Where I'm From

 Where I’m From #11

By Meg Nocero

Inspired by George Ella Lyon

The Italian-American Dreamer – to be seen and appreciated for our culture’s contributions

The story of my family explored and written about after spending hours in a closet with precious

memories and photos

Cherishing the stories of those pioneers who came before me, celebrating our roots and adding

on to legacy.

I Am From Poem

I am from magical pixie dust and an imagination that knew no bounds.

From hours spent creating dresses and stories around my Barbies and trying my luck at the Game

of Life.

I am from the suburbs of Altamonte Springs walking distance away from a big park with tennis

courts where we spent hours playing and pretending we were Charlie’s Angels after school.

From a beautiful, 5 bedroom home, filled with loud conversations and lots of love.

I am from the sweet scent of roses and the magic of butterflies.

Blossoming and bursting with incredible colors. Flying free, proud of my many transformations.

I’m from an Italian-American family of passionate people and hard workers. Education and

service were values, but love and support kept us tied to each other

From two young lovers, Mary Jo and Michael, the second-generation Italian Americans who

grew up in New York City that were courageous as they set out to create their own story in

Florida away from their families. From an expectation of excellence and an ethos of perfection

passed down for each child to accomplish great things and make the family proud. From

Politicians, lawyers, judges, doctors, teachers, educators—requiring nothing less than a strong

work ethic, each doing their part to serve. From passionate, faith-filled and hard-working people

who set out to make a difference in this world for their children and their communities. From

people who set out to create something beautiful together.

I’m from the intelligent, thoughtful and generous members of my family who paved the way for

increased possibilities of success in the realization of my own dreams.

From everything will be ok when things went awry to don’t disappoint or bring shame to your

family holding still to our greatest potential.

I’m from a Catholic family who believed spirituality and love were the cornerstone of life- more

important than dogma- from people who did not follow and with a whole lot of curiosity and

critical thinking, question everything.

I’m from Florida, but come from Napoli/Sicily and other parts of Italy by way of New York,

where many want to wake up in city that does not sleep and dreams come to life.

From traditional Italian family meals on Sunday after church of spaghetti and marinara sauce –

salad bathed in oil and vinegar and celebrated birthdays with Carvel cake- at the dinner table – as

if around a campfire, we gathered together as master storytellers passing on lifetimes of

traditions and hope.

I come from movies- the pictures that can change the world- stepping into a theater and

immersing myself in a story come to life.

I am made from dreamers and am a realized dream to my parents – I am ready to continue

realizing my own dreams and I risk and take a leap of faith becoming a master storyteller sharing

inspiration with whomever wishes to hear.

Where to find Meg:

Website: https://www.megnocero.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megnocero

Where to find Alyson:

Website: https://www.alysonshelton.com

Substack: https://whereimfrom.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byalysonshelton/