I am from
From be quiet now and you cannot wear your cowboy shirt to church.
I am from Amazing Grace and Old Wooden Cross. From stained glass windows and small hot rooms, where they taught Jesus and served punch.
I’m from the Golden State and NOLA, cornbread and iced tea.
From the woman we called Memor who saw my Grandaddy on the side of the road and picked him up, the tiny spit fire who sold encyclopedias to support her family. Who died a quiet death of alzheimer’s, surrounded by her three daughters. One of which is my mother. I am from my father, who was an artist, a soldier, an asshole. I am from his same stock even when I try not to be.
I am from a storage unit in a dusty place. Disarray of memories and old pieced quilts. Fishing rods and dress shoes. The world in a dark square, spiders and silky strands of their construction, holding our family in its web. I am from the sadness and light, the impossible and complex.
I saw this at Amanda’s and at Two Busy’s places. They were both beautiful, as their writing always is. Want to do this? The template is here.
July 4th, 2011 at 11:41 pm
I love these, and yours is now slouch.
I did one, too: http://www.schmutzie.com/schmoetry/2011/6/29/where-i-was-from-when-i-was-seven-bearing-down-upon-the-buoy.html
July 5th, 2011 at 4:58 am
so utterly, absolutely beautiful
July 5th, 2011 at 5:00 am
I love that where you came from somehow wended its way to a place where we’d meet.
July 5th, 2011 at 5:09 am
Love the first line the best.
The template reminds me of the Mad Libs my nine year old is captivated by – in a really good way.
Now stop inspiring me to write.
July 5th, 2011 at 7:16 am
Ye gods… especially that last paragraph.
Damn, yer good at this typing stuff.
July 5th, 2011 at 7:45 am
perfect. i want to do this, too!
July 5th, 2011 at 3:52 pm
I understand the origin from asshole. I do.
July 6th, 2011 at 4:41 am
Love this! I just thought of these the other day…I will take that as a sign that it’s time for me to join in. Every word matters. Every from matters.
July 6th, 2011 at 10:39 am
You are from heaven.
(I just started this but have to stop since we’re changing our internet and cable. BAH!)
July 6th, 2011 at 1:45 pm
Love. And you inspired me too.
July 6th, 2011 at 5:47 pm
I love that your grandmother sold encyclopedias. She sounds like someone I wish I had met.
July 6th, 2011 at 11:03 pm
Love this. So poignant and beautiful. I think I might have to try this….
July 7th, 2011 at 5:12 am
Love this. Love who you are. I think I’ll do this.
July 8th, 2011 at 6:04 pm
I adore you, and I am so trying this.
xxx
July 10th, 2011 at 5:15 am
Congrats and Best Wishes on your Twitter last night!
July 11th, 2011 at 8:33 pm
Wonderful- I’m checking it out too.
July 13th, 2011 at 7:45 am
Beautiful writing. I love the last paragraph.
July 16th, 2011 at 9:47 pm
fishing poles and dress shoes. LOVE
July 18th, 2011 at 9:01 am
i am loving reading these. maybe I’ll do one. likely not. but i love them.
August 6th, 2011 at 6:56 pm
[...] by a beautiful post by my friend Flutter. If you’d like to write about where you’re from, you can find the template [...]