I am from the splatter-paint duct tape the held my shoes together. I am from the third time hand-me-down clothes that never fit just right. I am from the fourth shortest in my eighth grade class, but the fourth tallest in my family. I am from the midnight hours waiting for my Dad to come through the broken screen door. I am from the child with no fear of heights, except when on ladders. I am from the sun rise and look forward to the sunset.  I am from the child who dreamed of the things that would come soon enough. I am from the large family of cousins, but the small family of three.
I am from the mom who lived a hard life. The mom who had heart problems all her life. The mom who drinks diet, caffeine free, Coke with cherry flavoring. I am from the mom who teaches the Pre-K. I am from the month of May when she would still wear her earmuffs.
I am from the father who can quote the book of Galatians. The father whose common knowledge outweighs his common sense. I am from the father who ignored the window sign “No Shoes, NO service”. The father who was always known by his reputation of climbing impossible objects. I am from his belief that all roads lead home and if you hit a dead end just jump a curve.
I am from the other name. The name that was never my own. To my mother I was one of her three sisters Dana, Pala, or Brandy. To my father I was his sister Julie, to my cousin I was her sister Hannah, to my aunt I was her daughter Jackie. All my family confused me with my older look-alikes. The most similar was my cousin Hannah. Everyone either said “Hello, Hannah” not being sarcastic at all, but just forgetting, or they would say “Wow, that face you made looks just like Hannah”.  
I am from the nightly forgetfulness of my grandpa, saying each night that he wants to go home when he already is. I am from his continuous stories that repeat like a broken record. I am from the calmness of my grandmother who somehow can handle his questions of “Where is Dad?” and “Do we need to pick Mother up from the store?” Those questions get asked every five to ten minutes.  
I am from the Andy Griffith Show, Laramie, Law and Order, and Jeopardy. I am from the books I read, the songs I sing, and the people I know. I am from the church picnics, the chili suppers, and the secret recipe to the Roberts family homemade ice cream. 
I am from the people who said I couldn’t, but then I did it anyway. I am from encouraged and hopeful. I am from the words people say, good or bad. I am the hope to come. I am from the lost and wounded to the found and healed. I am from the life of others before mine. I am from the happy and the sad, the rich and the poor, the excited and the tiered. I am from the dream and the nightmare. I am from the in between. That is where I am from.