Where I’m From #35

By Ronit Plank

Inspired by George Ella Lyon

I am from a scratchy sofa striped in five different shades of brown and hotel towels we brought

home in our suitcases

From Raid roach spray, Aquanet, canned creamed corn, and bringing Dad coffee in the

mornings: two teaspoons Folgers, two teaspoons sugar, a splash of cream

I am from bigger than the first apartment, darker and dirtier compared to the rental house, half a

world away from the desert where I was born and a bunch of places I left but have never been

back to

I am from bare walls, quiet adults, and my sister’s doll Naked Baby I thought was so ugly in its

bald and big-eyed newborn bird way but wish we still had

From sand in a sandbox and in my mouth, the crunch of minerals and salt a lesson even then that

I can digest hard things, take them in until they become a part of me

I am from cereal in front of the TV after school and doing my homework before Dad gets home

From Grandpa Lou and Grandma Jean, the ones that did less harm than the other set who I won’t

name here. From an uncle sent away to an institution when my mother was seven who she got to

see sometimes on Sundays.

I am from there are two kinds of people in the world and if you don’t want to be said no to don’t

ask

from WW II and divorce, generational and Jewish trauma. From children who didn’t get to be

kids and adults who didn’t know how to hold onto love and dreamt of another time and place,

just not this one

From Chinese restaurants on Sunday and on Christmas Day, bagels with shmears, challah and

black and white cookies when I was old enough to feed myself, and before she left, my mother’s

gingery tofu stir-frys and homemade manicotti bursting with ricotta.

I am from breast cancer claiming Grandma Anita and bone cancer claiming Grandpa Lenny

From a great grandfather I never met but have heard about because he was kind to my mother

when her mother was not and never could be.

From no dolls, toys or baby clothes left, but photo albums I look at over and over again to read

the faces of the people I couldn’t quite understand.

Where to find Ronit:

Website: https://ronitplank.com/

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

Where to find Alyson:

Website: https://www.alysonshelton.com

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

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