I'm heading to my cottage for two weeks so will have limited access to the Internet. So, here are my answers for the next two weeks. I hope everyone is having a great summer. I'm looking forward to a restful vacation at my cottage. Cheers!
WEEK 28
192. If you had to teach, what subject would it be?
There are a lot of universities that are teaching courses based on the music of Bruce Springsteen. THAT would be a cool subject to teach. That being said, I would probably teach something in the humanities, like English.
193. Who do you love, and what are you doing about it?
I love my co-workers who are also friends. They. Get. Me. And I’m free to be my authentic self around them, which is great. It’s kind of weird to say, but if I’m feeling low, I know that coming into work will usually make me feel better because of them. So, I love them back as hard as I can. I do this through hugs, kindness, compassion, being helpful, and acceptance of who they are.
194. What does joy look like?
Joy can manifest itself in a number of ways: a wide-eyed, big smile. Dancing with complete abandoned enthusiasm. Jumping around.
195. How would you describe your relationship with your parents (past or present)?
I would say my relationship with my parents was probably a pretty normal love-not-quite-love relationship. I grew up with a mother of extreme emotions and a father with very limited emotions. This made childhood pretty interesting. My mom and I butted heads quite regularly during my teens and did not see eye-to-eye on a number of things. But, I was also the child who lived at home the longest (moved out when I was 29), so I think I had a very close relationship with them as I grew older. They truly were wonderful people and I miss them both very much.
196. When you think of “home,” what comes to mind?
Even though I’ve lived in Barrie longer, I will always think of Barry’s Bay as home. That being said, home is probably wherever I am – especially if I’m with my loved ones – that’s all that really matters.
197. Name a time in your life when the impossible became possible?
I have a freaky gift that appears once in a while: on a few different occasions, I have asked for something out loud, with absolutely no expectations attached to it, and it has come true. I am usually asking for these things in moments of total frustration and don’t expect them to happen. Many years ago my car was reaching the end of its life and it was getting a bit dangerous to drive but I wasn’t looking forward to having a car payment again. I said out loud, “I wish someone would just give me a car.” A few days later, a friend of mine was dropping off a donation for a fundraiser I was involved with and asked if there was anything else I needed. I jokingly said, “Well, I could use a new car.” And he ended up giving me his wife’s old vehicle – a Toyota Corolla. It had been sitting in their driveway for months and he just wanted to get rid of it. It had almost 400,000 km on it but it got me through the next year and was a great little car. I have a second story involving a bunny, but it’s not quite as pleasant so I won’t share it here.
198. In this past week, what one moment do you want to remember most?
I went to a concert at a local bar this week that featured four amazing performers: Brett Caswell, Dave Thomson, Irish Mythen and Pat Robitaille. It was an amazing night of good company, great music and laughter.
WEEK 29
199. Life is too short to tolerate …what?
Negativity.
200. If you could live one day over and over again, what day would you choose?
There are far too many spectacular days to just pick one. Any of the days during my 50th year Springsteen pilgrimmage with my soul sisters Kimberly Wright and Laura Cornish. That whole trip was epic. The day in Ireland when we ended up at Gus O’Connor’s pub in Doolin, Ireland. The last good day spent with my mom and dad – maybe the day we celebrated their 75th and 80th birthdays.
201. If your life was a movie, would you enjoy watching it?
Oh God. I’m sure there would be some moments where I would just want to close my eyes, but it would be entertaining.
202. What do you owe yourself?
A little bit of trust in that I’m on the right journey.
203. What’s your soul like?
I’m sure my soul is a little bit rock and roll and a little bit Namaste. I picture it as a little turtle with attitude.
204. If you had power and influence, what would you change in the world?
No one should be hungry or living on the streets. I would love to eradicate that from our world.
205. What one thing do you hope to accomplish most this year?
I’ve been doing quite well in a new health and fitness program. I’ve lost a little over 40 pounds since last year and feel great. I started working with a personal trainer in January and she prepared a nutritional plan for me as well as a fitness program. I’ve always been a good gym person, but not a great eater. I think the change to how I eat has made the biggest difference and I plan to continue eating this way as best as I can for the rest of my life. I try to live by the 80/20 rule, so I know it’s do-able. My goal for this year is to lower my blood pressure medication or even eliminate the need for it entirely.
WEEK 30
206. If your life was a newspaper edition, what would the main headline be?
Springsteen fan brings joy to friends through hugging.
207. If you could choose how you die, how will you go?
I just want to go peacefully in my sleep of old age.
208. What ghosts haunt you?
None at this point. I’ve dealt with all my ghosts.
209. List the five people closest to you. Are they holding you back or helping you fly?
Here are five people who are close to me: my sister Andrea. Kristin, Pat, Kimberly. Audrey. They are all helping me fly and are very supportive people in my life. There are many more I could list and all of them encourage, love and lift me up in a number of spectacular ways.
210. Do you have any tattoos? Describe. If not, what might you get?
I don’t have any tattoos and probably wouldn’t get one. I think I would be the type of person, who once I got one, would likely become covered in them. I know I would get a Springsteen lyric – probably, “Show a little faith, there’s magic in the night” tattooed across the back of my neck as my first one.
211. If you could ask your future self one question, what would it be?
At what store did I buy that winning lottery ticket?
212. If Santa was real, what would you ask for this year?
Dear Santa: send me my special person. I have been so good, and I’m ready.
Love.
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