Ever since I can remember, my family and I have always been mobile. On the micro level, we were always moving around town, going to football and baseball games, school and church functions, and the like. On a macro level, we always vacationed every year and moved around the country alot.

 Every year, we always go on two vacations, one in the Summer and the other in Winter. The Summer one usually consists of going to a beach. The beach has become a sort of refuge for me, a temporary home away from home where I don't have any cares because its so calm and tranquil. I recall specifically the nights where I would sit on the beach by myself with my headphones on and listen to music. It was a surreal experience because the music seemed to carry with it a whole new meaning. It seemed that due to the surroundings and my state of mind, the music was so much deeper and full of life. It was as if it had transcended it's auditory realm and penetrated more of my senses. I picked up on more little nuances of notes, harmonies, etc. But the beach is, and forever will be a paradise for me.

In the winter, my family takes a Christmas vacation, usually to some mountained area. Being with my family on Christmas is one of my most cherished memories because to me, and I don't think I'm alone, Christmas has almost become a way of life. The sights are different, the smells are different, new tastes and sounds come into the world. And it's only for a month or so, and on December 26, it's over. It's like a great story that gets all the way to the climax and then it's over. There is no denoument or curtain call, just over. It's kind of depressing. But I digress, Christmas with the family is one of the best times of my life because everyone is in such a great mood. Even though Santa isn't real, there's a tiny inkling of a wonder that cries out, "what if?"

In the true sense of the word, my family and I are nomadic. We have lived on opposite ends of the country and experienced different cultures. Living in so many places has molded me in different, weird ways. For one, I have this strange affinity with riding in the backseat of a car. It seemed like that was all I ever did for the longest time and I became somewhat used to it. I had my own little world back there, reading, playing Gameboy, napping. For a young boy, I was able to see more of the country than most people my age, and the sad thing was, I was too young to appreciate it. All the different cultural aspects from accents to ideologies were all but lost on me.

So being mobile has brought me closer to my family as a whole, since for the most part, they were the only people I knew. I never really had time to make really good friends until I moved to Marshall. That's probably why I prefer quality over quantity when it comes to friends. I don't have many, but the ones I do, I know would do anything for me.