New Beginnings

During my life, I found myself moving around a lot, experiencing the thrill and uncertainty that came with each new location. Often, I compared my life to that of a gypsy; always ready to move and packing light, I embraced a lifestyle that made transitions easier. The world was my playground, and each new place brought its own set of adventures and challenges. At some point, while living on the water, my parents informed the family that we were going to be moving into a three-floor townhome not far from our current home. This change excited me, as I envisioned the new friendships I might forge and the adventures that awaited us in our new neighborhood. The prospect of exploring a different environment ignited my curiosity, and I couldn’t wait to discover the hidden gems that would soon become a part of my everyday life.

The townhome that we were moving into had a full basement with three bedrooms, providing us ample space for both sleeping and playing. I remember the vibrant red carpet in the living room, which added a cozy warmth to the atmosphere, and even the red carpet leading upstairs, making it feel like we were stepping into a special place. My parents naturally took the master bedroom, which boasted a lovely view of the trees outback. My brothers and I were divided between the other two rooms; Ronny and Bobby were in one room while Kennith and I were in the other room. This was a really exciting moment for us because we moved into a bigger house that had many upgrades, allowing us to enjoy modern amenities that we had only dreamed of before. We had a beautiful fireplace in the living room, perfect for chilly evenings when we would gather as a family, and the overall space was much bigger than what we had before, making it easy for us to play games and spend time together without feeling cramped.

The neighborhood had many children of all ages and origins. I felt like our neighborhood was one of those that had a diverse group of kids. During this time, I made friends with several people in my community. I remember having multiple friends during this time and experiences that I would remember for a lifetime. This was also the time I tried seaweed crisps from my Korean friend who lived down the street. It seemed that this new place was full of excitement and new adventures. There was even a large empty reservoir that we kids would sled down in the winter months. We were an active neighborhood, and it was something that I had never experienced in my life.

Making friends was always hard, so I would find myself asking children, “Would you be my friend?” Having that social anxiety at a young age can be really hard, and walking into a new neighborhood trying to make friends is even harder, especially when everything feels so foreign and intimidating. A couple of houses down from where we lived, I made friends with three people, each bringing their own unique energy to our group. I remember this Korean girl that I was friends with; however, I can’t remember her name. We would share stories and laughter while trying new foods together, like those intriguing seaweed crisps that I initially found peculiar but grew to love, and those brown noodles that possessed a flavor I can never replicate as an adult, no matter how hard I try. My friend lived at the end of the block in the last house. Her mother and her daughter were extra special to me, inviting me in and providing friendship and motherly love that felt comforting amidst my uncertainties. We would bake cookies and play board games for hours, creating a safe haven filled with joy and laughter. Our friendship would fall short; her father passed away, and with that, she moved, leaving a void of friendship that lingered in my heart. I never saw her again, and the memories of those carefree days became bittersweet reminders of youth and innocence lost.

I made other friends in the neighborhood. I made friends with Luis and Rebecca, who lived two doors down, and Trevon, who lived around the corner in the back of the neighborhood. We often spent our afternoons exploring the various nooks and crannies of our neighborhood, discovering hidden treasures. I would often find myself enjoying tea parties on the green box with my friend Rebecca. We would just relax in the sun and play with our toys, ignoring everything around us as we created elaborate stories about the imaginary worlds we were in. I remember one time I was in their living room, and I put my legs behind my head as Rebecca pushed me, rolling me around on the floor joyfully, our laughter echoing off the walls. We even had campfires where we would roast marshmallows and tell campfire stories, trying to scare each other with tales of ghosts and mysteries that surrounded our neighborhood.

Whenever one friend wasn’t home, I would go to another friend’s house, always finding someone to share an adventure with. Trevon and I would hang out sometimes and play video games late into the night, our competitive spirits shining through as we battled on different worlds. He introduced me to a game called “Lemmings,” a strategy game where you have to guide these green-haired creatures to safety. A childhood video game that still exists today and remains a fun memory. I remember my friends and I would often leave pennies or quarters on the train tracks behind our house for the trains to run over. The anticipation of collecting them the next day was always fun because the coins would be flat and unrecognizable, transformed into something uniquely ours. Looking back, those moments filled with carefree laughter and imagination hold a special place in my heart, reminding me of a time when everything felt magical and limitless.

During this time in my life, I remember this new adventure that seemed really remarkable. It was a place where we could foster friendships and still be a family, surrounded by neighbors. We were in a new place that was bigger than our last, offering us the space to spread out and explore, both inside our home and in the vast backyard that invited laughter and play. A place that we called ours because the last place was a rental, and finally being able to call something our own filled us with pride and excitement.

Owning a home and having a nuclear family is the American Dream, and finally, we had it, feeling a sense of belonging that was both comforting and exhilarating. It seemed in this moment as a kid I was normal, living the life I had always envisioned. I had that normal life with friends who came over to play, sharing experiences and creating memories, along with life lessons from the environment around me that shaped who I would become. Each day was filled with adventures, discovering what it meant to be part of a community and cherishing the simple joys of childhood that would stay with me forever.

Powell, A. (2024, February 10). Lemmings (video game). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemmings_(video_game)