I am from homemade spaghetti and brown bag apple pie

from cleaning red sauce that seems to splatter around the house    

I am from late nights watching Step Brothers and James Bond 

from licking butter off my fingers and eating more popcorn than my stomach can handle 

I am from the long nights lying awake to the smells of Christmas Eve 

from the snow in the yard and presents under the tree

I am from traveling to Europe and Mexico   

from family vacations to living with friends. 

I’m from believing in Santa and the Easter Bunny 

from searching for eggs and tearing open presents

I’m from baking pies with grandma and fishing all morning with grandpa 

from long drives up north with nothing but time

I’m from 80 degree summers when the suns out all day

from laying in the beating sun and then jumping in the pool

I’m from -20 degree winters where we can’t step outside

from watching the news hoping school is cancelled   

I’m from surfing and spending all day on the lake 

from skiing and sledding in the snow