I am so in love with my family, it’s sickening. Here I am, in my cousin’s old childhood bedroom, staring at faded photographs, and not even recognizing myself. Pathetic. But, time rolls on, and I can’t be expected to look as good in a bikini, cut off shorts, and halter-tops as I did when I was 12. Which would be WHY I haven’t worn ANY of those since I was 12. When I was in about 6th or 7th grade, I was asked to write an essay about my favorite place. I chose my aunt and uncle’s house up in Redding, where the summers are hotter than blazes, and the Sacramento River plugs along with rafters cruising across her surface. http://www.ci.redding.ca.us/ But more importantly, it’s where I spent some of my favorite vacations as a kid, frying my skin to a crisp, feeding mallards, and swimming, swimming, swimming, until my toes were completely pruned.