I am from the Pine Barrens and Seaside Heights, from the snowcapped Rockies and broad plains below.
I am from small feet heavy with outsized rollerskates, from boxy red plastic Sears & Roebuck record players and buckets of legos, from delight in drippy Carvel ice cream cones with extra sprinkles.
I am from The Beatles “Something New” and “Abbey Road,” from The Kingston Trio and The Everly Brothers, from ABBA and ELO.
I am from the 1970s split-level, from dark wood panelling and yellow linoleum, from avocado green appliances and the long, beckoning metal limbs of a backyard swingset.
I am from the Wild Columbine and the Common Milkweed, from a strange, dense forest of knotted and sinewy pine. I am from big sky and tumbleweeds, from the land of prairie dogs and rattlesnakes, too.
I am from thinkers and dreamers, workers and soldiers and immigrants and fighters, from passionate men and strong women with sailor’s mouths.
I am from Choose Your Own Adventure and Snoopy and the Red Baron, from Hello Kitty and Where The Sidewalk Ends.
I am from memories of giants and fairies, from days spent adventuring and seeking, unearthing fossils from parched soil that once was seabed.
I am from pigtails and muddy sneakers, from dirtbikes and skinned knees. I am from a tomboy’s uniform of jeans and a grubby t-shirt.
I am from Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, from Star Wars and Jason and the Argonauts. I am from In Search Of and Star Trek, Charlie’s Angels and The A-Team.
I am from Hail Mary, full of grace, and Holy Communion – both lost to me now.
I am from endurance and hope and laughter. From parents who told me with conviction that I could do anything a man could do, be anything a man could be – be anything I wanted or dreamed of – and I believed them.
That’s where I’m from.
[This post was based on a meme I learned of through the awesome Avitable. The general guidelines (which I didn't really follow very closely) can be found here.]
