Where I’m From.
I am from swimming pools, the beach, and water parks, from the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, from Transformers, Garbage Pail Kids, and Go-bots, from watching Mr. Boogedy and V and Space Balls, from Superman and Indiana Jones, from writing BASIC programs on my Apple IIIe.
I am from Hummingbird Lane and fake wood paneling and ceiling fans that never turned off and a bedroom that was covered in layers of movie posters and a kitchen phone with a 50-foot cord so it would reach into my bedroom.
I am from woods filled with poison ivy and snakes, turtles, and boars and I am from swamps turned to mud pits. I am from swinging on vines into a river while watching for alligators. I am from pine trees and rattlesnakes and cockroaches.
I am from Santa leaving our stockings by our bedroom doors and eating homemade fudge and loud, boisterous meals and dark, twisted senses of humor. I am from Avitables and Learys and Robyn and Jim and Howard and Mary. I am from Cosby and Brooks and Nielsen and Yankovic and Gaines and Aragones and Neuman.
I am from sheltered childhoods and PG movies and never swearing and learning about life’s mysteries on my own. I am from gifted childhoods and high expectations and support and pressure and from knowing that I can do absolutely anything I want in life. I am from manipulators and salesmen and persuaders and rule-benders.
I am from get a job as soon as you’re able and you can sell ice cubes to an Eskimo and girls won’t like you if you’re fat and you should be an athlete and why the hell do you talk on the phone so much and an A is never good enough when you can get an A plus. I am from we know best and blood is thicker than water and don’t like that girl she’s a slut.
I am from Catholic when we felt like it and delayed confirmation and never understanding why it’s okay to pray to Mary when she’s not God and thinking that people have religion all wrong. I am from fervent prayer and proselytizing to schoolmates and having nightmares about heaven because the concept of eternity terrifies me.
I am from Florida and Daytona Beach and Weymouth and Braintree and Boston and Ireland and Italy and Naples. I am from lasagna and corned beef and cabbage. I am from the Mayflower and Peshawar and the bogeyman.
I am from wearing Superman pajamas with a cape and flying through the hall in front of girls. I am from sleepwalking and from visiting my great grandfather and going to the arcade with twenty dollars in quarters while he watched. I am from a late night eating Mother Butler pie with my dad after coming back from the state spelling bee and hearing dirty jokes from my mother.
I am from an old album filled with 70s hair styles and family members long since lost to time. I am from Polaroids and old, yellowed film. I am from photos stolen from the walls and shelves of my old home and shepherded to mine where they will stay.
1990 - Age 13. Meagan, age 10. Sean, age 7.
Saw this at Ali’s and Lou’s. If you want to do it yourself, there’s a really cool set of prompts here.
Enjoy this post? Try these:I need lottery numbers
I was a cute kid. What the fuck happened?
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Twitter: Bellaventa
says:
Aviators, huh?
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Twitter: Blogography
says:
GAH! SPACEBALLS IS ONE WORD!! PEOPLE MAKE ME CRAZY WHEN THEY SPLIT IT INTO TWO WORDS!
Unless you are actually talking about balls in space and not the movie. Then I guess it would be correct. In any case, may the Schwartz be with you!
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Twitter: CountessMo
says:
That’s a lot of froms.
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Twitter: MrsLoulou
says:
Loved this.
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Twitter: Alimartell
says:
I love love love that you did this.
Also, we come from a lot of the same place.
We had an Apple IIc and IIgs. heh.
ALSO. GARBAGE PAIL KIDS.
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Loved this.
You’re not doing much to dispel this inappropriate crush thing I have going here.
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Very well done. I give it an A+.
I still can’t believe you’re only 13 in the one picture…
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Twitter: iamkarinwithani
says:
I love this and based on all your “froms” I think we might be neighbors.
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Twitter: Zakary
says:
Ooh, this is great.
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Twitter: prCarrS
says:
This is great. And I think that we would have been best friends growing up.
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Twitter: poppycede
says:
I like this post very much.
I found out recently that I am not only from England but also (family secret) CANADA. It’s funny what a death in the family reveals.
I just thought I’d share.
And, again, I like this post very much.
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Twitter: s_csr
says:
I’m glad someone else remembers Mr. Boogedy. When I mention that movie, no one but my siblings ever remember and they think I’m crazy.
To quote the ever awesome Alan Jackson : “Where I come from, it’s corn bread and chicken.”
That’s all I got, man.
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Twitter: hellohahanarf
says:
this was fantastic. liked it a lot. made me think of a bunch of where i come froms. thanks for the smiles!
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Love it! The 50 ft. telephone cord took me right back. I’m picturing yours as yellow for some reason.
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So was the phone that lovely shade of avacado? Or was it that beige that really looked more like silly putty and got all nasty with grime? OR was the phone dark brown and the cord was beige because the original cord was only 12 inches long and when you purchased the 50 foot cord from TG&Y, all they had was basic beige? Oh yes, that is truly a memory this generation will never feel – the tethering of communication.
Sidenote that I bet you will enjoy: my brother in law was a feisty little fellow, as I understand. He was about 4 when their mother had him, my husband (almost 3) and older sister (5) sitting at the table for lunch and coloring. Phone rang and their mother did what ALL of our mothers did – she answered the phone and proceeded to walk all over the kitchen and laundry room while talking. I guess the phone cord kept getting her boy in the head so he did what he thought was logical – he picked up a pair of scissors and just cut the cord. Right in the middle of her conversation. I think he got a good whollop for that
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@Kristin, I know-they will never know the joy of trying to talk to a cute boy by taking the phone down the basement and screaming at your brothers to shut up so you could talk…ah…the good old days
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Loved yours! Here’s mine…
http://driftingdivergence.blogspot.com/2011/06/where-im-from.html
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Twitter: ItsToni
says:
One of my most favorite posts eveh from you.
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Great idea, great prompt and a really enjoyable read. Thanks Adam!
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Great post and retro photos.
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