Some of the best moments of my life were when I lived in Turkey. I learned to surf, lived close enough to the Med so I could surf every day if I felt like it, and I wasn't yet aware of how I looked.
I would also include parts of my childhood. We lived in a place called Davis Island, which is directly south of downtown Tampa, Florida. It felt like a small town, even though we're so close to downtown. I used to ride my bike everywhere. My dad would drive me to school every morning and we would have breakfast together at this Greek place near our house. When school got out I would walk with some of my classmates to the daycare center a block away. There were these two girls in my class that would always speak to me. I remember playing with my train set, climbing the orange tree in our backyard, playing with the neighborhoods kids that lived near our house, I remember the time when two giant Macaws escaped from Busch Gardens and ended up perched on a tree in our front yard. I remember spending Christmas at my grandmothers house, how her home always seemed so magical, and how it was the only place I always felt unconditionally loved.
Up to about age 15 I never gave any thought to my looks.
I remember getting dressed up to go to the symphony with my parents. My dad teaching me how to dress properly. I remember being allowed to stay up past my bedtime to watch Miami Vice and Dynasty (I was a child of the 80s)
Then there was a zoo called Lowry Park that we used to go to on class field trips. They had this monkey that would smoke cigarettes. When he was done he would smack his hand against his lips, meaning that he wanted another one. If nobody have him one, he would hold up his middle finger.
![Thomas]](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/alonelylife/data/avatars/s/14/14186.jpg?1631136400){kind=avatar}
