Wednesday, November 14, 2007

I Am From...

I read this over at Dyane's Words of a Witchy Woman and just had to try it out. There is a form to guide you in creating your own version here. I think this is still a work in progress, but I've run out of time to work on it tonight!

I am from The Church in Cove, from Crayola Crayons and California.
I am from the identical tract house 6th from the corner with it’s back to the mountains, and my hand print in the patio cement.
I am from the bougainvilla, the hibiscus and the palm tree, the iceplant, the eucalyptus and oak.
I am from devout believers and hard workers and coffee drinkers, from Richards and Roberts and Lania.
I am from the winsome smilers and the long goodbye-ers.
From people who don’t divorce and people who are silent while daddy naps.
I am from my mother who taught me to sew and a father who took us to church on Sunday. White gloves to hide the dirty fingernails – turn the pages, mouth the words.
I'm from Escondido and County Cork – Tuna Casserole and Tacos.
From the child who could recite John 3:16 at two and a half, the girl who hitchhiked to school, and the same one who married the wrong man for the wrong reasons.
I am from the cedar chest Grandma’s brother made, the stories Uncle David told, from the hummingbird’s nest in the kumquat tree outside Mungio’s window and the lessons that hang like choir robes.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

wow, this was fabulous. thanks for that link!!! i am attempting to write a book about my childhood/family, because my mother is in a nursing home and i don't want to forget those memories i have of her, and i think this will preface my book. thanks again, so much :) (the formatting has become a little wonky here...hopefully i can fix it a bit)

I am from silver dollar plants, from Hormel Pickled Eggs and mom's homemade pickled beets.

I am from the blue 3 bedroom, 1 bath, with the huge backyard, and the peeling picnic table.

I am from the dogwood out front, the rose bush out back.

I am from Wendy's after church and Cherokee hair, from Julita and Judy and Michael and Doran.

I am from the akward and helpful.

From "hurry up and let's go" and "clean your room!".

I am from a little bit Baptist, and a little not. I am from daddy sleeping in on Sundays, and mom's BLT's (with egg!) in the afternoon.

I'm from Fayetteville, Mountain City, and the Jersey Shore, apple butter and sweet tea.

From the factory days of Granny, the throwing rocks at ducks of Daddy, and the at home bistro menu of Chrissy.

I am from the ornery cabinet in the blue bedroom, the closet in the room with the 4-poster bed, and the side "attic" in the white room with the umbrella bedsheets. The old coins, the wheat pennies, and the leftover corduroy trimmings.

I am from nothing, and yet I am from everything.

Anonymous said...

This is beautiful! Both of them. I am so going to steal it.

Escondido? I grew up in Chula Vista...

Dyane said...

You did an awesome job on this :) I love reading these, everyone's is so different & we learn so much about each other by reading them.

stephanie said...

Very cool - I will copy & reference you + Dyane. Ideas are good; thanks for sharing :)