapers, etc.  Which, by the way, made my apartment messier for a couple of days while attempting to get it cleaner.  Next step was making the apartment smell like spring. I love fresh flowers!!!  While they can be an extravagance they can also be the ONE touch that can add a completely different look to your place.  You can get tulips, roses, and lilies for a great price at Trader Joes, Whole Foods, and most local grocery stores! Now if you really want to bask in LUXURY flowers and a host of different types then you should head to Hedge, located on Main Street beside Feast, or on the downtown mall. (You can find the Hedge website here: www.hedgefineblooms.com) I love going to the location at Feast, where Rebecca always helps me out.  At Hedge I found two beautiful purple hyacinths that I stuck in a vase with white roses from Trader Joes.  I also absolutely love peonies, and while they are $8.00 a stem, they are worth every cent and smell absolutely divine.  I also grabbed some dark purple calla lilies that I stuck in a small vase to brighten up my bathroom.  Candles are also a must, but they can get pretty expensive (with some of the best candles like Danya Decker candles retailing for around 30 dollars)!  So for candles I headed to TJ MAXX and Marshalls both located on 29 North.  While you may have to peruse the candle aisles for awhile, it’s worth the time and the weight in your wallet.  I ended up with a couple of Danya Decker candles from TJ Maxx for about $12.99! What a deal! I also ended up buying about 12 candles for around $100.00 between the two stores.  TJ Maxx and Marshalls are a must for candles along with other home furnishings I used to spruce up the apartment!

Stay tuned to hear how else I spring cleaned my apartment! Two more posts coming this week!

xo Mags

Finally the sun is coming up in Charlottesville and there is a lot going on in town for everyone!  In the next two weeks I’ll be taking you on a couple of adventures! Interested in buying a new car in the ‘ville? I’ll tell you all about it! Need to spruce up your home? I took a week-long adventure and I’ll tell you about the great deals, ideas and secret spots all around Charlottesville! Also more write-ups on some of the people who make Charlottesville one of the most appealing towns in the country! And of course I’ll bring you some of the exciting events that are going on all around Charlottesville. Kicking off a great April for everyone!

xo Mags

Whether you curled up on your couch or stretched out under a tree on the Blue Ridge Parkway there is not better time to read a great book.  Whenever anyone asks me what kind of hobbies I have, I feel and look a little dumfounded.  I’ve never really thought of myself as a person who has hobbies.  I don’t collect stamps, make model airplanes, hunt, or fish… well I have attempted to fish. So needless to say this question leaves me insecure about my inability to fit the requirements of a functional human being.  And while it’s true that I may be a few, now just a few, requirements from that objective after years of musing over the idea of what a hobby is. Did I really have one? Was I completely lacking in passion in my life? I answered the last of these questions pretty easily, reading is a tremendous passion of mine.  There is nothing more thrilling in my life, and more importantly that comes close to giving me any sense of peace or joy, than reading a wonderful book.  A couple of years ago I set about a plan: I would read the classics. For example: I read all of Somerset Maugham’s collection of pieces over the summer. (Note to self: DO NOT FINISH ALL OF SOMERSET MAUGHAM’S BOOKS WITH his semi-biographical work OF HUMAN BONDAGE at the beach when you are little depressed.  It was a fabulous book, but I did consider throwing myself off the balcony into the ocean!) So first I read a collection of classics and then I switched to contemporary classics. I started with Jonathan Frantzen’s Freedom- which by the way has the best chapter titles ever written. “Mistakes Were Made” is one of the chapter titles and this phrase tends to go through my mind and my mother’s at least twice a day.  Then I usually throw in a good mystery, crime thriller, or spy novel before I start all over again!   Like all readers I tend to go through “dry spells” with reading but I’m always most happy curled up on my balcony, with my black pug curled up in my lap, engrossed in the book in my hand. Through the years I’ve had a lot of friends ask me for book suggestions. So every once in while I’m going to put up suggested reading lists, book reviews, books written by authors in Charlottesville and novels set in Charlottesville.  I would love to get as much feedback as possible!!

