I am from Peg Perego John Deere Gators,
from Legos and Kraft Macaroni and Cheese.
I am from the lake in the backyard.
(Dark blue, inviting
sailboats floating on by.)
I am from the forts in the woods across the street
modeled after duck blinds,
constructed on land that doesn’t belong to us
and which feature a narrow bike trail in, scooter racks,
and roofs above our heads
made of sticks in order to wait out passing thunderstorms.
The cumbrous oak tree
and the old rope swing at my neighbors next door
that could snap at any second,
and dangles out over the ice cold water below.

I’m from nightly ping pong battles and staying active,
from Tom and Sarah and Meema.
I’m from the family dinners in and Sunday Packer games.
(Home cooked, loving to
look forward to.)
From “treat people the way you want to be treated”
and “always give 110%.”

I’m from chocolate milk wednesdays,
where if you coughed in the chapel it could be taken away in an instant.
I’m from North Lake and Adams Friendship,
(Rabbit Rock, rugged
constantly improving)
From Uncle randy’s egg noodles,
Aunt Mary’s brownies,
and Meema’s mashed potatoes.

I’m from Cape Canaveral and Chenequa,
shuttle launches and holes dug in the sand.
I’m from the 1400 trees my Grandpa planted in what is now “Kyle’s Woods,”
The tall pines and oak trees towering in what used to be a large field,
and the waves my dad used to surf.
From Woodfield Village and Stone Bank.