My dad, a Navy Officer, was stationed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, when I was eleven. Prior to that, we’d lived for almost five years in Hanford, California—a small town tucked in the lush agricultural heart of the state—where I’d built close childhood friendships and banked a trove of idyllic memories. The move to New Mexico was quite a culture shock. Add to that the normal awkwardness of middle school, and it was a rough patch in my formative years. But with time and distanc

We spent nearly two weeks cruising around the French Polynesian Islands, which was like a dream (read post) , but the longest we'd ever...

I was 34 when I noticed my first wrinkle. Up until then, I hadn't given aging much thought.