It’s in the family “Jeans”
I’ve always wondered what the answer is to the world’s great debate “Nature Versus Nurture”. Is it something you’re born with, passed down in the genetics making up your DNA or is it all learned and slowly ingrained in us? Maybe it’s both, a mix of the two swirling into one human making them who they are.
But sometimes I like to think I inherited it all, passed down to me like my middle name, generations of Jeans woven through the double helix that is me.
I know just by looking at my reflection that it’s in the green of my eyes, the same hue as my mother’s. When meeting anyone new the first thing they always remark on is how much my Mother and I look alike. I love that my bones chose to mimic hers.It’s in the slant of my nose matching my grandmother. But I hope it’s threaded deeper than the physical similarities. I hope it’s core deep tucked away in the marrow making me who I am.
I want it to be the reason I, like my mom, feel compassion for strangers, the reason I’m a good and loyal friend like she is. I want it to be the reason I’m curious and on a never ending quest for knowledge. The reason I can make the ordinary magical like she always has. The reason I dance in the kitchen. I want it to be the reason I’m a lover of words and fantasy. The reason I’m passionate, opinionated and have a bit too much righteous anger. The reason I love to reminisce and share stories. I want it to be the reason I find joy in the little things and savor the small moments. Have that be where my honesty comes from. I want my matching eyes to see the same beauty in the world.
I want it to be the reason I have confidence just like my grandmother. The reason I find wonder in the mysterious like her. The reason I delight in the birds singing. I want it to be the reason I love to drink tea, have the same mischievous lilt of my inappropriate laughter. I want my same nose to detect every herb in the recipe. I want it to be the reason I hold my shoulders back with confidence.
I want pieces of them passed down through the generations to me just like our middle names.
“When the sun comes a-singin’, I’ll still be waitin’ for Jean”
”Jean”- Oliver