I Am From

I loved reading these so much when I read about them before at Mary's (Owlhaven) that even though I didn't have a blog of my own back then I wrote one for fun. I never have posted it here so here goes! Be sure to visit Owlhaven to do one yourself or to read some others.

I am from twirling beneath maple branches watching seed pods fall like helicopters. I am from breathing crisp autumn air while raking leaves into piles and jumping in from the tire swing. From Ovaltine after sledding and sun tea after summer fun.

I am from the little house with many additions and the gravel driveway with sweet smells of apple pie wafting down.

I am from lilacs and snapdragons and colorful, fragrant, tasty gardens, from the woods with the creek and the old railroad tracks.

I am from homemade ice cream on the Fourth of July and strawberry picking on Father’s day and Yankee baseball on muggy summer nights. From hazel eyes from Bill and Margie and Jim and Betty and Bill and Elsie.

I am from book readers and great bakers and hard workers who know how to have fun. From “take your elbows off the table” and “you can do anything you set your mind to.”

I am from Catholic and Methodist and God loving people who treasure family and friends. From NY’s suburbia with a short walk to the post office and the firehouse siren every day at noon.

From Germans, Austrians, English, Welsh and Dutch, who generations before took the long boat ride here so that I could live this life! From bagels and cream cheese after church on Sundays, Bobo’s sauerkraut, Gram’s sweet rolls, and Mom’s jam and bread & butter pickles.

From walking up the hill to Grandma and Bobo’s to be entertained with stories of the “good ‘ol days” and water skiing at the lake in the dry heat of the annual summer visit out west and Mom sitting while I reheated dinner after weeknight dance classes to keep me company.

I am from bulletin boards and notes on the fridge and pictures on walls, in albums, shoe boxes, envelopes and bags. These hold proof of the memories of love and joy and laughter. Of broken arms and healed hearts, of black Labradors and striking young Grandmothers, of playing in the basement and climbing the tallest of pine trees, of sister sleepovers and playing soccer on the back lawn, and of babies being loved dearly into adulthood and continuing with each generation.