Where I'm From

I am from fiction, from dreams, from myth.  I am from adversity; I am from heroes.

I am from the Braggs, the Lauderbacks, and the Fleeces. I am from calloused hands earned through hard work and perseverance, from wood and stone, from hammer and nails. I am from hulking men carrying shingles, strong shoulders mixing concrete, from drywall nails hammered in one swing.

I am from the darkness of underground mines, from a lineage of war veterans. I am from faded pictures of years past, from stories of events long before my arrival. I am from ordinary men and women who became extraordinary.

I am from “All that you do, do with all your might; Things done by halves are never done right.” I am from self-sufficiency, from Pat and John, and John before him. I am from innovators, from pioneers.

I am from Pleasant Valley, from Shinnston, from the community building in Montana Mines. I am from playgrounds resonating with laughter, from carrying children on each shoulder, from bandages on scraped knees and popsicles in the heat.

I am from The Pit, from the solitary confines of a long abandoned weight room, from the war cry before breaking the huddle, from loving eyes that looked upon me with pride. I am from the brotherhood of teammates. I am from the turf of East West Stadium, from the mud on the practice field. I am from bloody lips and black eyes, from yellow cards and penalties.

I am from the locker punched in frustration, from a never ending quest for perfection, from loving hands and parents who never let me let myself down. I am from the toughest of the tough, the relentless, and the brave.

I am from love meaning provision and sacrifice, from honor and pride. I am from altruistic mothers, from women with such love and strength that they held families together single-handedly. I am from my parents being role models.

I am from high expectations; I am from the path built for me by others. I am from “failure is not an option”, from “You could be the first Posey to …”. I am from hopeful fantasies, wonderful daydreams. I am from the best of my parents, from the prayers of my grandparents.

I am from holding the door open for people, from respect and chivalry. I am from compromise, from admitting I’m wrong, from realizing what I don’t ever want to lose. I am from “family first”, from humble beginnings. I am from a home where I always felt valued, loved, and provided for.

No matter where my future takes me, I hope it brings me back to where I’m from.