This series of poems explores the memories I have of my childhood, pre-teen years, and teenhood in Cincinnati, Ohio. I spent most of my early days as a child outdoors biking and playing street hockey with my older brothers and neighborhood friends, especially my best friend Julie, who lived three doors down. As I grew older, I hit the streets of Madeira on foot and explored every inch of my 3-mile-long hometown.

Growing up in a small town meant that even though every day may have not been the most eventful, every little thing and every little moment is remembered - from the color of my first bike to the first text message I ever sent.

Memories don't always last forever, but the ones that do, are worth remembering. These are some of my favorite memories, told through numbers.

Childhood

2 cookies coming out of the Easy-Bake Oven,

50 cents for some pink lemonade,

9 crayons melted together in a cupcake tin,

and 3 years learning how to rollerblade.

12 dusty VHS tapes in an old wooden dresser,

15 posters hung up in my room,

6 hours trying to make my own dreamcatcher,

and 4 hours playing RollerCoaster Tycoon.

Tweenhood

5 outfit choices for my favorite Barbie,

5 more for my favorite Polly Pocket,

the names of 7 crushes in my blue fuzzy diary,

and 1 key to safely lock it.

30 minute walks to AmeriStop for a Coca-Cola Icee,

and 2 packs of sour Lemonheads,

1 whole day spent with my best friend Julie,

who ordered 1 cherry Icee instead.

Teenhood

15 minutes to type one message on my silver BlackBerry,

15 more until it finally sends,

100 songs in my LimeWire library,

and 20 of them on a mixtape for my friends.

4 wet photos hung up in the darkroom at school,

2 dirty kneepads in my volleyball locker,

1 girl with a goal to follow her dreams,

and 0 people able to stop her.