I am trudging through three foot deep snowfalls of the Minnesota woods.
I am chasing frogs, and grabbing garter snakes.
I am climbing the 30 foot pine tree
and swinging on the thinnest branches,
just for fun,
leaving the adventure covered in sap
with a few scrapes on my elbows and knees.
I am permanently dirt stained feet,
and blonde hair that never seemed to stay in place
I am one who was once a tom boy.

I am the girl infected with the giggle-bugs
because I got chased and tickled by the blanket monster.
I am the comfort of sitting on mommy’s lap
on the worn faded green rocking chair.
I am the starry walls of my childhood bedroom,
the one and only day I was ever grounded to my room.
I am late nights I got to stay up
watching “True Lies” and “I am Legend” with dad,
because I gave him a backrub.
I am my parents’ little girl.

I am the mischievous child,
who snuck to Tom Thumb’s gas station
and bought blue raspberry baby bottle pops
and pink Hubba Bubba.
I am a sneaky candy lover.

I am the annoying little sister
who was never welcomed with the cool big kids.
I am the tag along,
the one who never shut up
and was always whimsical and carefree.
I expected everyone to catch me
regardless of when I leaned on them.
I was,
until the time grandpa didn’t notice,
and I fell flat into the tan carpet.
I am capricious.

I am the feeling of triumph
following Kelika’s and my victorious tackle football games
against two who thought they were teenage “football stars.”
I am the little girl
standing on your red deck,
knocking vigorously trying to get you to open the door
and come play freeze tag with me.
In response, all I see
is a lazy boy pressing his face into the sliding glass door,
pushing up his nose like a pig,
making every little booger perfectly visible to my childish green eyes.
I am the annoying neighbor girl.

I am the overly stretchy rubber band,
moving my limbs in ways that aren’t remotely natural.
I am eating 40 pickles Easter day,
just because I could and wanted to win the eating contest.
I am the bright red t-shirt
declaring “I put ketchup on my ketchup.”
I am the child who has many experiences that make me who I am,