Monday, February 1, 2016

Where I'm From, Always

I’m from hard-working and loyal;
I’m from single mother and college graduate,
walking across the stage for her daughter,
from proud and strong and independent.
I’m from grandparents, aunts, uncles, bathtubs,
beautiful pictures, infectious smiles;
I’m from white picket fences and green backyards,
full of ducks, and overflowing creeks
that make my boots soggy and the puddle-jumping exciting,
from stale bread and laughter and constant video cameras.
I’m from obnoxious toy guitars and Barbie dolls,
from toy cars I refused were “for boys,”
and Emeril live on weeknights,
even when my mom should have told me
it was time for bed. 
I’m from Dr. Seuss and fairy tales with happy endings,
from princess gowns and movies and dolls,
from dreaming and believing.
I’m from soccer games and competition,
from running until my lungs give up,
from challenging and even sometimes winning. 
I’m from 80’s rock music and Bon Jovi,
from Charlie Parker and swing music,
making me feel like living in the Age of Swing
would have been wonderful,
I’m from trombones and saxophones 
because music always seemed to call me.
I’m from marching band and making friends,
from learning and discipline,
from inspiration in the form of Sing, Sing, Sing
and a dream of playing at Carnegie Hall.
I’m from Harry Potter, from To Kill a Mockingbird,
from finding anything to read that I could get my hands on,
because books held all the worlds’ secrets,
and I wanted to know them all.
I’m from macaroni and cheese dinners, 
from paychecks that made  my mother smile,
and birthday parties every year,
from love, weddings, and white-and-purple mums,
from new parent and new siblings and new house,
from learning how to be a role model and 
learning how to care for someone,
from fights and arguments and hard conversations.
I’m from learning how to grow up fast;
I’m from lost trust and long explanations,
from betrayal and court dates,
from picking yourself up and dusting yourself off
because it isn’t worth the lost time. 
I’m from growing, living, breathing,
from transformation and understanding,
but always
from love, from love, from love.

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