I am from a house full of ideas and soccer cleats, dress-up tule and scraps of paper strewn across the floor, from paintings by children framed in wood, from stacks of treasured and unfinished books. I am from color’s embrace red, turquoise, orange and spring green, from the 109-year-old home with the crumbling porch and a peeling rocker six blocks from where Papou played kick the can.
I am from raised beds that are too shady, from lettuce and watercress that bolt and peonies that overflow vases come spring. I am from the monster horse chestnut tree that drops its medieval spiked rounds and thousands of leaves, and I am from the climbing and cradling tree at the Anastasis’ whose long gone limbs I remember as if they were my own.
I am from asking questions to show I care, noticing the signs of spring’s approach, feeling the ache of compassion, from Mami and Papi and Allison Aimee. I’m from creativity and intensity, working hard and worrying, bouts of sadness and messy dramatic, from laughter and arms wrapped tight.
I am from prat falls and self-depracting humor, from homemade dresses and Mozart, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Wonder and smiles at daybreak. I am from “Only boring people get bored” and “If you can’t laugh at yourself, what can you laugh at?” and “You Are My Sunshine,” “The Lord is my shepherd” and “I love you, Golden Face.”
I am from German Apple Pancakes on Christmas morning and scarlet eggs at Easter, from Doctor’s Hospital, green Northwest hills, Bavarian peaks, Scottish highlands and Italian fire, from braided homemade bread and fluffy omelets, tuna noodle casserole and after school Totino’s Party Pizzas with Little House and The Brady Bunch.
I’m from toddler sister’s New Yawk accent, sharing a room and touching feet under the comforter, from a mother’s love of Jersey cows and bareback rides across the farm and of the wildness and freedom that always reminded her who she was. I am from B, the faithful blanket that still sleeps under my pillow.
I am from too many things stuffed in closets, from too many cross-town moves and from regrets transformed into commitments. I am from friends like sisters and sister friends, glass lakes and star holes through fabric skies, from long walks, word love and crinkle-eyed smiles, from tables filled with salads, bread and real butter and from a giant trampoline that made me feel I could fly.
I am from a husband’s love and daughter eyes that remind me what’s true, from a house of people that keeps killing pet fish but doesn’t mean to, from road trippers and wave jumpers and Jesus-lovers who want to live it.
I’m from people who interrupt a lot at dinner and love the best they can and seek to be world changers and dream dreamers and can’t get enough of their cousins and like their smoothies loaded with extra spinach.
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I am linking today with SheLoves Magazine‘s synchroblog, I Am From, in which women share their moving, painful and beautiful stories of place and identity. This post was adapted by Levi Romero and inspired by “Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyon. If you’re interested in writing or posting one of your own, which I highly suggest, you can find the template at SheLoves.
Connecting through the power of stories written, spoken and lived
Dear Dolly
Your post reminds me so much how we might think our lives are just ordinary and perhaps a bit boring, but not so. Every encounter, every happening, everyone we love, every thought and every smile makes our lives, which might seem insignificant in our eyes, very special. Beautiful post, dear friend.
Much love and sweet blessings XX
Mia
You’re right, Mia. Sitting down to write this out helped me to truly see that. Thank you, dear.
Beautiful, poetic, moving, familiar, sweet, haunting. Speechless. Love this, my loyal Faith & Culture Writermom friend- cornelia
I do think you should write one too, Cornelia! Especially interested to hear what feels familiar…maybe we can talk about this sometime. There is a template for writing it at SheLoves (shelovesmagazine.com). That made it so fun and sort of freeing. Interesting how parameters can do that sometimes.
I love this Ashley, I think I need to make one of my own!
I love it too, thanks for sharing it with me Julia. Jules, do you want to guest star with me on my blog and do a sister “I am from”…?
Seriously, Julia, DO IT! I think it was such fun to write. And to write at Chris’ blog, how cool would that be?! I’ll send you the template.
Love the randomness; the poetic honesty; & the beautiful women, daughter, sister, wife, & mother behind this (that I get to call my friend & mentor)! Love you & treasure your writing!
Oh, thank you, honey. It was such fun to weave in and out of time and relationships in this. Thankful.
