...

there were the days of juice stands, of lemonade for ten cents a glass

and joos-boxes trampled to paper on the playground asphalt

there were the days

when we cut flowers from yards and gardens and state

property to sell them to couples of newlyweds here to enjoy the foliage. there were the days

of sunshine, when we all lay out of doors trying to photosynthesize, trying to turn brown

even though we didn't quite know why. one-pieces

were okay. my favorite color was pink and blue and yellow all swirled together, but red was the best.

those were the days of the tooth fairy before we caught her, forts in the woods and hiding out in trees and grass and flowers. those

were the times that the things we did

were all the best we had ever done.