*original post time: saturday, 29 may ‘04 at 6:45 p.m.

**vineyard gushing warning continues…

there’s a place i go here that i like to think of as my secret place, though the truth is that dad showed it to me, and he would probably know to look for me there should i ever take too long on one of my private excursions. still, he had to search to find it, and he knows the area by maps and experience through and through, so it’s at least not that well known. i won’t write the name here… become friends with me and someday i’ll take you there. for now, i’ll just call it S_____ M_____; i’ve always wanted to play pretentious and write a place’s name like that anyway.

it’s one of my favorite places in the world. a small walking path through the woods, then a clearing and the bay and ocean, right in front of you. mom tells me not to go there alone, she’s always so afraid of people, but the truth is you’d have to know about S_____ M_____ to attack anyone there, and few people do. those that i’ve seen there could hardly be characterized as creepy: a few older people who can only be described as both salty and crunchy. plus, honestly, who is going to attack me on martha’s vineyard? a rich tourist? an artsy islander? unlikely.

so off to S_____ M_____ i biked, in search of some quiet and alone time. i was glad for the sweater i decided to bring as i biked by the fire and police stations near my house since there was still a cool breeze today. i ditched my bike behind some brush, since S_____ M_____ is only for walkers. then i walked, not paying any attention to the time even though i told my sisters i’d be home within the hour. there are some places where time doesn’t really matter. it was late afternoon, and the sun was shining through the tall trees to make the path glow green. it had an element of magical perfection to it. i can’t wait until i can take someone i love there.

maybe i’m just too emotional a person; maybe it really is just another bunch of trees, water, and dirt; maybe i’m totally full of shit. but even if all that is true, it doesn’t change the way i feel about that place.