Dakota Roots

Most of us are attached to our roots — one way or another.  But how have your roots impacted your life story?

Mine have been a constant force in my life … one that provides a steady reference point for growth and adventure.

How we feel about our roots, no matter our current direction in life, is an intriguing life theme.  Have you tried to grow beyond your roots, for instance, or tried to stay close to them … hoping the past, present, and future merge as one, almost seamlessly?

I grew up in Dakota (hollyhocks are plentiful and one of my favorite flowers), and I still find the prairie, the Missouri River, the river bluffs, and definitely, the sky, deeply embedded in my psyche.  For instance …

We drove across the state one day in mid-March.  Pheasant were everywhere against the melting snow.  And the sky morphed from a thick white blanket into streaming afternoon light as we neared our destination.  But, at first, the sun barely visible behind the clouds, as if not quite sure it wanted to make an appearance.  Much of my poetry and writing is inspired by the sights and sounds of the land I grew to love as a child.

What is special about where you grew up?  What do you remember the most?  What would you like to forget?

If you could paint a picture of what you remember from your earliest days, what might it look like?