I accidentally stumbled across a post on The Happy Husband, that seriously called my name. The project is based on a beautiful, memory-filled poem called Where I’m From by George Ella Lyons about her childhood. A group of bloggers got together and wrote essay style poems in the same fashion as the poem. Never one to turn up my nose at a writing assignment, I decided to take on the challenge. Hey! I’m a scrapbooker after all, and it will fit beautifully within the depths of my All About Me album. I’m a sentimental fool anyway.
So here it is, in all it’s glory. It started out slow, and then it arose from the thunder…
I am From…
I am from adoption, from Texas, from birth and then from the city of St. Louis. I am from a Gift from God.
I am from an airline pilot for Eastern airlines and a photographer. I am from a tennis player, a jokester, a bible study attendee, an artist. I am from a family.
I am from a childhood home that lasted until I was 18, from white pillars and brick, from weeping willows to creeks.
I am from teddy bears and bigger than life Raggedy Anne’s and Andy’s, in the confines of a pink floral room.
I am from blue Schwinn bikes, sprinklers and plunging deep into a world of water.
I am from chocolate sheet cake and rum rolls, I am from horribly cooked ‘Gourmet Dinners’ in which I really wish I wasn’t from. I am from “no additives” and “no preservatives” and I am from no Twinkies or Ding Dongs. I am from a world of longing.
I am from yellow tile floors, orange carpets and ugly wall-paper. I am from a world that has changed so much since then.
I am from new boxes of crayons and coloring books, paints and stickers. I am from diaries and journals that are filled with private thoughts. And eventually I am from a new computer era, and from a Radio Shack TSR-80.
I am from Care Bears and Smurfs, from Strawberry Shortcake and Holly Hobby. I am from a world where Barbie dominated a large portion of time.
I am from the creek behind our house, from the cool summer grass beneath my barefeet, from willows and vines that hung low enough to swing. I am from a world where outdoors was the only place I wanted to be and where it is safe to roam.
I am from slumber parties, to hiding friends in the car so we could remain together. I am from skating parties to dress up parties, to fake weddings and real funerals for lost pets, bugs and reptiles.
I am from a broken heart when that first guy decided he didn’t want to be together. I am from first love, first kisses and first dates. I am from true friends and memories that last a lifetime.
I am from ear aches and stomaches, and seeking out care. I am from unspoken love and priviledge that left me wishing I was from somewhere else. I was from somewhere else originally.
I am from fuzzy white and spiky haired orange guinea pigs. I am from a diabetic cat. I am from 3 Old English Sheepdogs, my protectors, my playmates, my friends. And later I am from 4 Newfoundlands and 1 Australian Shepherd, that were more than just for show. I am from cuddling and playtime. I am from the president of a Newfoundland rescue group and family vacations that consisted of dog shows only.
I am from a Catholic home. I am from God. I am from a Christian lifestyle, largely adapted from childhood, from one that has been modified to fit my family. I am from reading the bible, to going to church, perhaps not regularly, but often enough. I am from a world where our God loves me, and I am a child of God.
I am from hope, from praise, from devotion. I am from song and prayer. I am from lifting my voice to call out His name. I am from life changing events, from tragedy, sorrow and pain. I am from happiness and joy.
I am from changing. I am from learning to live. I am from past mistakes that have shaped me, pushed me in the right direction. I am from needing the direction of God. I am from a place that being human is acceptible and quite frankly demanded. I am from God. I am always from God.
— Well, that’s it folks. I have thought about going back and editing it. Changing it up a bit. But I kinda like how scattered it is. How it hints at certain things while being ‘in your face’ about others. I don’t want to change the original. I might go back and try a more “adult” I am from. I sorta left off somewhere around age 18. So that’s where I’m from. Where are you from?
If you participate or decide to do this, leave a comment below so I can come visit you.
