I Am From....by Jean 1

I am from....I am from playing in the hose in the yard, listening to Shawn Cassidy on the little red and white checkered record player, and climbing trees in the back yard, from Mountain Berry Kool-Aid, Pac man, Wonder Bread, Oscar Meyer Bologna and Miracle Whip sandwiches and Trixie Belden Mysteries.I am from California, Oklahoma, Washington, Oregon, California, Oklahoma, and Missouri, from 14 schools, 32 houses and forgotten rooms.I am from the pomegranate trees, strawberry bushes and the tree in the backyard with the perfect spot to hide and read.I am from opening one gift on Christmas eve and sneaking up on Christmas morning to check out the stockings and the Monday nights longing for Little House but watching Monday night football, from Nannie and Popa and Aunt Sharon and Uncle Bill, and Aunt Jinx and Uncle Olan.I am from watching races on TV, watching the daytime “stories” and staying up too late to sneak in more reading and hiding out under the covers when things got scary.From “be nice to your sister” and “because I said so”.I am from Waricka Baptist and “Because He lives“ and the rapture painting on the wall in Nannie‘s house. I am from riding the bus to church and going to VBS and church camps, from Cantatas and youth group and Barn Swings.I'm from Fresno via the Indian reservation and Germany and from Sparta in the country and California during the Big war, from homemade ice cream in the crank handle bucket and brown beans and cornbread and fried potatoes, from biscuits and gravy and open faced sandwiches and meatloaf, from Hamburger Helper and Porcupines.From the time I got lost on the ferry on the way to visit an uncle on an island with Nancy, from sleeping in cousin Kim‘s bed and thinking that she lived like a princess, from spending countless nights with Patti, staying up playing “spite and malice" and drinking Kool-Aid from Tupperware cups with lids and saltines with miracle whip, from sitting on the church steps after school and knowing it was time to head home when Don drove by from getting the mail on the way home from work.I am from faded picture albums and zip locks of smoky clippings, from candle collections and countless records of Conway Twitty and Hank Jr, from paper reindeer and Popsicle snowflakes and a faded angel, from woodworking tools and a 30 year old station wagon and a jar of nuts and bolts, from a flower box with birth certificates and savings bonds and scrapbooks