Day 4: Ten interesting facts about me.

I love a list, and there is not much I won’t talk about, especially if the topic is all about me. Still, this was not an easy write as I wanted to make it different. I write up a similar list every year around my birthday, so of course I wonder if there is anything I can write today that anyone might find interesting? And to boot, the directions say interesting facts — not ideas, notions, goals or beliefs… This particular topic is calling for facts!

Here are ten facts, I think are somewhat interesting about me.

1. I have everything in life I need. Now, because of that I constantly explore wanting and having.

2. I really want a Subaru. This makes me feel like an old man who wants a sports car or motorcycle, one who can finally afford it. The interesting fact here is, there is absolutely no reason to have one. We just got a new car. I do not need one. So, silly as it is, I really, really want one.

3. I do not fear death. In fact the thought of death comforts me. I do however fear injury, illness, and incarceration.

4. Since wearing a Fitbit, I know I’ve walked 4,023 kilometres. Interesting fact — this is the same distance that the monarch butterfly migrates each year.

5. I am getting used to being retired. Yet, if I were to get a job, or look for another career today, I would find work in the field of death. I would like to facilitate interesting end of life gatherings.

6. The main reason I studied Tai Chi was to get an education, I think this is also the reason I stopped.

7. Most of my shirts have food stains on the front of them. I am seriously considering wearing a bib when I eat now.

8. I am quite spoiled and really hate being told no. Lucky for me — this rarely happens, because… uhm… I’m quite spoiled. And only sometimes, do I ask for the unreasonable.

9. I look  up and out into the world often. Living in a house with a view is the best! I find great delight in looking out the window and watching the day pass.

10. My brain gets scrambled and actually hurts, when I try to do math. I’ve been known to tear up in frustration when trying to add numbers together.

Day four done and dusted. Tomorrow topic: A place you would live but have never visited.

Day 3. Tell us about your first love and your first kiss.

This is a tricky topic. To tell the truth, after 30 some years of marriage to Ken, I can really say, who cares about my first love or first kiss? I certainly don’t. But I started this 30 day writing challenge and the topics are picked. Yet, I can see how I’m already starting to back pedal.

There is also the fact that while I can remember being baptized as a baby, I cannot for the life of me remember my first kiss.
Nope – nada, nothing.

I know your first kiss is something most people remember and cherish — but I’ve come to realize, I’m not like most people. And while my memory is pretty good on a lot of topics, I have a few blanks when it comes to my teen (a.k.a. drinking ) years.

I wish I had a good story for my first kiss — but I kind of think — it probably isn’t such a good story after all, and I’m pretty sure booze was involved.

The first time I fell in love on the other hand, is pretty clear.

I’m not counting crushes I’ve had, or that in grade three I would have done just about anything if Robbie Day had even looked my way. My first “real” love happened was when I was 18 years old. I lived in Massachusetts and I fell hard.

That love was not meant to be, but I did name my orange cat, Peet.

Tomorrow – 10 interesting facts about myself.

Day 2 of the 30 day writing challenge.
The topic is: My earliest memory.

This one is easy, I’ve always had an answer to the question of my first memory.

I remember the first time I was baptized.

Memory is a funny thing though and I’ve been told it is impossible for me to remember that far back. But, I do remember — clear as ever.

I was very young; a baby actually. I remember being held in the arms of a woman, that was not my mother. I was wrapped in a blanket and people stood around a fountain. There was a kind man wearing a white robe with gold ropes, and he sprinkled water on my forehead. My parents stood by and were dressed up. My father wore a suit and my mom had a hat on.

It took place in the small chapel of the Episcopal church in Los Alamos. I know that because I’ve been in that chapel since. As a matter of fact, they hold AA meetings in the room next to it these days.

Ta-da – Day two down. Tomorrows topic: My first love and first kiss.

There’s this 30 day writing challenge going around social media and my friend Annie is doing it, so I think I will give it a go as well.

I’m not writing much these days, but I am thinking about it and miss it.

I don’t like all the topics, but so what? I also, don’t need to write a book or even a long story on each topic. If I just get a few lines down, it may be the kick start I need to get back into the groove.

So, I’ll start at number one and go from there…
Ready…. Go.

#1. Five problems with social media

My first thought about this is to name the reasons I like social media. (I don’t follow directions all that well.)

I like being in touch with friends from all over the world and I like that they know what I’m up to. I like pretty photos, birthday reminders, and a place to remember the dead or talk about shallow topics.

I do my best to keep it positive and fun and I hide and turn off the parts I don’t like. For instance — if you post a picture of a frog – I hit the “I don’t want to see this” button. Same goes for a pray for me Jesus post, any photo of Ted Cruze, and I really don’t like the mean and anonymous comments I see if I lurk on other sights.

I’m sure there are at least five really big problems with social media, but the main one for me is I can spend too much time on it. Scrolling through Facebook can take forever.

I don’t know if I can come up with five problems though – I tend to sign off when problems show up. I don’t use other media sights and, thankfully, I am not a teenager.

I pay no attention to Instagram, twitter, tinder, or other sights. Email gives me enough trouble and while I do really enjoy Facebook it does claims a bit of my time.

The good news is the more things get fired up on social media, the more I disengage.

Okay – it’s a start. I need to get to the pool this morning — so I’m posting now without any edits. If I remember – I’ll come back to this and clean it up a bit later.

Tomorrows topic – My earliest memory.