Ashley this is a song of birthing daily, into the world. How your heart sings in a pulsated rhythm here. I love knowing you more and better and yes, more sweetly through your words, friend. This has a metronomic syncopated beat of a woman;s heart that is filled with knowing who she is and who she is becoming at the hands of a pure love. His love poured out through her. You are a gift. And your words are the packaging.
I love what you say about birthing daily! Yes, that’s it. Both an already born and a becoming through this living. Grateful for how you put words to that.
This stanza right here caught me tapping my foot to its rhythm:
“I am from a husband’s love and daughter eyes that remind me what’s true, from a house of people that keeps killing pet fish but doesn’t mean to, from road trippers and wave jumpers and Jesus-lovers who want to live it.”
What a glorious, overwhelming life, Ashley. Thank you for joining your voice into this project. Amen and amen.
Thank you, Kelli! You helped inspire me to do it!
O, Ashley, I love this … Thank you for linking up!
I like your people. “I’m from people who interrupt a lot at dinner and love the best they can and seek to be world changers and dream dreamers and can’t get enough of their cousins and like their smoothies loaded with extra spinach.
This sounds like stories I want to sit and hear you tell by a fireplace: ” …from regrets transformed into commitments.”
Rich and so beautiful.
Thank you …
xo
Thank you, Idelette. What a wonderful project! It was such a joy to be a part of it!
Oh, precious friend, I love every single glimpse into your life that this beautiful piece captured. I am from some of those same places. And how I’d love to linger at that dinner table with you and interrupt right along with the rest! Love you so!
Come over now! I’d love to have you join us, friend! Someday we’ll tell each other stories in person.
Ah! I just want to shut my eyes and be right there and then and here and now, all the gorgeous life details here. And this makes me so thankful, again, of the kind of friend I continue to find in you – “I am from friends like sisters and sister friends…” I knew this, from the first time I read your words.
Glorious how words transport us and bridge distance and make bloggers into sister friends. Love you, Amber.
I’m always blessed by your writing Ash. Love how vividly I can picture things in my head when I read your descriptions. Sending love from So. Cal. Missing you.
So happy to see you here, Karissa! I miss you, too and cannot wait to see you in a few short months!
I love all the ways “you are from”!
I love that you know them and claim them and have made them your own!
Know them and claim them…gosh, isn’t that such a huge part of this growing up journey? Love your ways, too, and that I get to intersect with them. You bless me.
I loved this far more than I can say! Delightful, beautiful! You’ve also (once again, for the bizzillionth time!) inspired me! Thank you so much for this Ashley! xoxo
Thank YOU! I really do think you should write one, too, Mama. So fun, and I can just imagine how the words would take lives of their own through your telling. xoxo
What a blessing to read the warmth of your memories and see they have not faded away. Beautiful!
Thank you for your dear words.
So beautiful Ashley. I can so relate to this: “I am from a husband’s love and daughter eyes that remind me what’s true, from a house of people that keeps killing pet fish but doesn’t mean to, from road trippers and wave jumpers and Jesus-lovers who want to live it.” And I hope that one day my children would be able to write something similar to this: “I’m from people who interrupt a lot at dinner and love the best they can and seek to be world changers and dream dreamers and can’t get enough of their cousins and like their smoothies loaded with extra spinach.”
Just beautiful Ashley. (Yes, worth saying twice.) xx
Thank you for sharing the mingling of your own stories with mine. That blesses me, Adriel.
oh how i love words and when they are brushed on like paint and there are so many layers it’s like a present wrapped so beautifully you’ve been given something twice! loved. loved. loved. makes me want to write my own to record my journey. xo –kris
Wow. Thank you! Do write it, Kris, if you haven’t. It was such a joy!
This was Special and Exceptionally Awesome! I loved it beyond words! Thank you.
As always, your Humble Follower and Special Family Friend Fan!
Love you, Kelly
It’s so fun that you know some of the memories of which I speak. :-) Much love to you and yours, Kelly.
I’m new to your blog and absolutely love it! Your writing is just beautiful!
Blessings to you!
Hannah
ineachseason.blogspot.com