rewind << age 6

picture day in first grade with my homemade choker and deep collared valor top; matching bell bottoms and platform clogs not pictured. the summer before, my family moved from chicago to central massachusetts.

when we were living in chicago, my dad worked in venezuela, and per my request, brought back orange block heel sandals. they were made with a wooden sole and loose interwoven rope that covered the whole foot but the toes (you know the 90s sandal look!). i wore those every day, and when winter came, added patterned socks underneath. i fell too many times running for the bus, but would not allow my parents to put them away for the season.

before moving into the new house, we lived with my grandma in worcester for the summer. it involved a lot of things i'm sure, but all i remember is tree climbing, walking to cumbies (cumberland farms - gas station) with the neighborhood kid to get slushies, brushing my own hair and my own teeth like a heckin' adult, and being acutely aware of the extra presence in my bedroom. my mom's father and brother died early deaths while living in that house, and many people have been visited by their spirits there.

on my first day of first grade, i wore 5 skirts, all layered on top of each other; the "bottom" one was floor length and the "top" one was a tutu. every pattern and texture you can imagine. i was in love with myself and couldn't wait to make new friends. someone (alex goodhile, see below) in a drunken slur brought up that outfit at my high school reunion a few years back.

location: paxton / worcester, ma

favorite color: orange

newest interest: making bracelets out of gimp, putting on colorful (sometimes *glittery*) eye shadow and lip gloss, coloring in lisa frank velvet posters of dolphins, + learning cats cradle, miss mary mack, crack an egg on your head let the yolk drip down, and other jungle gym games

current crush: alex goodhile, zach todd, and fifteen other boys