I am from spalding basketballs

From rubber and leather

I am from the rolling green hills: majestic, lush and steady

I’m from the land of the Juaneno and Tongvan people

From rising foothills, shallow coastal valleys, and diverse inhabitants

I am from the palm trees: tall, smooth and peaceful

I’m from little league and a diverse socioeconomic background

From Chris and Dan

I’m from the clean freaks and the family that was always last to leave church

From love and sin

I’m from Christianity and evangelicalism

I’m from walnut creek, ca, coffee cake and gumbo

From the social justice warriors – from the one would host black panther meetings in their home

I am from the grandma who would yell at strangers who got to close to her yard

The californians; The Beloveds