Last week, I had been coming off a “major” reading dry spell, indecision, and usual commitment issues in the airport bookstore.  Luckily a paper book with the subtle stamp “Winner of the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Novel” caught my eye.  I tend to be a little bit of an elitist, so whenever I see that a book has won a somewhat prestigious award I tend to be more drawn to it.  90% of the time this has worked in my favor and thankfully that day I was in the 90%.  So naturally I picked up the book Before the Poison by Peter Robinson. After finishing Before the Poison, I skimmed some reviews and the most accurate review I read came from the Seattle Times. It said, “Thrilling. A superb Gothic-tinged psychological thriller.”  Before the Poison tells the story of a British composer, Chris Lowndes, who after losing his wife to cancer decides to relocate back to England. He buys an English manor house draped in mystery.  Fifty years before he bought the manor the previous occupant, Grace Fox, was tried and hung for poisoning her husband Ernest Fox (he was a prominent doctor in town).  Chris soon learns that he is the first person to occupy Kilnsgate House since the deaths of both Grace and Ernest Fox and the mysterious departure of their only son.  Naturally, curiosity about the history of the house soon turns into an obsession about the truth of the night Ernest Fox died. Lowndes begins a trip throughout England, France and Africa in search of the truth.  Robinson also includes journals from Grace Fox and newspaper accounts of the trial throughout the book.  One of Robinson’s gifts is to create a protagonist that the reader quickly becomes emotionally invested in throughout the book.  While Chris Lowndes’ obsession is with the past, and seemingly with Grace herself, Robinson does an excellent job keeping Lowndes feet firmly planted in the present as well.  Robinson is able to weave characters and situations that are all too human and to create a novel that continues to be both fluid and realistic throughout.  While Chris Lowndes’s is confronted with twists and turns throughout the book, I never felt frustration to throw the book down with irritation because it lacks rationality.  Robinson’s grasp of 20^th century history and culture, as well as contemporary culture and the intricacies of human relationships allowed Before the Poison to enter the arena of books that you simply can’t put down.  The best part of Before the Poison is that not only did I find the book a compelling, poignant and satisfying read, I was also able to achieve a sense that the book was completed at the perfect time. I wasn’t wishing that it had ended 50 pages before and I wasn’t left grasping for fifty more pages.  One last testament to Peter Robinson: throughout my read I felt that the words had become a movie in my head, which for me is “simply the best.” 358 PAGES-that go by like a 150!

 xo Mags

Robinson, Peter. “Before the Poison: A Novel [Paperback].” Before the Poison: A Novel: Peter Robinson: 9780062204684: Amazon.com: Books. William Morrow Paperbacks, n.d. Web.

Have a Sensational St. Paddy’s Day Weekend in Charlottesville!

It’s Friday in Charlottesville…And the Friday eve of St. Patrick’s Day Weekend…So while you’re preparing for your Sunday/ “Fun Day” and the inevitable “Monday-meet the world and start the week day,” it might be a good day to think about filling up your weekend!  Les Yeux Du Monde is hosting an artists’ reception for local artist Anne Chestnut’s exhibition, Art.i.facts from 5:30-7:30, March 15^th.  Anne Chestnut’s digital media images will blow you away.  You can check out both Les Yeux Du Monde and Anne Chestnut’s work at www.lesyeuxmonde.com. Jump in the car and make your way to Wolf Trap Bridge Road.  The exhibition runs from March 1^st- April 17^th with Gallery hours Thursday through Sunday 1-5 or by apt.  Expand your mind, placate that creative urge, and support one of our local artists.

Time to exercise those demons, cheer on buds, or get inspired for The Charlottesville 10 MILER is Saturday, March 16^th. Get there by 7:15 if you plan to trek around Charlottesville, and really be prepared for that festive nod to the Irish on Sunday.  And if you’re ready to start the party a little early stop by Tastings on the downtown mall for yummy food and one of the most expansive selections of wine in town.  I’ll be sharing more about Tastings next week so be on the lookout at Charlottesvillelifestyle.com. Tastings Restaurant-  www.tastingsofcville.com.

And as for Sunday, enjoy Charlottesville, celebrate the Spring, and everything Irish!  If you’re in a low key mood, slip into the Paramount for the 2pm showing of Casablanca…Bogie and Bergman…It really doesn’t get any better. Stay Safe and Make your Charlottesville weekend a fabulous one. May all your dreams come true, my friends!

Next week our series on Tastings restaurant begins as well as my amazing two days with the DIVINE AND DEVOTED CHARLOTTESVILLIAN DAVE NORRIS- city councilman, ex-mayor, and man about town! Not to be missed!

