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Where I'm From
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I am from my Father
and my mom and dad.
From dust and from a star in her eye.
From France, Norway, England,
and German knighthood.
From a signature on the Declaration
and the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

I am from Shirley, Don, Lester, and Muriel.
From a grandma I would never know
because she felt she knew her time to go,
and now we see her in hummingbirds.

I am from little girl dresses,
playing house, princess, and
pirate ship on bunk beds.
From "watch out! Don't fall in the hot lava!"

I am from Berenstein Bears and Angelina Ballerina.
From Matilda, Babysitter's Club, and Nancy Drew.
Teaching my sister how to read.
I am from the book in the hands of a
solitary, yet somehow contented
girl at recess.

I am from school projects, extra credit, and
chasing down the mailman to see
who my teacher would be this year.
From girl scouts and summer camp
and playing in the pool with Dad.
From long talks with Mom
whose kiss always made the hurt go away.

I am from Thanksgiving turkey,
Sue's rolls and Bluhm's cake.
Cooking in the kitchen with Grandma.
From the Christmas closet,
hiding the decorations that remind me
of a magical childhood that comes out once a year.

I am from family dinners
talking, laughing, sometimes crying.
From "I love you," "your best is always good enough,"
and "watch, girls, this is how it's done."

I am from family vacations.
From quality time spent abroad or at home
riding bikes up and down the greenbelt in the summer heat.

I am from the vineyard.
From sweet Zinfandel grapes and
pride in my Daddy's first place ribbons.

I am from the music of children's choirs,
musicals, and solos in European churches.
From the Christmas carols in the back seat
after Thanksgiving dinner,
and from my spirit's own song of happiness.

I am from an aunt's overwhelming joy
at the birth of her Shane
after miscarriages and a doctors sad diagnosis.

I am from that life-changing moment when I realized
I am a tiny part of a giant plan
that my human mind cannot understand.
From a baptism in blue water under green trees.
So happy that I did not feel the coldness of the creek.

I am from nights of tears, nights of laughter.
From a lifetime of love that cannot be measured.

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