the circle

Growing up in Illinois, the front of our house faced a regular street, but the backyard was on a cul-de-sac. Technically, a cul-de-sac is a "dead end" street, but to me that concrete circle was a world unto itself. It was where I practiced (and perfected!) some of my most awesome roller skating routines. It was where I learned to ride a two wheel bicycle...and later the site of the accident that would leave me with a bloody face, two broken front teeth, and a healthy fear of bike riding. My much older friend Stephanie lived across the circle...she introduced me to gymnastics, the Go Go's, and her younger brother Geoff, who teased me mercilessly throughout elementary school...and years later gave me my first kiss.

As an adult, I've lived in three different houses on cul-de-sacs, including our current home. This one is the most unique, since the cul-de-sac also has an "island." It is known around our house simply as "the circle." And like the cul-de-sac of my childhood, the circle is one of our boys' favorite places to play. It's a perfect race track for bikes, scooters, and Power Wheels, and the trees and rocks on the island can become anything from pirate ships and deserted islands to rockets and distant planets. And best of all, there are lots of other families whose children share our circle.

I guess things have come full circle.