2004-04-14 - 8:56 p.m.

i have a story.

when i went to summer camp, one day they did this thing where they made all us kids sit outside in the woods (which is what we usually did anyway) and they gave us each a nice, cold, crispy apple. and then they told us not to eat it until they said we could. this was supposed to teach us something about delaying gratification or something. the punishment for eating your apple too soon was they would write things like "i am really stupid" on your face with a marker. most people ate their apples early anyway, but i wanted to be good so i didn't. when they finally told us it was okay to eat the apples, they were warm and mealy and gross.

"i do not regret the things i've done, but those i did not do"

leah, if you want to do something and mom says you'll have plenty of time to do it when you're older, don't listen to her. sneak out if you have to. do everything you can. or you will be emotionally stunted and incapable of enjoying the things you like by the time you get a chance to do them.

you will be unable to relate to other people and you will stress about things that should be fun and relaxing.

do it now. do it right this second. because what if you die?

one step forward - one step back