Once it started in with the street-level images, swirling around, it started to hit me though. That was my friend's house! I remember when they put in that stone landscaping in front. A whole lot of memories came rushing back, of feeling the dry desert heat, of playing basketball in my driveway with my friends, of rollerblading down that hill, of being a kid.
Along with the excitement though, a sense of longing. I can't help but notice that someone else's car is parked in front of "my" house now. I remember my dad packing up his stuff and leaving. I remember all those fights and tears as we moved out of that house and across the country. I keep up with friends from that time a little, but it's a little message here and there, I hardly see them anymore.
When the window popped up to write a message to my younger self, it felt like there was far too much to say. I settled on "It will be OK. Really."
This was unexpectedly beautiful and touching. Bravo.