Where I Am From

The story of ME is ever-changing but here is a glimpse of how I came into my BEING. Written 6/7/2020

(This exercise was done in a collaborative session with Creativity Space Holder, Clare Szalay Howell Timbo (www.Kadispace.com) from Michelle Cassandra Johnson’s book, A Skill In Action: Radicalizing Your Yoga Practice to Create a Just World, that is based on George Ella Lyon’s poem, “Where I Am From.”)

I am from textured rubber. From Just Do It and Spaulding.

I am from the big, grey house with too many rooms and the bonsai-d Japanese Maple in the front.

I am from the white flowers of Asian Pear Trees, Sugar Snap Pea Vines, and the sweetness that hits all the senses.

I am from the LOUD lion dances, noodles for long life, and all night games of rummikub and eggnog.

From Nelson, Woo, Chinn, Bargewell, Abe, Currea, and Davila.

From respect your elders, practice makes perfect, do what is right and just, and come over here and eat kind of love.

I’m from find your truth, whistling marmots at Mt. Rainier, misty rain, and neon fuzzy moss.

I’m from the land of the Duwamish and Coast Salish Peoples, Toian, Nigata, and the lands of rice and medicinal soups.

From the forbidden multiracial love of my grandparents that endured no matter being separated by islands, violence, language, and culture.

From the forced union of the matchmaker of my Chinese grandparents who fled to the US to provide a better life.

From spoken word as an adult, Bumbershoot as a baby, dad’s taste in jazz and hip hop and mom’s taste in mowtown and Mariah Carey.

From Gon-Gon who said I reminded him of Sparkling Sand. Of the feeling of magic that is illuminated by the moon. I am Woo Ming Sa. Sassia. ANKU.