I am from Beaver Bay on the Missouri River, from the house with the yellow door and dog in the living room. I am from sunflowers, wheat, corn, and endless highways, from Christmas on New Year's and Packers on the tree, from Grandma Luella and Nana Lea, and from being devout Catholics who always go to church on Sundays. I'm from the crazy and dysfunctional parts of my family, from traditions of always working hard and going to church, from Emmons County and being of German descent from Russia.