I am from (part 2)

I am from the asphalt in my knees when I fell off my bike and also from rice krispie treats and Hawaiian punch at Bible school. I am from 2 cent milk and 3 cent cookies in kindergarten, macaroni paper plate and hand print turkey art as well as from tempera paint. I am from Sesame Street and Mr Rogers. I am from my elementary school classrooms with art, maps, and explorers’ routes to the new world. I am from the teacher’s tobacco stained teeth and bad breath. I am from lined papers and penmanship, from dodgeball and tetherball. I am from notebook binders, as well as vinegar smelling developer fluid. I am from #2 pencils and circles to color in.

I am from my Dad’s strong shoulders when he carried me on them. I am from my mother’s hands washing my hair. I am from baby shampoo and ivory soap. I am from my sister and brother and our splash fights in the bathtub and pillow fights on our beds. I am from the countless cats we called our own and from the doghouse abandoned when the dog was given away.

I am from an ancient house which was cold in winter and hot in summer and from frozen hands after the snowball fights and from sticky faces after popsicles…