I am from home videos,

From Suave and Club Penguin.

I am from the lemonade stands in the driveway.

(Sweet, cool,

it felt like a warm, sunny day.)

I am from the crepe myrtle,

the bougainvilleas

that were my grandma’s favorite.

I’m from the holidays at my house and the straight eyelashes,

from Lance and Kiyoko and Linn.

I’m from the never-wrongs

and the givers,

from go to bed or Santa won’t come

and potty and brush.

I’m from God will provide

and a family oriented around their religion.

I’m from Metairie and the Big Easy,

gumbo and sushi.

From the Japanese women, my grandma,

that my grandpa met during war,

and the year my grandparents lived with me after Katrina.

In the attic are scrapbooks

holding old pictures

that bring back all the memories from long ago.

I am from those moments that last forever

and from a small family that keeps tradition alive and family close.