When I was little, I believed that the world was one block wide. And I had every reason to--everything I ever thought I needed was on that street. I had friends that felt like family, a dozen houses that felt like homes and front yards that could be anything we could imagine. To my childhood eyes, blow up pools became water parks, driveways became highways, and a tree house could be jail. The best part of these wonderful, imagined places is that I was able to share them with the same people every day of my life.

When you live on the same street with the same people for 18 years, you neighbors start to become your family. I didn't just have one set of parents, I had seven. As kids, we were all raised together in a sort of community and we pretty much felt like siblings. We fought like siblings, too, and the tears and insults sometimes seemed constant. When it came down to it, we always cared for each other and knew we were fortunate to have each other around.

Whenever something happened to one of us--whether it was good or bad--the neighborhood was always the first to know and the first to step in and help. Not much was kept a secret from each other, but we wanted it that way. We supported each other through so many different stages in our lives, and we would not be where we are today if it was not for the people that were there for us when we were young.

Whenever I would leave town for a vacation or a week at my grandparents' house, I couldn't wait to get back and tell all my friends about it. Even though I was having fun wherever I was, I was always jealous that things were going on back home without me. I couldn't wait to get back and share my stories with everyone who had stayed home.

Now that I've grown up and moved away, I appreciate the street I grew up on even more. I love that my childhood memories involve playing outside rather than sitting in front of a TV. I love that whenever I look at the yards, I still see a water park. I still see the same highway we rode our bikes down when I look at the driveways. I love that a part of my childhood remains on that street, even when I don't.

I am so thankful that I grew close to so many people just by growing up with them. I'm thankful that there were so many people around me while I was growing up who really had my best interest in mind. I'm thankful that I was able to grow up in the atmosphere that I did. Most importantly, I am thankful that I can still call that street mine, and I will continue to call it mine long after I am gone.