Where I'm From

This exercise was a lot more fun than I thought it would be. As predicted by previous authors, it left me feeling like I could easily write several more. I hope you'll all eventually participate and share.
Here's the template and its history.

Where I’m From


I am from oranges, from Kool-Aid pops and abalone shells.

I am from whirling sprinklers, fireworks at 9, hot Santa Ana winds, and bare feet on parquet floors.

I am from seed-spitting flowers that bloom at dusk, the full moon, and the dangers of goathead stickers.

I am from silver-dollar pancakes after church and freckled faces, from Ragnvald and Haldis, Juanita and Norman, from the sons of Rasmus and les Desclaux-Mesplès d’Aquitaine.

I am from silence and the glance with sharp edges.

From selfishness, pigeon toes, good grades, and then grace.

I am from the Presbyterians and Lutherans and religions that fail in the end.

I'm from wet Pacific sand and Disneyland. From Swedish meatballs, grilled hot dogs, popcorn, and boysenberries.

From hidden Alaskan ancestors and an Ellis Island journey, From midwest miners, far-north lumberjacks, and a soldier of the Confederacy.

I am from stolen childhood treasures and memories in ashes. From mementos generously shared or secretly salvaged, and a cedar-scented cache left behind.