(The following post was inspired by the brilliantly cheeky ukulale-playing Elly of Bugginword, who saw a piece titled “Where I’m From” by another blogger and then wrote her own. Because LBL is nothing if not inspired by Elly, she wrote her own as a comment on her blog. The following is a slightly expanded version. It is not about LBL’s own journey, but that of her parents. She’d love to see everyone else’s.)
*****
I am from shtetls long gone. I am from bare feet on dirt roads, and wagons pulled by aged horses. I am from the awe of endless forests. I am from rags stuffed into torn shoes during winter. I am from too much hunger and too little comfort.
I am from men bent over aged prayer books, women bent over dented copper pots. I am from small children hiding under kitchen tables when the soldiers come.
I am from fear and violence and from holocaust.
I am from ships and from miles that seem forever. I am from the smell of salt air and warm bodies. I am from the sound of whispered hope uttered with unfamiliar words. I am from the sight of unrecognized faces.
I am from a hunger for rebirth.
I am from long ragged lines of others who seek what I do, clutching what remains of lives now gone. I am from shoes and concrete and crowded streets. I am from cacophony. I am from confusion. I am from safety.
I am from opportunity, and from believing that when I see the sun set, I will also see it rise again.
I am from gratitude. I am from joy. I am from endless possibility.
Life in the Boomer Lane 
Lisa
August 13, 2011
That was beautiful.
lifeintheboomerlane
August 13, 2011
Thanks, Lisa! I was quite inspired when I read Elly’s post.
My Inner Chick
August 13, 2011
“I am from opportunity, and from believing that when I see the sun set, I will also see it rise again.”
Bitter Sweet & Lovely.
Thank you for sharing “I am From….”
lifeintheboomerlane
August 13, 2011
Thanks! I wish everyone would try this. It’s a great experience.
Kathryn McCullough
August 13, 2011
Wow–this blows me away, Renee! Brillliant! I especially love the last line———–
I may have to try one of these–love the idea!
Kathy
lifeintheboomerlane
August 13, 2011
Yes, yes, yes! I look forward to reading yours.
k8edid
August 13, 2011
Beautiful.
Deborah the Closet Monster
August 13, 2011
I am from, at this moment, a place of awe. This is beautiful, and though I won’t be able to write my own right now, this challenge will surely be rolling through my brain as the day progresses.
lifeintheboomerlane
August 13, 2011
Thanks, Deborah. The words tumbled out. I would love to read what you would write.
Judith
August 13, 2011
Renee that truly is brilliant. I would like to try it for myself. Thank you. And “I am from gratitude. I am from joy. I am from endless possibility.” really resonates with me.
lifeintheboomerlane
August 13, 2011
Thanks, Judith! I’m so happy this resonated with you.
Attic Annie
August 13, 2011
Beautifully said.
lifeintheboomerlane
August 13, 2011
Thanks, Annie!
k8edid
August 13, 2011
I am from loud family dinners. I am from a perpetually pregnant mother and a seemingly endless stream of younger siblings. I am from 2 fathers – the absent one I fantasized about; and the abusive one who headed my family instead.
I am from fluffy barn kittens and the velvety softness of horses’ noses; and calves with rough hides and sand-papery tongues. I am from hayfields and tractors, grain and manure. I am from endless days spent in the garden or in the kitchen canning and freezing food that wouldn’t last long enough. I am from a ramshackle farmhouse, sleeping in a bedroom frigid in the winter, sweltering in the summer.
I am from drifted snow and fire-fly lit summer nights. I am from spring crocuses poking through the snow and fiery fall colors.
I am from yellow school buses. I am from hand-me down clothes and shoes and the shame of being poor. I am from a teenage marriage that was supposed to deliver me from the drudgery and abuse; but which could not, and did not, fulfill the promise.
I am from the beeping of monitors and the call lights of patients entrusted to my care. I am from touch and caring, relief of pain and easing of worries. I am from their gratitude and hugs. I am from prayers at their bedside and tears at their passing.
I am now from palm trees and sunshine; surrounded by the beauty of crinkled faces and lives mostly lived out.
I am from words spilling out and words kept inside.
I am from tremendous gratitude and endless hope. I am from forgiveness and letting go of the pain, and holding onto the comfort. I am from peace.
lifeintheboomerlane
August 13, 2011
Oh, this is absolutely wonderful! I am so glad you did this. It’s a life’s journey, all in such a short, powerful space.
k8edid
August 13, 2011
That you – it was very therapeutic. I enjoyed the one for your parents very much. How about YOU?
lifeintheboomerlane
August 13, 2011
I’ll do mine next week!
k8edid
August 13, 2011
I guess mine does scream dirt-poor Midwest farmer’s daughter/nurse/writer. As it should.
Carl D'Agostino
August 13, 2011
In Miami all the old European ethnics are gone now. The awe, the respect, the desire to be American, all vanished. Replaced by Caribbean and South American people, some of whom have the same dream so this beautiful cycle is repeated. But far too many are here to bleed the system dry . The get all the welfare and make the hospitals and social services go broke. And they are not appreciative at all. They feel they are entitled to it all and scream high and low when they don’t get it.
lifeintheboomerlane
August 13, 2011
My heart breaks over this issue. I know so many immigrants, from Latin America and Asia, and the Middle East and Africa, who have asked for nothing other than the chance to work and to raise their families in safety. And I know there are others who take advantage of the system and who, because of their actions, cause so many hard feelings.
winsomebella
August 13, 2011
Absolutely beautiful.
lifeintheboomerlane
August 14, 2011
Thanks! I really would love to hear what others would write.
georgettesullins
August 14, 2011
This is really powerful and inspired. Such a wonderful tribute to your parents. I really like this…and k8tedid’s too.
lifeintheboomerlane
August 14, 2011
Thanks, Georgette. I love Katie’s also.
Lunar Euphoria
August 15, 2011
I love your I Am statements.
Mine are posted on my page. I got the idea from Mary Pipher’s marvelous book Writing to Change the World.
lifeintheboomerlane
August 15, 2011
Just read it. Love it. Commented. I want more.
Elly Lou
August 15, 2011
Just in case I haven’t said it a zillion times before… *slurp*.
lifeintheboomerlane
August 15, 2011
Ah, but you have a way with words.
pegoleg
August 15, 2011
This is lovely, and powerful, and hopeful. Think I’ll marinate on my response for a while.
lifeintheboomerlane
August 15, 2011
Don’t marinate for too long. I want to hear what you have to say.
comingeast
August 15, 2011
Walt Whitman would have loved this! It reminds me of “A Child Went Forth” from his Leaves of Grass. Fabulous job.
lifeintheboomerlane
August 16, 2011
Wow, thanks! I’m overwhelmed.
lexy3587
August 16, 2011
beautiful.
lifeintheboomerlane
August 16, 2011
Thanks, Lexy!
Absence of Alternatives
August 21, 2011
Thank you. I love this meme and I am so grateful when I get to read these.
“I am from opportunity, and from believing that when I see the sun set, I will also see it rise again.”
This is optimism born with hard experiences. This line says so much.
lifeintheboomerlane
August 21, 2011
And thank you. I so value your comments.