Where I'm From

 

Where I am From...

I am from an Irish father and a English mother.

I am from a small town in the eastern state of New Jersey. A small town that had only one traffic light, one elementary school and no high school. I'm from wild Tiger Lilies lining a creek that flowed thru part of the town. I'm from a 4 family house with a chicken farm next to it and a home with a small sheep pasture next to it.. I am from a town that had no movie theaters, or things to do. I am from an after school playground going higher then the bar on the swing.

I am from a family without a father. I am from a mother that did a man's job in a nearby factory but did not get the same wages of the man next to her, doing the same thing

I am from a mother who raised two children by herself. I am from an unknown family. I am from a mother who was adopted and from a father who was a singer and a musician.

I am from the poor side of the tracks and thrift shop clothes. I am from never having said the word "daddy".

From hearing that my birth grandparents on my mothers side was someone of some distinction: a "Lord" in England. And that my grandmother by birth came back when my mother was 7 and wanted her back, but the court asked the child who she wanted to live with, and of course chose the only mother she knew. I am from coal and wood burning stoves and irons that had changing handles.
I am by birth an Episcopalian, by choice Methodist and Presbyterian and now none at all.

I am from Sunday dinners at my godmothers eating stuffed grape leaves. I am from trips to the beach, crushes on lifeguards and playing pinball and shuffle board. I am from old convertibles with ripped tops and heavy lacquer hairspray.
I'm from Salvation Army camps, eating home made cookies at my neighbors, playing "pretend" under the front porch, and reading used Zane Grey books.
I am from puppies and turtles and kittens born on windowsills, from wild strawberries and wild violets, and from catching frogs in streams. From big band and rock and roll music and the Syncopated Clock on TV

I am..... me.