Dear Crystal Lake,

It is the night of Halloween as I write this, which means it has now been roughly two and a half months since I have left you. This is my fourth attempt at trying to write you, because each time I have sat down to do so, I have been at a complete loss for words. I can't quite figure out why; Maybe It is because I am thinking way too hard about what to say, and sometimes it's best to just forget about finesse. Maybe it's because I have so many emotions towards you, and I don't know how to convey them properly. However, I feel an intense allurement to just tell you how I truly feel, so here goes.

First off, I want to sincerely thank you for a truly unforgettable nine years. I want to thank you for all of the wonderful people I've met during that time, and more importantly, all of the lifelong friendships that I have made. I want to thank you for welcoming me with open arms, knowing damn well that I've always been a person that has had trouble embracing change. I thank you for never giving up on me, even after all of the times I said that I wanted to leave you, and even going as far as to say I hate you. The truth is, it took me having to leave you to truly appreciate everything you have given me. You have seen me at my best, as well as my worst, and you have always given me nothing but love and compassion in return. For that, I am eternally grateful.

I am perhaps most thankful for all of the lessons you have taught me. You taught me how to cherish my friends and family. You taught me to value their presence, and to tell them I love them, because I never know what day could be their last. Without them, I would not be where I am today. You taught me that patience is virtue, and that while I am constantly progressing closer to my ultimate goals, it is better to enjoy the ride, instead of rushing to get to my final destination. You taught me to appreciate the small things in life; That spontaneous adventures and deep conversations are worth more than any material object ever will be. You taught me to pursue my passions, and that I will reach my full potential in life as a result. You taught me that happiness comes first. And most importantly, you taught me to care for others, and to be open minded of all people from all walks of life. That is something that will be invaluable to me for the rest of my existence.

Finally, I wanted to say that I am the most appreciative of all of the memories I have created here. I will miss the fading sunset beaming off of the lake during those cool fall evenings every time I drove down Dole Avenue. I will miss meandering down Briarwood Road with my closest friends at two in the morning talking about anything and everything. I will also miss swimming in the filthy water at Main Beach, when I knew the water at 3 Oaks was way cleaner. I'll miss Lakeside Fest, getting Ice Cream from The Freeze, and spending blistering summer afternoons driving around town for hours blasting my Green Day albums at full volume with the windows down. There are so many more memories, that I truly could go on forever.

In closing, I hope you know that you have made me into the person that I am today. You have had everything to do with me finding myself, as well as assisting me in creating my own imprint on the walls of originality. Know that however far I may stray, that you are the place that I will always call home. I always try to reflect the down to earth manner that your small town charm has instilled within me. I hope you look at me with the same grace and admiration that I've had for you throughout all these years. Thank you for everything.

Always,

Ryan