Day 06 — Whatever tickles your fancy

So I reckon when I'm grown up, the people that are living in the houses that I've grown up in are never gunna let me take a walk inside, but when I'm with friends I drive by the houses all the time and bring back memories.
I never really stopped to think though that the houses you live in build you. I always thought you build yourself while in those houses. I've lived in so many all my life and I can see why I have such an extensive personality. I've lived in houses in the south. I've lived in houses in the west. And I've lived in houses here in the northwest. The most recent houses I've grown up in are the ones here in Vancouver and I can honestly say that those houses have constructed me into the person I am today. The house on 162ND was the first house that I did a lot of my "growing up" in. That's where I lived when I started attending Heritage in 10th grade, the high school that changed my life forever. I played soccer and softball, I had my sweet 16 in that house, I brought my first "crush" home, I learned oral sex and lost my virginity in that house (haha), I got high by myself in that house, I got my drivers permit, I snuck out for the first time with zena and zach and drank wine in the middle of road, and I met my best friend and crew in that house. After middle school, I became this shy person in 9th grade. In 10th grade I was just the same, but towards the end I started to really discover who I was as a person and who I wanted to be. My parents split up in that house, and that took a toll on me at the time. After they split, my dad had to raise me and believe me I gave him a pretty hard time. We ended up moving a few blocks down the road shortly after my parents split up and that was another chapter for me.
In the house on 142ND, I believe I learned so much. That house kicked my ass. I literally went to hell and back, but I wouldn't trade anything in for the world. That was the year I had the best time with my crew, especially summer of 2006. I started partying, drinking and smoking with friends. I started skipping school, my grades lowered and I started becoming familiar with drugs. I ended up going to rehab in the house. I got into lots of fights with my dad and I ended up moving in with my mom. It was a hard time for my dad, I know that for sure and I pretty much regret and feel bad for hurting him so much. I also started stealing. My best friend stole her families beach key and we drove down to long beach and had a party with our crew. HAHA! It's funny because I look back at all of these incidences and laugh! They weren't the most positive of things, but they were the best of times and I didn't give a damn on what was right or wrong. I lived and loved and had one hell of a time. I had my first real boyfriend in that house, fell in love for the first time and also got my heart splattered all over the place. I visited Mexico and met my grandparents for the first time. My best friend Tony Richardson died. I dropped out of school, and I had my first real job, I got in my first car accident, my fault of course. I also took in Noah, my cat. I know there are soooo many more memories, the list can seriously go on forever, but my friends and I talk about them ALL the damn time and that's what keeps them alive. I look back on all these times, and I think to myself that I went through a lot. I have sooo many memories in both of these houses and I know for sure that I will always cherish them and always drive by every once in a while. I don't know if I'll ever get the guts to knock on the door and ask to have a walk through.
Right now, my dad and I are living in an apartment. We both are desperate for a house and when we get one I know I'll begin a new chapter of my life. I know I won't live there forever, but I know I'll learn new things about myself, love, life and growing up and I seriously can't wait.
xx