There are times when I think back to when I was about 11 years old and full of adventure. I still have an adventurous spirit, but it has been tamed by societal norms and conventions. I had a neighbor named Anna that lived right next door to me. She was unrestrained, and fun to be around. We would tell our parents that we were going to ride our bikes around the block and instead we would venture off to The Wash. The Wash was located in a remote area near our neighborhood. The Santa Ana River would run through it. There was a steep cliff nearby with a huge tree on the edge. Hanging from one of the tree's branches was a rope. Anna would swing on the rope from the cliff, over the edge and back! I thought she was crazy. I was petrified every time she did it because I was afraid that she would fall off the cliff and die. Of course this never came to pass, and I was always left feeling as though I had missed out on a great experience. One day we decided to go swimming in the river. The water was up to our necks. We took off our clothes, so that our parents wouldn't find out what we had been up to, and jumped in the river with only our undergarments. Anna would scare me by pretending that the current was taking her away. Then she would laugh hysterically when she realized that I was beginning to panic. After our swim, we emerged from the river covered in tiny worms! Disgusted, we headed home to take a shower. Our parents never found out.
The Wash was a sanctuary for both of us where we could talk and bond as friends. I have many fond memories of my friend. We lost touch many years ago when I moved out of the city. I heard that she had been pregnant and had given birth to a still born child. She is now actively involved in the Apostolic faith. It's amazing how much our lives can change over the years.
Anna Banana was one of a kind. She was my partner in crime, and my friend.
