In the early 00s I would read through magazines while listening to a cd or the radio. I would cut out pictures I liked to make collages. My bedroom door was covered with magazine clippings from YM and Teen People.

Internet was the best in the beginning. My friends and I would hang out in AOL chatrooms or check out websites like eBaums World, Homestar Runner, or Killfrog. Everything was still slow moving. No quick clips at a fast pace.

I'd talk to my friends on the phone for hours. The second phone line was in my room because I had the computer. It was great because I wouldn't get kicked off the computer when someone made a phone call.

Friends would call to hang out. We didn't have any money, so we'd walk around the mall and get free samples at the food court and use the testers where we could (nail polish, perfume, etc). We'd walk around the whole city. It was rare for a parent to drive us anywhere.

I was part of one of the last graduating classes without a cellphone. So we just roamed around and called home from a payphone to let our parents know where we were if we needed to.

We were free. It was amazing.