I am from warmth all year long.
From thick accents and Southern hospitality.  I am from Georgia, my home.

I am from donuts and trumpet playing on Sunday mornings, shoving my princess jeep down the hill then jumping in, softball practices and games at Mountain Park every weekend.  I am from becoming best friends with Pooh’s rowdy group of teenaged friends as a child. 

I am from familiar family stories traveling around the table on Christmas Eve. From kids getting their food first and staying at the kiddie table for life. The bittersweet feeling of GG Barbara’s spirit still with us at the first Christmas Eve dinner at her house after she passed.

I am from "chickenless"-pot-pie courtesy of my mother. From the ice-cream pie my Papa makes, from the red and green chocolate cake dutifully sitting on GG Barbara’s kitchen table every Christmas. I am from Mom's interesting cooking skills, making some food frightening to eat.

I am from stomping in the red Georgia clay at Cele’s lake house at Lake Hartwell, molding mud pies with Victoria, belching out “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” by Toby Keith at the top of my lungs on the way to the Thompson’s.  I am from Debra nicknaming me Cry Baby Booty Head as a response to my “terrible two” tantrums.
I am from the roar of the crowd at Sanford Stadium and Turner Field games, Papa’s big brown truck, and Mama’s country accent. I am from Sarah's crooked tooth proudly showing as she looks up at me in adoration with her big blue eyes.
I am from Carly,Natalie,and I attacking my closet like tornados until all my clothes lay in a tangled heap on my bedroom floor. From dressing up in all my make-up and jewelry. I am from pretending to be models while photographer, Mammì, takes photos of the famous models Cartila,Natalina,and Samila.
I am from Papa’s house on Stanford Circle, where snorts of booming laughter can be heard all around the house. From giggling at cheesy jokes that I’ve heard a billion times. From Papa, warm and inviting when I snuggle with him.
I am from my family and friends who love and support me. From the lessons on right and wrong I’ve always been taught. I am from the memories that make me who I am today.
I am from a meadow. From a place where flowers are like a box of crayons and dangerous paths lurk like monsters in the shadows. I am from a tiny seed growing to become a flower someday.