When I was 11 years old I went on a trip with my family.  We were headed to my favorite Aunts house, my Aunt Karen. She lived in Maryland with my cousin Jay and boyfriend, Rick.

I loved Aunt Karen. She used to joke with my mother and say that I was meant to belong to her. She used to tell me I was perfect and I should be hers. She used to make me feel so damn loved. I never got stuff like that from my own parents. Being one of four children, I guess they really couldn't say stuff like that to any of us... that would be playing favorites and good parents don't play favorites. They love all their children just the same.

So we were at Aunt Karen's for the weekend. It was summer and she had a great big yard with a great big pool. We swam and played all day. It was ex...

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