I was raised by
sprinting back and forth,
shooting jumpers,
and setting screens,
running plays,
and getting knocked
“Ball, ball,”
kind of basketball.
I was raised by family—
sitting around the dinner table,
country cooking,
ham and beans,
the sweet aroma,
when you walk into the house.
Trotting horses,
and feeding cows,
waking up at the crack of dawn,
4-H meetings and tenderloins,
the county fair every summer,
kind of lifestyle.
Wiener roasts,
4-wheeler riding,
hunting and playing in the mud,
kind of country.
Moving from here to there,
from mom’s to dad’s on weekends,
new adventures,
exciting places,
kind of change,
Bedtime stories,
getting tucked into bed,
“Don’t let the bed bugs bite,”
saying good night with hugs and kisses,
and bed time prayers
kind of love.
I was raised by
lots of siblings yelling,
“Mom, he did this and she did that,”
fishing with mom,
and playing in the woods with dad,
kind of family.
Soon to be baby raising,
mama on board,
and ready to take action,
kind of responsibility.
I was brought up by a never ending circle of love.