We always look forward to Sundays. I remember waking up to the smell of Pine-Sol. Mom was mopping the floors, creating that distinct clean scent that signaled the beginning of our weekend routine. My brother and I would rush to the kitchen and make ourselves a glass of cereal. Yes, you read that right; back in the late 1970s, we had tall plastic cups that we ate our Fruit Loops out of instead of traditional bowls. The colorful rings would float in the milk, creating a sweet, fruity flavor that we savored with each spoonful.

As a child, I loved to wander in the woods behind our home. There were winding trails and a quiet pond tucked away beneath tall trees. When I walked there, I felt as though I were miles away from anyone else in the world. The peaceful stillness of nature was comforting to my soul, like a warm hug from the earth itself.