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1. What is the farthest you have ever traveled?
From Santa Fe, NM to Anchorage, AK (round trip), the first half via the “poor man’s cruise”, otherwise known as the Alaska Marine Highway System, or "the ferry" I drove from Santa Fe to Bellingham, WA, where I picked up the ferry. Here's the ship I sailed on, the MV Matanuska:
Then, a 4 day trip up the Inside Passage to Haines, AK. I had a small cabin of my own, ate in the
onboard cafeteria, and enjoyed the same sights that the cruise ship passengers
enjoyed (including Glacier Bay!) for a fraction of the price, and I had my car
when I got there. From Haines, I drove
to Anchorage. Got my stuff, and turned
around and drove the Alaska Highway home.
It was quite a trip.
2. Who did you date while in high school?
My first husband. We
divorced about 4 years later. Stupid to
get married so young.
Moving my Mom out here. Nothing really went WRONG per se, but we were both mentally and emotionally exhausted after downsizing and packing up her home of 20 years. She was so tired (she’s 80), so I drove pretty much the entire way from Aiken SC to Albuquerque. Memphis was a traffic nightmare. There were high points (we got to spend time with my Uncle, her older brother, his wife, and my only cousin), but we were both oh so very tired. It took us both about a month, no lie, to recover. Here's a pic of Mom and The Big Texan, in Amarillo. This was our last day of driving.
4. How do you like to spend a lazy day?
Reading, surfing the internet, and watching
movies. With a lunch out someplace in
there.
5. How old were you when you found out that JFK had been assassinated? How did it affect you?
I
was only 1 year old when he was killed.
I don’t think I really knew about it until junior high, when I had to
write a paper on it. I really identified
with his policies, the space race, and the fact that he was from Massachusetts
(where I was born), so I remember feeling so sad at what we lost.
My father. In lots of negative AND positive ways. He was a physically and emotionally abused
child who lost his father to suicide at age 4.
He was hard on himself, us, and others.
He was an alcoholic for a lot of my life, until cancer took away his enjoyment
of drinking. He was immensely lovable,
and easy to dislike too. He was a bully
who was incredibly generous to everyone.
He bailed me out of financial scrapes without batting an eyelash and
never judged me. He was brilliant. He was a racist and a Trumper. He gave me and my brother a work ethic that
we can’t escape, and we’ve never even tried, because we firmly believe that to
make money is SUCCESS. He was terrified
to die, and I feel blessed, both as a nurse, and as his daughter, to have eased
him into his death and held his hand through it. I loved him so much, and in some ways, am
very much like him. I like to think I’ve
escaped the worst of him and kept the best parts. The world is a little less colorful without
him in it, and going on two years now, I miss him every day.
7. What is one trait you would most like to improve in
yourself?
My perfectionism. It
is a millstone around my neck and keeps me from enjoying life’s
imperfections. Having a new mental
health provider who understands OCD is helping.
I hope I get there.
8. Did you date someone in college?
Hahahahaha. I am
laughing, because I was married when I should have BEEN in college. Fortunately, I saw the light, and later went
to college. I was married at the time,
to the second husband, but I did graduate.
I managed to FINALLY get my Bachelor’s in Nursing when married to hubs,
and got two Master’s degrees to boot. Guess
it worked out.
9. What was your dream car?
I’d love to have another Suburu Outback, but my little
Hyundai Tucson will have to do.
10. Did you have a family member you wish you'd gotten to know better?
Oh yeahhhh. I wish I knew
my daughter beyond Instagram and Facebook and random texts. I messed that one up big time, and am blessed
to have what I do.
11. Tell me about your greatest gardening success.
There are no gardening successes in my life.
12. What was your Dad like when you were a child?
See number 6.
It’s pretty much all there.
13. What is the best job you've ever had?
A three-way tie between charge RN in an ICU in Alaska, RN
Circulator in Santa Fe NM, and the job I have now (Utilization Review Analyst
for a hospital system)
14. What are your favorite songs?
Who by Caitlin Canty make the hair stand up on the back of
my neck. I love the tune and the lyrics,
and her beautiful voice.
15. If you could choose any talents to have, what would they be?
The ones I have—critical thinking, laser focus, and the
ability to multi-task. There’s that work
ethic again….