Sitting in an old flat, scalding my tongue on hot tea and nibbling shortbread while chatting with an old lady. She used to drink whiskey before bed and get up at eleven in the morning - and when she was young she was a "tennis queen," as I know from that old 1940s newspaper with her picture on it. Her older brother was a pilot in the second world war, known by his mates as Hurricane Hutch; though I don't remember what his real name was. He had no children, and neither did his sister. She, at ninety eight years old, was almost alone - and now that she is dead, perhaps no one remembers her but I ... so I keep her in my heart, always.

True story....

The day before I turned eighteen, I cried. I felt that my childhood was over. When I was younger, I wanted to be older, but once I turned twelve, I wanted to stay a kid forever. Problem is, in six years, I was literally scared. I was sad. I was troubled. I don't exactly know what was wrong with me. It felt like it was the end of my world as I knew it. I prayed, I immersed myself in much childhood nostalgia, and then I went to bed.

Next day, I woke up, and I felt normal. I was still myself. I could still play around. I could still enjoy all my favorite childhood things. I felt so silly acting the way I did. Fortunately, I had a family that didn't say something like "You're eighteen now, GET OUT." Of course, I had a few more responsibilities, and graduated highschool, different things, but overall, you don't have to change much. You can still be yourself.

I still don't go to wild parties, drink, smoke, curse or anything just to BE GROWN. There's not a specific persona of an "official adult" you have to channel once you cross the threshold. Just pray about it, take on your new responsibilities, be yourself, and have fun!

(PS, I had my senior pics taken at a playground to show the connection to my childhood was not lost :))