I Am From

I am from country roads that lead to city streets , from Lysol sprays in the kitchen and antibacterial soaps on the sinks.

I am from the hills of the bluegrass in the heart of the country. Where muggy summer nights are spent capturing lightning bugs and stealing extra youth and cold winter‘s evenings are spent curled up by fireplaces.

I am from the goldenrods and the coal and the laurels that rest on the mountains overlooking the seven states, the Pennyrile and land that stretches as far as the mighty Mississippi.

I am from gardeners and green thumbs and doers and procrastinators, from leaders and dreamers. I am from hard workers and dads that stayed home with the children. I am from Bobby and Vickie, Bob and Gladys, Junior and Irma. I am from the Coal Miner’s Daughters and the Country Outlaws.

I am from the all for one mentality and the never lose sight of where you came from kind.
From keeping your friends close and you enemies even closer.

I am from the Baptist and the Pentecostals. From the homespun religion. From the bible and speaking in tongues. Do unto others. Work hard. From the gospel music at funeral wakes. I am from the “how great thou arts” and the “peace in the valleys“.

I'm from the western coal fields and the mountains of Appalachia and the Burroughs of New York City. I’m from the soul of the state but I’m a citizen of the world. From the Irish and the German.

I am from rows and rows of tomatoes served juicy with course salt. From cornbread and buttermilk and chili even in the summertime. I am from the real Kentucky Fried Chicken.

I am from the grandmothers who patted your back and stroked your hair. And the grandmothers who told you stories about their childhood. The papaw who always asked for you to come squeeze paw paw‘s neck before you left and the memories of another time. So long ago, when The Judd‘s said “love could build a bridge” and family members didn‘t disappear.

I am from 35mm and Polaroid’s. I’m from boxes of photos with yellowing edges and newspaper clippings. Old magazines and Elvis Shirts still wrapped in plastic. I am from computers with files and files of family pictures. I am from memories not captured on film.