I am from...

I am from wooden spoons, sit-upons, from strawberry kiefer milk and wheat germ, and a Ford El Camino.

I am from the house built in a lemon orchard, hot-cement-cold-water-from-the-hose patio, night blooming jasmine so strong it filled the house every summer evening. Throw open the windows and smell. From the play room, pecky cedar, bean bags and shag carpet that came with its own rake.

I am from the avocado trees, orange blossoms, fern fronds, the brush that smells like butterscotch in the Malibu hills, morning glories and four o’clocks. From firecracker flowers, grandma’s glads and a jack-in-the-pulpit that grows near the porch swing.

I am from drawing names and building and crafting the one special Christmas gift you’ll give that year, and snoring, from Dennis and Marjorie and Leola and Elgin.

I am from those who hold it all in until they explode, cackling laughter and keeping busy. From Rainbow and Sunshine of the Chumash Tribe in Indian Maidens, Bluebirds and AYSO soccer.

From if you pout any longer a bird will land on your lip and get some fresh air outside.

I am from Methodists, Lutherans, and Apostolic Christians. I am from vacation bible school and this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. I am from baptism at seventeen, chosen by me.

I'm from Camarillo, Chico, Sabetha, Bern, Oneida and Switzerland. From holiday cheese salad, strawberry jello with bananas and fresh-picked ollalieberries. From homemade salsa, homegrown carrots and corn that tassles.

From the grandma who drove like a bat out of hell on the farm roads in Kansas while her favorite Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass cassette played, the sister who traveled all over the world to land in Australia, and the daughter of high school sweethearts married since they were teens and continue to love each other to this day.

I am from Sabetha, Lake Nacimiento, the Pear Blossom Highway, Disneyland at Christmas, Zuma Beach and every state park this side of the Missouri River.


Thanks to Greenthumb for the inspiration and to this site for the meme.