I Am From

I am from small block sets.
From three different Elmo dolls I made into a family.
I am from the blue house at the end of the road, and too many left turns.
I am from dad's old potted money tree, whose leaves spread like fingers.
I’m from the worn stuffed bunny I took everywhere.
From family dance parties.
I’m from running around after church, getting extra bacon from the old ladies there.
From sitting in the basement playing board games during a hail storm.
I’m from getting Mac & Cheese pizza every time we went out.
From playing spy, even though my parents knew the whole time.
I’m from mom’s arts and crafts and dad's great cooking.
From cute pictures with sisters and fights that left us crying.
From old tv shows that come with nostalgia
The memories that you haven’t thought about for years.
I am from the moments you can barely reach,
The ones that need company

I am from hand-me-down clothes, so many bags from 50 cousins.
From cheerios and worn-out bikes.
I am from the hill just above El Burrito, where I would walk down to get avocados for dinner.
I am from soft grass, fresh with dew as I would run through and get my socks wet.
I'm from trips to Cullen Lake with blue eyes and sunburns.
From Elizabeth and Bertha.
I'm from scrabble and swimming.
From "Stop fighting" and "Do your homework".
I'm from reading with a flashlight after bedtime.
I'm from Chicago and Sweden.
From huge dinners and bigger desserts.
I’m from the time I ran through the boathouse too fast and ripped my knee open.
From the 3 small rooms that somehow fit 14.
The room with the 12 photos arranged precariously.
All of them leading up.
To me