California. It’s more than a place. It’s more than a memory. It’s something I’m going to try to explain to you, even though I know my effort will be pointless in the end because you will NEVER understand unless you were there. If you asked me to take you back to the best week of my life, I’d sure enough take you back to Mission California, Oh- 10. To me, California is more than a place. It’s a symbol. A symbol of friendship, of TRUE happiness, of love. It’s about being fearless and being able to say whatever you may have to, to anyone you’re with, and no matter what they’re doing, they listen. California is about not being able to be yourself. It’s about laughing, and feeling so good that you’re convinced nothing will EVER bring you down because you’re with the people who mean a whole heck of a lot to you, and you’d do anything for them. California’s about just meeting someone, but in a few days it feels like you’ve known them your whole life. California is about acceptance, for who you are, not who you pretend to be. It’s about being surrounded with love. For me, acceptance and love are two things I really need, and I don’t feel as if I have it at home as much as I did in California. It’s about knowing people are your friends and not having to guess. It’s about inside jokes that are SO IMPOSSIBLE to explain. It’s about laughing for so long, you choke, and for a second or two, stop breathing. It’s about being so close to God, that it’s as if he was right there next to you the entire week. It’s about sitting on the edge of the ocean, and meditating on all of God’s greatness. It’s knowing that God put you here for a reason, as unworthy as you feel, it was His plan for you. He chose you to be here, to be part of this experience. It’s about unending friendships. Memories that will never cease. I need to go back to California, or find California here at home.