Where I'm From

I am from a 3ft tall Godzilla with a fist that shoots and a tongue painted in fire.  I am from losing that fist early on. I am from A Chorus Line and West Side Story. I am from jazz clubs and dinner theaters. I am from Dungeons and Dragons, Buddy Rich Drumsticks, the flicker of a television screen, and the back of another friend's truck.

I am from a Beverly Hills flop house where old ladies who may once have been actresses reinvent themselves as grand dames with grand gestures and grand accents I just now realize were fake. I am from a store around the corner that sold three scoops of Mint Chocolate chip for 75 cents. I am from rocky New England beaches below old wooden bridges where the game of chance was to dare to stick your finger into the snapping, clattering, cream colored undulations of the shell of an angry scallop.

I am from Ireland and Wales. I am from Mic Mac Indians, and French Canadians, and all manner of Taciturn stony faced New England Stock.

I am from Moses and Elie Wiesel. I am from 6000 years of culture, pride, struggle, and humor. I am from the funniest People on the planet.

I am from opportunities lost and found luck. I am from smoking too soon and drinking too late. I am from 30 towns and 3 states.  I am from bad decisions and murky intentions. I am from fingers on strings and lines in a mirror. 

I am from just arriving and always wanting to go home.  I am from the new guy, the first time, and learning my away around. I am from never quite figuring it out.

I am from too loud, no self-control, and inappropriate laughter.  I am from trouble. I am from fun. I am from making you squirt the liquid of your choice out of your nose.

I am from A Wrinkle in Time. I am from Miles Davis, The Beatles, Stevie Wonder and Dizzy Gillespie. I am from Bugs Bunny and Eddie Murphy. Judy Blume and JRR Tolkien. I am from Fighting For Your Right to Party.

I am from rhythm's tattoo. I am from crashing cymbals, the sizzling pop of the snare, and the thump of hands on a conga.

I am from a twisting turning maelstrom of memories half glimpsed and partially guessed at. I am from my heart in the city and my soul in the country. I am from new friends and old patterns.

I am from change is good. I am from pillars of happiness built upon the bottomless green eyes of a woman who has yet to realize her mistake. I am from tiny hands and belly laughs and the meaning of life. I am from normal sucks.

This is a meme I first discovered over at SeattleDad's place and then again at Two Busy's. Each of them puts my attempt to shame, but it was still fun. There is a  template for it. Much like my assignments in school, I mostly ignored it. 

Big Winner, Right Here, People. Because I am Lovely and Sweet. I guess.

Thank you so much to Sara Louise of Sara in Le Petit Village for this award.  I am flattered.  If you don't know her . . . she lives and writes about a lyrical life in a cool and down-to-earth way.  Good people, is Sara Louise.   And a very entertaining read.  

I really needed this today as last night, it felt like my children went and joined some sort of screechy, anti-sleep, super soldier group.  The SEALS for assholes.  Insomniac assholes.  Not that my kids are assholes mind you,  just that last night, they could've passed for assholes at the very highest levels.  Like  congress.

I believe that last paragraph is enough of a mention of my family to allow me to link back to Fatherhood Friday for a chance to win 25$.  Mercenary?  Definitely.  But I gots to make that paper y'all.  The worst part is that the guilt will eat at me until I sit down and offer up an 11 paragraph opus on the importance of wipeys .  Feh.  

Ok then.  The deal is 10 things you folks don't know about me.  Here goes:

1.  I have never been to Canada.  It is the single most frustrating thing I've never done.

2.  I have never eaten a Mcdonald's hamburger.  Not even a bite.  I shit you not. 

3.  I have an affection for Michael J.  Fox bordering on the romantic.  Just have always loved that little guy.  Even now, he's great.  I'm starting to get a little choked up just thinking about it.

4.  I really like flowers.  

5.  While this particular candle has dimmed, I was a huge fan of Bruce Willis starting way back with Moonlighting.  I used to sit up at night alone in my living room at 12 or 13 watching that show and laughing my ass off.  

6.  I really enjoy the water even though I swim like a drunk cow.

7.  I moved approximately  . . . (counting in my head) 25 times before I was 20.  I am not a military brat.

8.  The Peanut?  Big surprise.  We thought we weren't having kids.  

9.   I used to be proficient at playing the timpani.

10.  I have a love/hate relationship with Hippies.  I think technically, one could refer to it as racial self-hatred.  

Ok.  Now for the lucky ones who get this next.  

My wife, Tumblweed, over at Lap Noodles.  I gave her my last one too, but she's brilliant and besides, we're married.  We share everything.

Suburban Correspondent at The More, The Messier.  I'm not sure how she'll react to this, but it may be in a curmudgeonly fashion.  Which is a big reason for giving it to her.  She is smart and funny and honest.

A Vapid Blond.  I have no idea if she accepts these things or not, but she's really funny.  

hadjare at WoWunk.  Again I don't know if she does this stuff or not, I just know she's cool.

Alright, 4 is my limit.  Congrats to you all.  But especially, congrats to me!

Pridefully,

Homemaker Man