I’ll see you again. When the stars fall from the sky, and the moon has turned red over One Tree Hill.

Guys, One Tree Hill ends tonight. Even saying that my heart gets sad. I don’t know that I’m emotionally prepared to handle it. Word of advice to anyone in my life, don’t try to talk to me tonight, probably not tomorrow either. There is a strong possibility that I will be in a state of mourning.

I remember when I first watched the show. I thought it was going to be the worse show ever, but I gave it a try because I sort of had a think for Chad Michael Murray (who didn’t back in the day, when he used to get regular haircuts?), and then I became obsessed. Last summer two of my best friends and I traveled from Missouri to Wilmington (by car) just so we could see all these places that mean so much to us. We saw The Rivercourt, Karen’s Café (Formerly Clothes Over Bros), Tric. We saw the 6^th Street Bridge. We saw it all. And it was magical. Wilmington really is Tree Hill, there are so many locations that you don’t even really think about until you walk past them.

Feel free to look at more of my pictures here.

I cannot tell you the number of time that I’ve seen every episode, but I assure you that the number is very high. For me, the series ended with season 6. I was always a Lucas fan (not that I don’t also love Nathan), and I just couldn’t see how the show could go on without it’s main protagonist. But, it has, and it has been good. I feel like One Tree Hill is not one of those shows that is mostly filler episodes. You know, has a good one every now and then, but the rest are kind of just there. All the episodes are essential and worth watching.

I was going to make a list of my most memorable moments, and then I started to write things down. That’s when I discovered that there are way too many memorable moments/scenes for me to even begin to mention. And then I was like, ‘oh, maybe I’ll do memorable quotes.’ Yeah, way too many of those, too. So, I just sat down with my pen and started writing down all the things I remembered the most, and now my paper is totally full. Below I’m going to attempt to transpose what is on my paper by way of multiple lists.

Favorite Main Characters:

1. Lucas Scott: The brooding jock…who is also a writer. My friend Kendall likes to call Lucas an ‘I-love-you-whore.’ I just think he has a big heart. Lucas was the heart and soul of the show for 6 years, and without him, I’m honestly surprised it lasted 3 seasons. I always found myself rooting for Luc, and he will always have a place in my heart.
2. Haley James-Scott: Haley was the moral center of the show. She always has been. And she’s also always been my favorite character. I feel like Haley and I are very similar. Morally centered, a bit feisty, loyal, and the steadfast person of the group.
3. Nathan Scott: What a change this guy went through. Nathan was a total jerk at the beginning, and now look at him. I hope to marry a man like Nathan Scott some guy. He has integrity, and he fights for his family and friends, and he loves with his whole heart. Not to mention he’s super handsome and sweet, and perhaps the best dad ever.
4. Brooke Davis-Baker: Brook is the girl that everybody thought they knew, but really nobody knew. She hides her true self from everyone, she’s very rarely vulnerable, but when those moments happen, they make you love her even more. Brooke has the kindest heart. I can only hope to be as cool as B. Davis one day. (Julian Baker is an honorable mention here, just because I love the way he adores Brooke.)
5. James Lucas ‘Jamie’ Scott: This kid is the best. He’s just full of wisdom.

Favorite Supporting Characters:

1. Jake Jagielski: He is my favorite character from the entire series. I. Love. This. Guy. And how could you not? The boy sings. He loves his daughter. He plays basketball. He is/was one of the best guys on the show (not to mention he is incredibly attractive). I would play house with Jake Jagielski any day.
2. Marvin ‘Mouth’ McFadden:Also one of the best guys on the show. He is kind and sweet. He’s there for his friends, and he appreciates girls.
3. Antwon ‘Skillz’ Taylor: He is the funniest character on the show. Hands down. Almost every word that came out of that guys mouth had me literally laughing out loud. And thank goodness he’s around, because sometimes the drama got to be too much to handle, so I need him around for comic relief.
4. Chris Keller: The guy everyone loves to hate. I love him, but I hate him, all at the same time. The way he speaks in third person is hilarious. He is my most beloved villain of all time. I’m so glad they brought him back for season 9.
5. Chase Adams: Chase is also one of the best guys. I love the way he is with Chuck (even though I HATE that kid). He is just an all-around good guy. The poor thing gets his heart broken so many time, and then he gets kicked out of the air force for doing the right thing, plus people never seem to remember than he is the bar manager. Poor, sweet Chase.

Traumatic Moments:

