Day 30 SOL #2017 Where I'm From

This format comes from two places today
1. Where I'm From by George Ella Lyon
2. Ms. G's Slice

I'm from the cotton fields of the Missouri Bootheel
From chopping the cotton in the summer
I'm from accidentally cutting down a cotton stalk
When a Hog Nose snake appeared
I'm from greedily drinking from the water jar at the end of the row
Ice water put in a fruit jar and wrapped with newspaper earlier that morning
I'm from a 6 week cotton vacation for picking the cotton with my family
Dragging the canvas sack on my aching shoulder,
The sack gaining weight as I went down the row
I'm from tromping the cotton
Mashing the fluffy, white cotton after we dumped our sacks into the trailer
I'm from using the money made from picking cotton to buy school clothes
With help from Grandma and Grandps stuffing cotton into my sack

I'm from the one room school
Where I began my educational journey
I'm from a pitcher pump for water, a cellar door for sliding
And the outhouse behind the school
I'm from moving school to school to school
From knowing how to work math problems to being placed in the low reading group
I'm from report cards saying, "Patricia must work harder"
From one teacher telling me, "You are as smart as those other girls"
I'm from settling in the Ozark foothills
From not moving any more
I'm from life-long learning, education is important
From elementary education degree to counseling degree, to educational leadership degree
I'm from teaching in the district I graduated
From counseling to being an administrator in that district

I'm from nature walks inhaling the scents
From eyeing nature's bounty
I'm from writing in handmade journals
From a family of 5 kids so I resorted to hiding them under my bed
I'm from fishing with cottonseed cakes
From catching a few catfish for dinner
I'm from red cowgirl boots
From going to the rodeo and cotton carnival
I'm from applying skills and passion to an occupation
From conservation education as a consultant