I am from a little yellow bathing suit
Age 3
Determined
Follow big sister to the pool
Mom panicked, but found me
Stubborn
Left out
I am from my "fly dress"
Age 5
Spinning
Make the yellow dress twirl out
Full of dreams, carefree
Crooked bow, missing teeth
Smiling
I am from a Halloween pumpkin costume
Age 7
Loved
Sewn by my dad
Stuffed me with newspaper
Warm heart on a chilly night
Trick or Treat
I am from a white first communion dress
Age 8
Curious
Golden cup stains my lips
Round wafer sticks to my tongue
Follow the group
Hands folded
I am from a white training bra
Age 12
Humiliated
In Alco with my mom
Pick it out fast
No one notice my changing body
Hiding
I am from number 33 basketball jersey
Age 15
Fired up
Part of a team
Never much of a competitor
Yet working
Playing
I am from green & white Irish costume
Ages 6-18
Dancing
On the shamrock
From my feet to my heart
To where I came back year after year
To where I came back to call home
Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteI love your choice of using the clothing theme to capture where you are from. It really set up a dual understanding for me of both the places you inhabited and the experiences you had in those places that shaped who you are! I am enjoying reading about your little bubble.
By the way, I immediately thought that was a pet term for Julia:)
Jenny,
ReplyDeleteYou always have such a thoughtful presentation with your words. It is so interesting to read about O'Neill from your native perspective. You have such a way with your imagery! I really love how you broke your place up by age, as it shows your journey. I especially like how you shared that vulnerable moment at age 12. I remember the fights my mother and I had about such things...The visual of your first communion is also beautiful, your phrasing really illuminates the sacredness of that moment in your life. I'm so glad we get to take this class together!
Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteIt is great to be back in contact with you. Although we were kept incredibly busy during the NeWP this summer, and you had to prepare for a wedding, we managed to squeeze in some quality time. Did you notice how Robert referred to Anne's house at the South Lincoln Dorm? The sense of place the four of us developed was worth the time and expense. So I am debating if the sense of place is involved in small snippets of time where the emotional strings are pulled by the people we are with, or if the comfort and camaraderie provided the sense of place. Either way, your writing reveals the sensitivity your mind has developed for recognizing place and becoming a part of it.
I liked the "fly out" dress line. Our girls called it the "dancing dress". My sister made it for our daughter, Abby, out of some flocked material (Do you even know what that is?) with a wide skirt and a big ruffle on the bottom. The dress was so popular in the neighborhood (whoever it fit got to wear it until she grew out of it)that the flock actually got washed off throughout the years of wear.