I am from hand stitched quilts.
From creaky wood floors and musty blankets.
I am from screen porches, from family dinners, card games, and stories.
I am from damp towels and swim suits on the clothes line that never get all the way dry.
I am from birch trees, hollyhocks, and soft, warm, sand.

I am from Washburn
From Mallory
From Elliott.

I’m from, “one at a time on the slide, please!” and “let’s shake some hands and say good game!” I’m from “10:30 swimming, HURRY, HURRY, HURRY!”
I am from South Shore, Standish, and Shorewood.
From Alden Edwards, Esplanade, Fuller, from Lover’s Lane.

I’m from Steam Boatin’, Freedom Bound, and Go West!
From Down-ies, Yacht-ies, and Town-ies, from ups and downs.
I’m from Papano’s Pizza in the Crystal View parking lot.
From the Dunes to the Point to the Yacht Club, I’m from scratching swimmers-itch at the Cherry Bowl Drive-In.

I am from pop, ping-pong, and putt-putt.
I’m from beach fires, sunsets and thunder-storms.
From the Northern Lights, shooting stars and fireworks on the Fourth of July.
I am from boat docks, sunburns, and mothball scented steamer trunks.
I’m from sailing, swimming, and S’mores.
From sandcastles and mosquito bites.

I smell like sunscreen, pine trees, and warm rain on pavement.
I taste like cherries, corn-on-the-cob, and Mackinac Island fudge.
I feel like cool, clear water, beach grass, and wet sand.
I sound like the wind rattling the sailboat’s halyards against their masts, Wednesday night choir practice, and crickets.
I look like my mother, and her mother, and her mother’s mother.
I am from these people, these places, these things.
I am from summer,
I am from the Lake.