Saturday, February 20, 2010

The Fame.

"Andie, Andie Hunt! Over here!"... "Smile for the camera!"... "Who are you wearing tonight?"... "Can I have your autograph?" I turn and look at the girl, and smile. Taking out my sparkly, pink Gel Pen, I lean over to sign her notebook.
"I want to be just like you when I grow up," the girl says, giggling with excitement. She is only about seven years old- about the age when I realized that this was my destiny.
'You are a star on the rise,' I write. 'I'll see you in Hollywood soon!" Again, I smile at the girl, and she grins back
at me so wide that her mouth will probably hurt for a few hours. Then, I wake up.

I have big dreams for my future, and I have these dreams an awful lot. I know there are so many people out there with the same ideas. There are girls my age who are similar to me, but have come farther, like being on popular TV shows and working with the 'Teen Dream' of the moment. I wonder why those people - and the others, who haven't been quite as fortunate - chose the life that they did. Did they do it for the money, the fame, the designer sunglasses?

There are a lot of reasons why I aspire this life, and they do not include those I have already listed. There is a little girl, named Rachel, that I babysit from time to time who lives just down the street. Rachel smiles and hugs me every day that I see her. Rachel has my picture, clipped out of a Sears ad, up on her wall - right beside my own idols, Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez. Rachel looks up to me as a role model. I wish I could be a role model to other kids too, in the same way. And wouldn't I be, if I was well-known, like Taylor or Selena? Imagine for example, being on stage, and drinking in the screams and shouts of "WE LOVE YOU!", feeling on top of the world for that moment. I could be just like them, connecting with my fans through Twitter and making them super happy just because I replied to their comment. I would give back to my fans and use my seat of power to set an example, maybe give more money to that earthquake in Haiti. If I did that and told my young fans to, they could follow my lead. Being famous isn't just about the money or having people know your name.

andie, xoxo.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Barnaby & Bellie Boogly

Well hello there, my name is Barnaby Boogly and I am Andie's imaginary BESTEST FRIEND FOREVER. I enjoy Piña Coladas, getting caught in the rain, and long moonlight walks on the beach. Yes, I am a boy, but I have had a very strong feminine influence from my twin sister, Bellie Boogly. She is slightly mentally unstable but my parents think she is really super, so I can really relate to Andie and her relationship with her strange brother Dawson. That's what we usually talk about, but we can talk about anything with each other because we grew up together and are now very close. Also, I am physically close to Andie, because I live in a house right beside hers. This has come in handy a lot! We can even talk to each other from our windows, and sometimes we attach a rope ladder to both ends and then we can sneak back and forth like super spies or ninjas. I love it when we pretend to be ninjas!

My sister Bellie is also very good friends with Andie, and together we're like the three musketeers. With our strengths combined, we always stick up for Andie when people pick on her for having "imaginary friends" and talking to herself all the time. I am fairly certain that all Bellie really likes to do is paint her nails, do her hair, read magazines and gossip, but apparently that's what Andie likes in a friend because she's the one who dreamt Bellie up. I think I'm supposed to be the caring friend, and Bells is meant to be the fun friend. Oh yeah, sometimes we call her Bells. She says it makes her feel special, and I like to make people feel special. I always go out of my way to make sure people are happy, because who wants to be around a grumpy pants? Not me!

The kids at school tell Andie that she's too old for imaginary friends, but she doesn't listen to them, and it makes me feel very good about myself. I don't want Andie to ever abandon me! She says she won't ever leave me and Bellie because she will always need someone to be there for her in rough times when her 'real friends' just can't help. This makes it difficult for us Booglys. We want to help Andie fit in and make other pals, but we never want to lose her! But since we're such great buddies, we help her make friends at school anyway, and that's how Andie dreamt us up. She dreamt of me on her darkest day to bring her sunlight, and I will stick around forever to keep her life sunny and happy.

barnaby, xoxo.

*Andie Hunt is now 14 years old (HAPPY BIRTHDAY!) and she still hangs out with her imaginary pals, me and Bellie Boogly, every single day. This is a completely true story. Trust me. Or you can ask Andie. She will never let go of her imaginary friends.

andie, xoxo.