Blast from the past!

How many of us recall the amount of times we were asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Do you remember what you wanted to be? My answer would vary and one of my favorites was an Architect; why? I loved to look at blueprints. FYI I did not become an Architect, I still like looking at blueprints though! Growing up I danced competitively, played sports like tennis, volleyball, basketball and the list goes on but my ultimate favorite was Water Polo.

Oddly enough I didn’t learn to swim until I was 12, and started playing Polo when I was 13. I played club polo, we had the opportunity to travel to Italy. I happend to be the youngest one participating in this trip, it was my 1st time away from my parents. The first night there I cried, I was homesick and didn’t know anyone on the team; everyone there were older juniors and seniors. The next day came, I had to shake it off and quickly learned to navigate my surroundings; still feeling immensely alone and scared. We had to wake up early to train to then travel and play against multiple teams from the region. Italy is definitely an unforgettable time for me. I will forever be grateful to my parents for allowing and trusting me to live this once in a lifetime opportunity. When I came back I started to put in work, I enjoyed the sport so much. I would practice twice a day; in the mornings before school and in the evenings after school. When I got to High School I immediately played on the Varsity Team. I will always remember the pregame feeling, all the adrenaline rushing through my body! One of my beloved memories around the same time was when I turned 16 and my parents gifted me my 1st car. It was a beauty, a green 1995 Volkswagen soft-shell convertible Cabrio! Talk about a typical Cali girl! My convertible didn’t have A/C and when it rained it would leak terribly, I would also have to carry a towel to wipe down the windshield since I couldn’t use the defogger. It was not very safe to say the least. I would go everywhere, well actually to clarify; I would go as far as my gas money would allow me. My number one choice was always the beach, I practically lived there every weekend. I would wake up around 5 am and drive to one of my preferred beaches; Huntington Beach.

Huntington consistently had something going on from street festivals to farmer markets, it was a never-ending wonderful time. The people and the atmosphere were so inviting; I by no means ever wanted to leave. I enjoyed the warm sun and the way the loose sand felt under my feet. The water was insanely cold and salty but it was my happy place.

I would drive with the top down and the music blasting, forgetting to apply sunblock; I would have the worst sunburn the next day! Come to think of it; it has been years since I’ve visited the beaches I once loved so much. I write this reminiscing my youth with appreciation for everything I’ve experienced. The twists and the turns of life have lead me to where I am today. My new happy place.