"Where I'm From"

Print Courtesy of: Art.com

I am from endless hours at the neighborhood swimming pool; from playing organized softball and attending a two room schoolhouse.

I am from the blizzard of '78 and from hot chocolate with doughnuts after sledding over Happy Hollow's hill.

I am from shag green carpet and my black beanbag chair; from Sesame Street, Mr. Rodgers, The Brady Bunch and Eight is Enough.

I am from Weebles that Wobble, from a Light that is Bright; from a playing card attached to the tire spokes of my banana seat bike and fights with my sister.

I am from a rusty old swing set, a failed vegetable garden attempt and a riding mower I once drove up a tree in my parent's backyard.

I am from TV dinners; from Dad singing with the Statler's while watching "Nashville Now" and Mom playing the church organ every Saturday morning as we fanned ourselves with cardboard fans with wooden stick handles.

I am from Grandma's Stew and Dumplings, from Nanny's Beef n' Noodles and Mom's Tuna over Toast.

I am from fun summer vacations and Pathfinder Fairs, from company picnics at Indiana's "beach", from snowy Thanksgivings and Christmases past that are with me forever, but now out of reach.

I am from spankings from Dad when I got outta line, from "I Don't Know!"; from "Can't Never Did Nuthin"; and "Aint's Not a Word!"

This was my own version of a Poem done by George Ella Lyons called "Where I'm From". I really liked doing it. I struggled a bit starting out, but as I began writing down things I remembered from my childhood, it all just came together. Some ideas you can use are: Family Traditions, foods you had growing up, a favorite place in the neighborhood or on your property, family sayings/things that were said in the house, a favorite place/room in your house.

I've seen it around on other's blogs so it's not a new idea by any means. I encourage you to give it a try if you haven't done so already. It'll bring back some of your childhood memories, guaranteed! Here's a template to help give you a boost.

If you do decide to play along, please leave me a comment so I can come check yours out.

Washing Windows with My Husband

photo courtesy of: AllPosters

You on the outside, the hard side,
Your ladder against the house leaning,
And I on the inside, the safe side,
Together the same window are cleaning.

The dirty film that you spray and wipe
Is not the same as mine,
For each window in this small still house
Bears two kinds of grime.

Yours on the outside comes from the yard,
And the trees, and the windswept street,
While mine results from meals prepared,
And the warmth of our central heat.

So we spray and wipe, each on a side
Till rag and window squeak,
Then standing back to survey our work,
Are dismayed by an overlooked streak.

This flaw which mars the now clean glass
Is it on your side or mine?
It really doesn’t matter, Love, we
Will both spray again and shine.

And now it gleams pristinely bright,
As though no glass were there.
And every window, inside and out,
Receives the selfsame care.

While working on this irksome task,
A thought occurs to me.
That in a way, this job portrays
Our life as it should be.

You on the outside, the hard side;
Up against the world and its grime.
Working and struggling and striving,
So that our bright windows may shine.

And I on the inside, the safe side,
Keeping warmth and comfort there.
Yet sometimes when trying our hardest,
That flaw appears somewhere.

Is it on your side or my side, my Darling?
Does it matter who’s wrong or who’s right?
We’ll rub and we’ll scrub and we’ll polish,
And together we’ll let in God’s light.

Poem by: Alice Mae Heslin