"I Am From...."

I am from clean sheets,
from Tide and Downy,
I am from the South
(brick house, white walls, smells like fresh linens)
I am from the clover and daisies
and the bees that sting your feet when you step on them while walking through the grass.

I am from eating homemade spaghetti on Christmas Eve at grandma's house and stocky build,
from Mundy and Calloway and Hendren.
I am from the quick tempered and yet patient.
From "Take a bath you have clean sheets on!" and "I'm going to tell your Daddy!"

I am from a Baptist home where we go to church on Sunday mornings, Sunday nights, and Wednesday nights.
I'm from Statesville, Hiddenite, Catawba, and Elkin,
Sweet Tea and Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
From the time Aunt Dinnie locked my mama and Uncle John out of the house and stood guard with a flyswatter,
The time my mama and Uncle John were sledding and she cut her leg on the tin,
And the time my brother and I ran Papa Rob's truck into the fence at the farm.

I am from the photo albums and Rubbermaid containers full of pictures.
I am from the dresser drawers that contain all the old photographs of my mama and her family.
I am from all these people and all these people are part of me.