My childhood home sat upon a mountain overlooking a creek valley in rural Victoria, Australia, on the traditional lands of the GunaiKurnai people. When I was about six 
years old, on a hot summer day I paddled in the creek with my family. 

I remember a very specific moment when I had a blood sucking leech attached to my chest and my father tried to burn it off! He lit a match,  and with shaky hands, instead of burning the creature, he burnt my skin. At that exact moment, an eel swam between my legs. This multi- sensory memory has stayed with me for half a century! As has the scar.

The clear fresh water of the creek was a soothing memory from this occasion and many others, when we retreated from the heat of the sun to the lush fern tree lined creek to cool off.

-Anna

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