Where I'm from, isn't a place I don't see anymore, 

it's a house where my grandparents now live.

 

I'm from a collection of things from my childhood,

From my baby blanket - oh - and Lovey.

From the things I have obsessed over; littlest pet shop, 

I probably have the biggest collection in Paducah,

painting Strawberry Shortcake on my wall

from life-sized DIPSY the Teletubby.

I am from summer nights spent in my mother's bathtub

with all my stuffed animals and a blanket.

I watched VHS tapes all day and night.

From Madeline to Pokemon, even workout tapes...

I am from that broken swingset, kiddie pool, and the blue lawn chair.

 

Where I am from, if you are allergic to cats, I wouldn't visit... Unless you are Virginia.

First from Kelley, well the stories of her at least.

I'm from the dog who was there before any of my siblings or myself were born.

Jake, I'm glad I got to know you for 9 years.

From Molly, baby, how are you still with us? 

You haven't been to the vet since Jake passed.

I'm from Twinkle Toes. (My parents let me name her.) 

Honey, our time was too short.

I'm from Maggie, who gives everyone stitches.

It all started with a bacon wrapper...

Freeway, my angel. I'm from my number 1 cat. What else could I say?

I'm from Brother and Sister, that's their actual names. They're my blind babies.

Barkley, you are a DUMB DOG.

I am from Trooper, rest in peace.

 

I am from the place that is bittersweet. I hate the ocean.

From running in waves on beaches

to digging holes in the sand til we hit groundwater.

I am from grape gum, a Twix bar, and 2 cups of hot chocolate with my cousin.

From Chip the dolphin who loves pringles,

to sand dollar diving nd bleaching.

From glow stick warriors - WARNING THE ACID BURNS!

and golf ball hunting.

I am from my favorite memory..., "WHEN LIZARDS ATTACK..."

 

Where I'm from is my best friend... Yes, Virginia. it's your turn.

I'm from no exact beginning,

I think it has something to do with "Mother's Day Out."

I'm from your dog stealing my pizza,

I chased that creature into the pool.

All our inside jokes and the music we shared on the bus.

I'm from "I'm out of itching cream trying to call the doc', was it 555 or 6?"

Man, that bee sting really was psychedelic.

Most of all, I'm from those memories we swear to never speak a word about.

You know exactly what I mean, PT...

PSP...

 

I am from the silence given by stories.

From taking books off bookshelves,

From Percy and Annabeth, from the divergent runners to fallen angels and shadowhunters.

From suicide stories and post-it note covered walls. 

"The girl who could fly," is where I'm from.

 

I am from "Go outside, be social."

And "Chop it off." or "You are grounded, bring me the book!"

From Mom saying: "Poop and get of the pot!"

Where I'm from is, "There's a cab on the wall!"

"What Bradley?"

"THERE'S A CAB ON THE WALL!"

 

I am from music.

The yellow plastic flute, the piano, guitar, and now a ukelele on top of that.

I am from my voice.

From recording songs with my dad and screaming lyrics with my mom.

I am from all those 3,067,578 "shut ups" from my brothers.

I am from performing.

But there is way too much to say about that so,

I'm from the friends I made during it.

 

But,

 

Where I'm from, there are things you want to forget.

I am from the cancers that have come,

that we have,

that we beat.

That we lost to.

We are strong.

I'm from Kelley's feline leukemia 

and Trooper's blood on the floor, and

in the air.

That I tried to wash off my hands.

I am from Twinkle Toes, who couldn't breathe during those 9 days.

8:17 am Monday to

12:43 pm the second Wednesday.

I am from my uncle's sweater that I "borrowed" months before he passed.

I am from a fighing family that I love.

 

Now,

 

Where I am from, there is a bullet rain that stings your skin and your face.

It is cleansing.

I am from standing in the rain on a 2 story roof above the concrete while screaming, 

"I'M ON TOP OF THE WORLD."

I'm from that bullet rain.

 

Last,

 

I am from the horrible experience that was Australia. 

(It wasn't that bad, I don't even remember it!)

I am from the tons of lizards that were over 2 feet long in Mexico. From the random tour guide telling me to fall in love before December 21st! 

And, hey, I did.

But don't tell him that!

I'm from the hula lessons my mother and I took- well only I stuck to it.

Honolulu was exotic...

Except for the part where an octopus almost killed my brother...

But we don't speak of that anymore...

I am from Kenya...

From the Great Warthog Chase.

12 of them.

7 of us.

Who would win!?!?

...

they did

...

I'm from the time we illegally crossed into Ethiopia.

From the poor Zebras caught between the hippos and crocodiles.

From my adopted elephant Quanza with whom I share a birthday, 

and Henry the baby elephant who tried to suck on my arm until he was eating my shoulder also.

I'm from the handshake I left overseas.

Bo, Bo, sea...

I'm from the Sukumawiki... my favorite foreign dish. and Pineapple Fanta and smiley candies that made the best dinner.

I'm from Staci. Girl, I hope you are doing better.

I'm from the cringy vlogs I did during the backpacking trip.

By the way, when you don't know what to eat in a European country go for the croissants and Nutella. They always have them.

I lived off of those things for 4 weeks.

From France, and make sure you never stay in a hotel in the red light district, people.

Even if it is a cheap five-star hotel. There is a reason it is called the "red light" district.

BIG RED WARNING THERE!

I'm from England, with coffee and - oh golly- the best pineapple gummies in the whole world...

I'm from Switzerland, where for a free price you can chase the same stupid beautiful bird around Zurich for a full day.

They also have really cool showers...

I'm from Austria, my favorite place yet.

I mean what's not to love about a place with opera houses and elegant galas and people who won't steal your phone even though you stupidly left it sitting in a bike basket in a park for over 3 hours before you even realized it was gone. 

*Ahem* Mother.

 

Though,

 

Where I'm from is a small town, yet everywhere I have and haven't been.

I am from a girl across the world.