Monday, April 9, 2007

Where I'm From

I am from Dr. Seuss books read in bed at night and Kraft Macaroni & Cheese and antiques from Saturday yard sales refinished in our basement.

I am from the century old house on 10th Street with seven layers of wallpaper and ornate wood trim. From a screened-in front porch with a porch swing, visiting neighbors and a cool summer breeze.

I am from a Linden tree I watched my father plant in the front yard, and peonies in the back yard that drooped when it rained. From a big vegetable garden, from honeysuckle picked on family bicycle rides through campus, so sweet.

I am from waking up at five on Christmas morning to open gifts, and lily white skin, from Lula Mae and Mary, from the Hartman's and the McGreavy's who changed their name to Rea when they got to this country lest they be found out.

I am from the melancholy and the artsy and Southern hospitality.

From "I love you" and "You're special".

I am from a father studying to be a priest ('til he met my mom), a Unitarian church, no church, a Methodist church, from Granddad who forbade his children from going to church and slipped atheist literature into his grandchildren's birthday cards.

I am from Keesler AFB, Biloxi, Mississippi, and Scotland and Ireland, from hillbillies and Cherokee, from fried pork chops and asparagus with Hollandaise sauce.

From a great grandmother who taught Bonnie (of Bonnie & Clyde) how to shoot never dreaming how she'd use her skills, from a grandmother who ate a grasshopper in a banana on a dare, from a mother who was in drama club with Ryan O'Neal.

I am from photos in the bottom drawer of the cherry bookcase, and Mammo's sapphire in a pouch in Mimi’s purse, from vintage jewelry in an envelope taped under a dresser, from JFK half dollars tucked away in a metal lock box, from laughter and memories that I'll always treasure.


Use this template to write your own Where I'm From poem. Reminisce and enjoy!

5 comments:

bluemountainmama said...

what a history you have! i love reading these....thanks for sharing yours.......

Sharon Brumfield said...

What an incredible history you have.It is rich and full of flavor. I may have to do one of those on my post-it was unique and a little different from what is going around.
Thanks for the visit---"ya'll come back now and see me again real soon". That down home for --"your visit was most welcomed".

Elise @A Path Made Straight said...

Beautiful, just beautiful!
(I called my husband over and told him about your great-grandmother - we both agree that while her teaching resulted in something not so great, it's still really amazing that you're related to her!) :)

Anonymous said...

Wow - totally awesome heritage ...

I love this! Borrowed the template, I must use it on my own post.

Anonymous said...

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