Where I Come From...

Jenni at Story of My Life has issued another blog challenge.  I had a lot of fun with it back in May, so I thought I'd give it another go.  I've been away from the blog for a lot of the summer it seems, so this will hopefully be a fun way to jump back in.

The first prompt is this:  Describe where or what you come from.  The people, the places, and/or the factors that make up who you are.

I am from...

My parents - Like my parents, I am an introvert.  I can sing, and I love music.  I have an appreciation for the value of money - I save before buying things and never use credit.  I also have an appreciation for the value of things - If I can no longer use something, I give it to someone who can.  I think my inclination towards pessimism comes from my dad, whose favorite Disney character was Eeyore.  He was a sweet, lovable guy, but he had the same gruff temperament.  My parents divorced when I was little, and of course this influenced me, although it's difficult for me to say exactly how.  I love good food - fresh veggies straight from the garden are the best.  I am politically active, and I try to stay informed of what's going on in the world.  My mom likes ice cream almost as much as I do, and I also happen to look just like her.

...except I got "cute little curls", as she likes to call them.  That's me on the right.  

The country - When I tell people I was born in New York, they automatically picture the city.  I have to clarify and explain that I lived in New York State, many hours from the city.  We lived in the middle of nowhere.  We owned goats and chickens, had a pond and a large garden where my mom grew all our vegetables, enjoyed lots of fruit trees and bushes, and had enough space for me and my siblings to roam around freely.  I only lived there until I was nine, but I spent those formative years learning to swim, building tree forts, helping Mom in the garden, collecting eggs from the coop, and sledding and ice skating during those long hard winters.

Me (on the dock) with my brother and sister

The beach - I spent the second half of my childhood in a southern city by the beach.  The south never really took its hold on me, but the beach most certainly did.  I could never imagine living too far away from the coast.  The smell of the sea air, the sound of seagulls, the feel of sand beneath my toes...these are all reminders of home.

Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina

My family - My dad's side of the family is huge.  He had six brothers and sisters, and they all had lots of kids.  I was blessed with 31 first cousins.  I was also fortunate enough to spend some of my childhood summers with them at our cottages on Lake Ontario.  They are such wonderful, amazing, talented, and smart people; and I'm so grateful just to be a part of this family. Whenever I'm with them - really, any of them - I am more motivated to appreciate life's little pleasures.  I am reminded that we should all take care of each other - our family, our neighbors, and people across the world who we've never met.  I am reminded of the important things in life.  Being a part of this family makes me a better person.

This was taken a couple summers ago and contains just a tiny subset of our gigantic family.