Music:    This is Me

Sang by: Demi Lovato

Art:  Sarah Stockstill

       Daydreamers II

I am from a Daddy that I will never truly know.  A Mom that I could never have survived without. A Grandma that I never asked any guestions, a sister who I love.   Sweet Mikie who is our family's “Gate Keeper.”  A cousin who has been my brother for as long as I can remember. A brother who doesn’t know me or my name, the same brother I would like to meet at least once.

I am from a best friend whose sole goal is to be herself a sister (practically) who thinks it’s a  horrible insult to be called a girl. A girl whose life has been dramatically altered and thrown into a paranormal universe that she doesn’t yet understand.  A guy who is a big brother/teddy bear/guard dog.  I am from my friends and without even one of them I would be lost.

I am from Mars Hill, my Grandma’s tire garden, I am from the Beautiful Oak Tree in Raleigh,  I am from the football field, Indiana Beach, Tibbs Drive In, from chasing squirrels in the woods and slipping into creeks accidentally.

I am from hop-scotch and bikes, jumping in mud puddles and singing rhymes in the rain to hiking to lost wilderness of the place I like to call my “bed room.” From short walks and long talks to wrestling and broken televisions, recess and coloring books, drawing on my bedrooms walls to drawing on my sister’s face, from watching the pictures change in the clouds to counting the stars.

I am from learning how to fly and forgetting how to land (breaking my ankle), from climbing over barbed wire fences and swimming in a creek that should have been condemned in the forties.  From racing before I was taught to ride, I am from “no mud” mud ball fights, I am from late nights of Ninja-ing, from parks and abandoned houses.

I am from my Knight in shining armor, Waco, to my guard Chey, from a bird who thought she was human, to Socks who thought I belonged to her and from a cat who thought I didn’t belong in the house at all.  Oh and we can’t forget the cat who thought he was half-vampire.

I am from Ben and Jerry’s, my Daddy’s Lasagna, to Grandma’s baby carrots, Mikie’s World Famous Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Tomato Soup, Mama’s Chicken and Dumplings, Kara’s Meat Loaf and Kenny’s Cheese Whizz Spaghetti.

I am from “The Note Book” and “Ever After,” to “I am Sam” and “Pretty Woman,” I am from “Ellen” and the “70’s Show” to “Scooby” and “Daffy.”

I am from “Butterfly Kisses,” to “You are My Sunshine” and “Kuppie Cake Gum Drop,” to “Love Story” and “Thunder Rolls,”  “Taylor Swift”  to  “Buckcherry.”

I am from happiness to sadness, love to hate, I am one with heartbreak and tears, but also with smiles and laughter.  I am way to trusting, I wear my heart on my sleeve. Some say they can read my thoughts on my face, I am a  “No-Poker-Face” person.

I am from the Flirtatious Thunder, The Vindictive Lightning and the Sweet and Shy Storm. I am from Kevin Sunshine, I am from Spring Rains, Hot Summer Nights, the Fog of Early Autumn Mornings and the snow Angels of Winter.

I am from Sad Endings and Happy Beginnings, “Little Know Nothings” I am from Hard moments and Easy Days, I am from those moments the mean nothing to you but the world to me, I am from whiskery beards and catching Lightning Bugs, I am from five cents a Dandelion, watching Airplanes, to the first day of school, I am from Skinned Knees and Piggy Back Ride, I am from Dancing on his toes to putting Crayon shavings in his beard when he fell asleep. I am from the smell of “Tommy” and “Aussie Hair Spray” to Chocolate Milk and Banana Moon Pies.  I am from Wheel of Fortune and the “No Yellow Snow” rules.

I was told it’s not about surviving the storm but learning to Dance in the Rain.

I am from what makes life great.