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.

I grew up with Disney...

and loved it, but this was happening in the world beyond Fantasyland..

This sexist crap wasn't exclusive to Disney, but it's really disgusting to see it so clearly spelled out!

Is it working yet?

On this day we again honor all the (mostly) men who fought in US military actions. But shouldn't we thank everyone who has fought to advance all just causes? Here's a wonderful, educational website to put it in perspective...

http://www.warscholar.com/Timeline.html
(Updated to 2009)

I'm so glad the next war, like the last war, will be the last one. I'm fresh out of thanks.

The airwaves at 18

These were (purportedly) the top 25 songs from the year I turned 18, with commentary thereon. What were yours? If you participate, please leave a comment and a link!

I think this list really illustrates the social changes in progress at the time. There was a feeling that anything could happen, and soon.

1. Ain't No Mountain High Enough. Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. I admit that this one went right by me. But how is it that I know all the lyrics?
2. Respect. Aretha Franklin. Anthem!
3. Brown Eyed Girl. Van Morrison. As a brown-eyed girl, this is certainly one of my favorite tunes.
4. All You Need Is Love. The Beatles. Still all we need.
5. Jimmy Mack. Martha and the Vandelas. This whiney song never appealed to me.
6. I Second That Emotion. Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. I remember how much I like this tune whenever I watch The Big Chill.
8. C'mon Marianne. The Four Seasons. "She was a passing fling and not a permanent thing."
9. I Heard It Through The Grapevine. Gladys Knight and The Pips. Seriously classic.
10. Soul Man. Sam and Dave. There was much chatter in SoCal about their "crossover" appeal and how this song popularized the phrase "soul music." A stretch of the freeway goes through the Watts area and after the riots you could see variations of Soul Brothers and Soul Sisters spray painted everywhere.
11. Light My Fire. The Doors. When this first got radio time, there were few stations that played songs longer than 3 minutes or so, but KUOW--referred to then as an underground station--eventually became the place where you could hear the "long version" of Light My Fire. A big deal at the time.
12. (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher. Jackie Wilson. President Obama brought this one back. My other memory of this song comes from a friend who never failed to comment that Jackie Wilson won the Golden Gloves at age 16.
13. Daydream Believer. The Monkees. The Monkees became a little cultish, which I never understood. They seemed clueless and cartoonish.
14. Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You. Frankie Valli. His voice sounded right when he was with the Four Seasons but when he sang this (Andy Williams) song solo, it sounded squeaky and girlish. The Muse version takes it up a few levels.
15. It Takes Two. Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston. I don't remember who Kim Weston is/was, but this tune was a bit too cute or something.
16. The Letter. Box Tops. Loved it. I still remember every word.
17. Sweet Soul Music. Arthur Conley. Soul music about sweet soul music.
18. Expressway To Your Heart. Soul Survivors. I know I would recognize it if I heard it, but ??
19. Strawberry Fields Forever. The Beatles. Until they started playing "psychedelic rock," the Beatles seemed a bit Monkees-like to me--too many screaming little girls and too gimmicky. I believe this was the first music of theirs that I bought. The flipside of the 45 was Penny Lane.
20. Purple Haze. Jimi Hendrix Experience. Jimi's performance at the Hollywood Bowl in September of 1968 was a high point in my new hippie life. It was very tempting to jump into the moat but the threat of cops and electrocution won out. Purple Haze was the last song of the set.
21. Baby, I Need Your Lovin. Johnny Rivers. zzzzzzzzz
22. I Can See For Miles. The Who. After this, I was a major Who fan.
23. Standing In The Shadows Of Love. Four Tops. The Four Tops were the first "major" group I ever saw in concert. Many concerts back then (1964--1968ish) were dance concerts, meaning there was no seating. You either danced or stood and listened. Impossible not to dance to the Four Tops.
24. Penny Lane. The Beatles. Didn't like it as much as Strawberry Fields, but the lyrics were great.
25. Ruby Tuesday. Rolling Stones. Early Rolling Stones tunes were much more palatable to me than most of their later stuff. And I've never been able to look at Mick Jagger for more than 5 seconds at a time.