Family matters

Where I’m From

A lovely poem called “Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyons has turned into a meme, somewhat. Here are a bunch of different versions at Finding Joy in the Morning. And here is mine:

Where I’m From
with apologies to George Ella Lyons

I am from mountains, from Nintendo and well-worn pages.

I am from the humble home
with the crooked floors and
snakes in the walls.

I am from the dogwood, the ginseng.

I am from laughter and sturdy legs,
from Richard Maurice and Ellen Kaye.

I am from the hot tempers and soft hearts.

From “your brother has the prettiest eyes”
and “you look just like your mama.”

I am from “Lord watch over us and bless us
with health, safety and happiness amen.”

I’m from North Carolina and Michigan
and Belgium and Ireland and England
and cookie pudding and fried taters.

From the finger my grandmother lost,
and sunflowers as high as I could see
and my mother falling through
the Michigan ice.

I am from the old house, a box in the closet,
a thousand faceless names in my
family tree.

Screen time

SoaP

I don’t know whether I’ve mentioned it here, but I can’t wait to see “Snakes on a Plane.” I read about it on the AP wire many, many months ago, and I’ve been so happy to see that it’s become such a hit on the Internet — even before it’s come out.

The good people at SoaP have picked up on the Internet buzz, and they’ve decided (last I read, at least) to include one fan’s song on the SoaP soundtrack.

DCLugi’s effort is by far my favorite. I first saw it on the Church of the Customer blog, and I’ll give you the same warning they gave their readers: Turn down the volume if you’re at work. And if you have sensitive ears, don’t watch it at all. It’s about Samuel L. Jackson, so of course there are a few F-bombs sprinkled about.

You’ve been warned.