It’s not quite a secret or a rarity for that matter that I tend to “escape” from Charlottesville during the cold winter months.  It is a little rare that three different items that I a. have written about b. already interviewed but haven’t written yet and lastly c. something on my top ten lists of things to write about all come into play on the dawn of my great escape.  If I’m not sitting in my apartment daydreaming, or plotting things to write about with Courtney and Valorie, and my license and duffel bag are gone there is a ninety percent chance I’m in one place: Los Angeles.  I had been planning a 10-day trip to Los Angeles to see…(I really wish I could just throw out Ryan Gosling or Joaquin Phoenix but I better not get busted in a lie) my Godmother, Sandy.  And here’s where part a. comes in…I used to be under the assumption that it was absolutely impossible to fly out of Charlottesville to the big BAD city of LA without being broke for the next two months and flying for 12 hours.  In actuality I’ve gotten tickets for around 400 bucks with one layover and spent less than 8 hours in traveling time…and that’s counting hanging out at the airport eating Aunt Annie’s pretzels.

Because I knew I was leaving I had tried to get as many interviews and events done in Charlottesville to write this week, so I was running on VERY little sleep.  And to make matters worse, I’m pretty disorganized.  Well,  that’s probably the understatement of the century. Put it this way, if you believe ADD is a term Psychiatrist and Pharmaceutical companies have come up with to milk you out of enormous amounts of money, hang out with me for 10 minutes, I can bet you ten bucks I can change your mind about the ADD thing…  So as usual I was rushing around like a maniac the night before I left and I “misplaced” my passport.  Now this is a big deal…but it shouldn’t have thrown a wrench into my traveling plans, except for the fact that, well, I …misplaced my driver’s license a month before and just had not gone in to get a new one. So here I am at 9pm the night before I leave with no photo identification and post 9/11 airport security.  Instead of envisioning my dream “vacay” I started to envision my mother saying “ in your dreams.”

I made a mad dash to the airport where security patiently informed me that these things happened all the time and I needed to bring in as much identifying information as possible: credit cards, bills, social security card, birth certificate-anything that could prove I was who that airplane ticket to LAX said I was…with one little hitch. I needed an ID card..Which I didn’t really think I had. Fortunately, I remembered my Monticello volunteer picture ID and crossed my fingers that would make it through.  Of course my anxiety got the best of me and I started sending frantic text messages to part b. Dave Norris, Charlottesville’s city councilman.  I had interviewed Dave that week and he was incredibly helpful on the phone.  I guess helping stranded Charlottesvillians could come under city councilman’s responsibilities??   I’ll have to text him about that one!  He suggested I first head to the DMV.

So after an entire night of not sleeping due to panic attacks I headed over to the DMV at 7:40, convinced I’d be the first person waiting outside the door for the 8:00 opening time.  Note: if you want to get to the DMV early, 7:15 is probably best.  I was the tenth person in line waiting for the doors to open.  The lady at the DMV couldn’t have been nicer but all she could give me was a paper license as she patiently, please forgive me for reiterating patiently so often but “patient” is really the only word that gives the people who aided me in this story justice.  After seizing the “paper license” I rushed out to the car and began “texting” Dave again, and in this context “texting” means begging and pleading, and perhaps attempted bribing-that’s not illegal is it? (I was not convinced my volunteer badge and a paper license would get me into the cafeteria past security much less onto a plane) Dave, patient as a saint, next suggested I try the police office.   Which gets me to part c. of the introduction- I had actually been planning on contacting the Charlottesville Police liaison to see if it was possible if I could do a ride a long.

As I scurried into police headquarters, a thought emerged: perhaps I could get arrested and a mug shot would prove as photo ID.  I was pretty desperate to escape the cold.  Luckily for me the officer who helped me couldn’t have been nicer and more PATIENT.  He wrote up a police report and explained to me that I should just give airport security the information for the lost/stolen passport and I should be fine.  So armed with a paper driver’s license, two bills, a birth certificate, a police report, a Monticello volunteer ID, my social security card, and yes my high school year book-(It does have my picture and name in it) I made it through security at Charlottesville airport!  Many thanks to my mother, who waited PATIENTLY with my yearbook to make sure I made it through and the Charlottesville Airport security who gave a girl with a dream a chance, the Charlottesville Police Department, and Dave Norris I MADE IT TO LA!!!!

…And in the next coming days you’ll here more about one of my heroes – Dave Norris.