1. With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept (3.16): The school shooting. I can remember being on the edge of my seat during this episode. It’s so traumatic. I was fearful for Uncle Keith. I was fearful for Peyton and Lucas. I was fearful for Haley and Nathan. And I was sad for Jimmy. I recall hating Dan Scott more than ever before (I also recall hating Rachel, because she opened the time capsule). I cried when Jimmy died. And I cried when Keith died. This is one of those ‘must watch episodes,” I know I said they all are, but this one is really essential. It’s just so real. People are bullied everyday. Jimmy Edwards could be anyone.
2. Nathan jumps in to the river to save Cooper and Rachel (3.22): I felt like Haley in this episode. I was freaking out. And the bracelet floating in the water did not help matters. It was just so bad. Haley in her wedding dress sobbing on the bridge, and Nathan nowhere to be found. (Honorable mention: Haley and Lucas both seemingly dying in the street after the championship game in season 4.)
3. Darkness at the Edge of Town (8.11): Everything about this episode is traumatic. Stalker Katie comes hunting Quinn down, and they have a showdown. All the while Jamie and Brooke are trapped in the wreckage of a car perched on the edge of a bridge (and did I mention there is a hurricane). I was freaking out the entire episode. And when Julian is carrying a lifeless Brooke down the road I was on the verge of tears. Then Jamie says “Aunt Brooke is dead,” and I totally lost it.
4. Psycho Derek: Need I say more? Both episodes where he attacks are traumatic. But, I think I would definitely say the prom episode (4.16) is the worst. I mean, Peyton thinks it’s Lucas, and then BAM! Derek turns around. It’s crazy. I think I may be permanently scarred for life. And the whole showdown between Derek, Brook and Peyton is crazy.
5. Nanny Carrie: Once again, do I really need to elaborate? First she tries to steal Nathan from Haley. Then she kidnaps Jamie from a wedding, and then she abducts Dan and pretends to be a nurse. She is a psychopath. When Haley and Jamie and Nanny Carrie are all running through the cornfield I was in a state of terror (6.05). Seriously traumatic.

Tear-jerking Moments:

1. Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. (6.03): Saddest episode ever. Quintin Fields is shot and killed, and it tears apart the entire cast, but no one more than little Jamie Scott. Haley and Nathan have to explain to him about loss, and then he wants to go to the funeral to say goodbye to his best friend. And then Jamie and Brooke cover Quintin’s casket with the cape that Jamie made for him. I seriously sob through that episode. It is so heartbreaking.
2. Forever and Almost Always (6.23): The end where Lucas is carrying Peyton into the hospital in her wedding dress covered in blood gets me every time. I had been mentally preparing for Peyton to die, and I thought that was happening. And though I wasn’t that sad (because I never really liked Peyton), I was really sad for Lucas. How was he going to love that little girl if she took Peyton from him?
3. All of the Sudden I miss everyone (4.21): The end of this episode is what gets me. Where they are all standing on The Rivercourt saying goodbye. There’s nothing really super sad about it, it just makes me very nostalgic and therefore, I am sad. It just one big group of friends, and to me that is beautiful.
4. This is My House, This is My Home (8.22): Jamie dribbling across the bridge in the Scott Body Shop hoodie. Too much. I can’t handle that. It would have been a great way to end the series.
5. Danny Boy (9.11): I was going to try to leave season 9 off the list, but I just couldn’t. I cried this entire episode. I never thought I would cry for Dan Scott, but it was so sad. I literally cried the whole time. And then when Keith comes back I wept. It was so perfect. What was Mark Schwahn trying to do to me?! (I even watched for Craig Schaffer’s name in the opening credits so that I could prepare myself for Keith’s return, but it was there, so when he did appear I became incoherent.)

Funny Moments:

1. Every time Skilz opens his mouth. For real. Funniest character.
2. Nathan and Chris Keller’s roadtrip (3.09): So funny. All of it. When they’re driving and Nathan stops the car every few feet because Chris Keller has said something else dumb. When they’re trying to escape from the angry poker mob and Nathan tosses Chris Keller’s guitar overboard. When they’re walking through the forest and Nathan keeps punching Chris Keller. “Stop punching Chris Keller.” “Stop kissing my wife.” Definitely one of the funnier episodes.
3. Haley’s wardrobe from season one.
4. When Brooke, Haley and Peyton all drive home from the basketball game together (1.06): Brooke is high on some medication and she is hilarious. She decides she doesn’t like the name Haley so she renames her Brooke.  “Well, answer the question, Brooke,” says Brooke to Haley. Pretty funny.
5. Dan’s donor heart is eaten by a stoned dog (6.18): How outlandish is this? Crazy. But funny. Dan Scott totally deserved that.

*   Honorable mention: When Julian gets punched by Nick Lachey at Peyton and Lucas’s wedding. All the banter between Nick Lachey and Julian is pretty funny.

Important Quotes:

1. “Your art matters, it’s what got me here.” (1.02/5.02)
2. “I wanted you to fight for me!” (3.05)
3. “Don’t say I never gave you anything.” (1.03)
4. “Zero is not a size.” (7.04)
5.  “First of all, you don’t know me. Second of all, you don’t know me.”  (1.01)
6.  “People always leave.”
7.  “Always and forever.”
8.  “Clothes over bros.”
9.  “Every song has a CODA, a final movement. Whether it fades out or crashes away, every song ends. Is that any reason not to enjoy the music?” (3.13)
10.  “Don’t worry, little brother, you’re my plus one.” (9.11)

Those are just some of my musings about One Tree Hill. Feel free to let me know you’re favorite moments, characters or quotes.

I’m going to miss them all. Lucas. Haley. Nathan. Brooke. Peyton. Julian. Jamie. Skillz. Mouth. Chris Keller. Chase. Dan. Keith. Karen. Jake. Millie. Clay. Whitey. Mia. Nanny Carrie. Bevin. Deb. Jimmy Edwards. Andy. Quinn. Psycho Derek. Fergie and Junk. Victoria. Quintin. Sam. Even that bratty kid, Chuck.

Thank goodness for boxsets.