Where I'm From

Where I'm From #31

By Christina Mauro

Inspired by George Ella Lyon

I am from the 70's,

From hot Folgers coffee and Lipton’s sweet iced tea.
I am from the house of Garcia with its family photos and the smell of leather saddles and fresh tortillas,

Resilient, tender, the laughter of men sharing their stories while sitting at the kitchen table.

I am from bluebonnets and mesquite trees as far as the eyes can see, 

Fluffy blue petals the height of my ankles daring me to pick them and trees with roots growing deep into the dry earth full of locust shells waiting for my little hands to collect them.

I'm from generations of cattle ranching now lost and big hearts easily broken and rarely mended,

From Eloisa and her Leopoldo and Lois the brave.

I'm from love that knows no boundaries, binding no matter the distance and secrets meant to keep you safe but often leaving you unsettled and pained.

I'm from the beauty of my ancestors and the wild stories I was promised would find me.

I'm from many religions all influencing to form one, my own.

I'm from the people of Spain and the many other European countries who traveled across the ocean, through tears and through bloodshed, to root themselves in what we call Texas, creating these contradictions within this Tejana’s heart.

Tamales and pan de polvo at Christmas, cornbread dressing with too much sage at Thanksgiving making the cousins laugh,

From the strength of women who did not allow the word "can't'' in their vocabulary no matter the language and stood strong in the face of circumstances attempting to break them,

The eyes of my brothers buried deep into books and boxes searching for knowledge,

On my shelves, in my closet, in my drawers and often the chairs sitting next to me, in "sometimes" organized boxes, but always accessible in case the faces I carry fade and I fear getting lost.

I am from the uncles who cradled me until I slept after my father died leaving me with trinkets I often carry in my pockets giving me hope and courage, 

The aunts who kept me fed when my mother was too lost in her own mind or busy with her paintings to remember me 

And my own absolute will to survive and move through strangers who have attempted to teach me to fear.

Where to find Christina:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christina.mauro

Where to find Alyson:

Website: https://www.alysonshelton.com

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

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