my parents and i climbed into the car when i was about six . we drove four days, from charleston, sc to merced, ca to visit my brother, who was ( and still is ) in the military . everything was exciting then, the car games and the bill cosby tape that i wore out . i felt as if i knew his family as well as he did .

my brother and his then girlfriend sarah took me to disneyland, where i got my first and last set of mickey ears, saw the 3D movie ” captain EO ” and rode on the teacups .