The Red Dress Club has us working on the “Where I’m From” template this week. You can read more about it here.
It’s an eye opening experience putting ones life into such simple yet complicated sentences.
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I am from teal denim jackets decorated with pin-back buttons,
from Aquanet hairspray and Boston baked beans.
I am from a red brick house covered in ivy that sits on the hill at the end of county line, from the decrepit red barns that have caved in on themselves, the gravel drive and uneven stone path, the cherry orchards with their gum drop sweet smell and the pits that we’d spit out on the ground.
I am from the hollyhocks just outside the door, the cast iron pot planted with red geraniums and dusty miller, and the tree we’d dare each other to climb.
I am from rides on the Farmall and freckled skin, from Grandma and Grandpa living next door, Samantha and Maxwell, Jock and Button.
I am from the brush piles we’d burn during the summer and the smell of its smoke in my hair. From Christmas trees that barely fit in the living room, and decorations that changed every season.
From “Don’t sit on the couch you’ll mess up the pillows”, and ”keep it under your hat”.
I am from Christmas Eve candlelight service with Grandma and nothing else religious except for the picture of Jesus that is tucked inside the pocket of my Day-Timer.
I’m from the shores of Lake Ontario, The Flower City, almond extract, and Dad’s meatloaf.
I am from the day when Dad rode a flat tired bicycle to his out of gas car on the parkway, the day my Grandpa suggested I get the extension ladder and I smashed the hall light into pieces with it and all the times my sister begged me not to tell but I did.
I am from ever changing photographs on walls and shelves, a never empty candy dish of peanut m&m’s on top of the hoosier and my mother’s journals that I know of but have never seen.
25 Responses to “Where I’m From”
Oh – I LOVE this…it's beautiful and brought back some memories for me as well as giving me a glimpse into your past!
Thanks so much for sharing this!
I love how this writing exercise gives us each a glimpse into the other's past. And I could so relate to: “Don’t sit on the couch you’ll mess up the pillows”. That's the reason why I swear I'll get a couch that my family and I could actually sit on someday.
Ha! I love the aquanet. Me too!
so vivid – love your descriptions!
You did an amazing job with this prompt!
I had long since forgotten about dusty miller.
And I love the idea of you knowing of your mother's journals but having never actually seen them.
Beautiful!
Boston baked beans are a family favorite! Now I want some!! We had pounds and pounds flown in for the candy bar at my sister's wedding. We have now got a whole new group completely addicted
all i can say is "wow".. have you ever thought of writing.. and i don't mean like your blogs, but actually writing and being published?? i think you'd be really good at it..
I feel like a got a good sense of you here. Well done.
I absolutely love this one, from the description of the house to the candy dish, Love and hugs, our past, is such an important part of who we are.
Very cool
I mess up couch pillows though. I don't mean to, it just happens that way.
Mmmm…I can SEE it all so clearly! Wonderfully descriptive. And you make me think of so many things I could have included, too.
Thank you also for such a kind comment! Happy Friday!
Lovely to know more of you. I like your last line.
I loved your descriptions!
Fun! So poetic! It sounds like you had a great childhood!
Did it take long for you to come up with all those thoughts? I'd have to carry around a notebook for me to catch all thoughts in one place!
I love it. Great writing on this prompt.
The descriptions of where you grew up are so well done. Very evocative. And I love the family lore!
Love the use of quotes as descriptors – what a great tool! So telling.
That last line is so haunting…what did she write about? And where is she from? I just love it.
I also adore the detail of the candies on the top of the Hoosier cabinent. That's straight outa my life.
Not sure that I will write it correctly, but, I am from body itching and smelling like summer from hours of playing in the pasture with my sis…..I loved that day, and reflect on it almost daily…awesome post!! I love you!! <3
Love you!!
Thank you so much Nichole!!
Thanks Ericka! I really enjoyed doing this one.
I haven't had them in quite awhile. It was odd to all of a sudden get a flashback of them while doing this prompt. It sure did bring on a craving. I wonder where I can find some? Flown in, you say? Really? Wow..
I just learned the other day what a Hoosier cabinet is – that's what I get for growing up in the South.
Do you want to read your mom's journals? My mother kept journals for every year during her 50s, which she wants to hand down to me. I'm scared to read them, frankly.
That was wonderful and such a window into you.
Thank you for all the support you have provided. I am grateful beyond words.