Deeply Rooted
Jamul & Myra Avenue, The neighborhood kids and I would play capture the flag til sunset,
Drinking from the hose, climbing trees, & playing truth or dare
Discount nights at Roller Skate Land,
Checking out handfuls of books from the “Orange” library,
Fun 4 All & Toys R Us,
Loma Verde Pool on Sundays,
Rolling down the hills at Hilltop park,
Soak City, rock candy, & concerts at the Coors Amphitheater,
Girls Scouts at Kellogg,
Fireworks at the golf course,
Pancakes at Jimmy’s
Walking the Starlight Parade and coming out in the Star News,
Weekend trips to Tijuana to visit my abuela,
Petting stingrays at the Nature Center,
Thrifting on Broadway,
Luzitas after school,
Sitting at the Third Avenue memorial park bridge
& talking about all the boys we were crushing on,
Kissing my first boyfriend at the Fuddruckers Beatles booth
& trying to beat the Galaga high score,
LaBellas, Whittaker’s, & Don Pedros,
Getting drunk with my friends at the Chula Vista mall
& stealing earrings from Claire’s for the thrill,
Backyard shows & seeing my friend’s band at The Maac,
Knowing which Albertsons was easiest to jack bottles from (the one in Eastlake),
Going to CV skatepark just to meet cute boys,
California burritos from Lolitas every week,
Bus rides to IB,
Quiznos & renting indie movies from Blockbusters,
Lemon festival,
Kickbacks with my friends every weekend
& straying further from town on our adventures.
I moved away at seventeen when my family all went separate ways,
Chula Vista, my hometown.