Ashley Plushnik Where I am From I am from a smoke filled farm house From time to feed the pigs to fields

and fields of corn and a baby calf being born I am from early mornings with Mary My babysitter and second mother Long days at her house while mom worked and dad farmed I am from if you cant say anything nice Dont say anything at all From forced church on Sundays And neighbors who can beat your ass I am from Velveeta mac n cheese And pork chops with gravy From parents being angry And too much family time I am from hot hot summers And cold cold winters From swimming pools and lake water And get your butt outside Im from my will to do it my way From working at Planned Parenthood To moving far away From San Francisco fog And The Fillmore neighborhood To Los Angeles heat And a whole new neighborhood

My little sister and I with my dad as kids

My family in the Fillmore where I used to work