Behind the blog

My friend Shannon (yes we are, as the saying goes, “in real life” friends) from Comments from a Non-Blogger tagged me in this meme. I actually appreciate a good meme because they provide an opportunity to learn things about a favourite blogger that she or he might not otherwise think to share. As simple as they are, sometimes I also find them very insightful. We share so much of ourselves on our blogs, but often not the details, the quirks and characteristics that make us us.

So many of you know me, but you don’t really know me. BlogHer really put this in perspective for me. These are the things that set our blogging relationships apart from our “in real life” relationships. I enjoy the opportunity to learn more about each of you and your everyday. It makes you more real.

The list of questions in this particular meme is getting quite long, so I’m editing and answering only a few, in the interest of my time and yours. Enjoy!

What experience has most shaped you, and why?
There are two things that I can say without question have formed the basis of the person I am today: the loss of my mother and meeting my husband when I was only 15. I write about the death of my mother a lot so this should come as no surprise, but you may not know that I met and started dating my husband at such a young age. He’s my soul mate, without question. Finding him at such a young age changed everything. I’ll write more someday. (Hint…my 10th wedding anniversary is coming in a month.)

If you had a whole day with no commitments, what would you do?
This is easy and I suspect that most of you would do many of the same things as me. I’d sleep in, spend an hour or two drinking coffee and reading a book in bed. I’d get a pedicure,go for a long walk in the forest, shopping for new books, read blogs, write here or in my journal. I’d wrap up the day on a patio, enjoying a favourite meal and chatter with my husband. Before children this might have been very different. Now I just want to relax for hours.

What food or drink could you never give up?
I’ll give you one guess.

If you could travel anywhere, where would that be and why?
I’d spend a summer exploring Italy. I think I’d love the countryside, the climate, the food. But I’d need to indulge for weeks, truly immerse myself in the culture.

What did you think you were going to be when you grew up?
I thought I would be a teacher. Always. And then my last year of high school I was derailed by many influences and I set off to university with a plan to become a lawyer. My life took a turn my first year there and everything changed. It’s my one regret. I enjoy what I do, but if I could do it all over I’d become a teacher.

What character trait inspires you the most?
Warmth. You know, the kind of warmth where people are open and honest. It’s what I seek from this blogging world and who I try so hard to be here, kindred spirits that I can connect with in meaningful ways. I think that’s why I’m so drawn to this place. The people I read tend to write that way, or at least I think so.

Which book or books have inspired or touched you the most?
There are many. So so many. Too many to list here. Most recently: Raising Happiness by Christine Carter, Hand Wash Cold: Care Instructions for an Ordinary Life and Hurry Down Sunshine by Michael Greenberg. But it’s always changing as I change.

How/where did you meet your spouse/significant other?
I met my husband one cool September night at a gas station. But that is a story for another post.

Jana, from An Attitude Adjustmentasked me some questions in a meme back in June. I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t been able to get to it. But I am here and now. I hope you can forgive me the delay Jana and that I’m picking only a couple to answer for the sake of brevity.

What is the ideal wake-up time?
During my teenage years when my schedule was mostly my own I used to wake up on my own most weekends at 8:00. So I think I’ll go with that.

Name a cd that would have to be, hands down, your desert island cd. (Let’s ignore the lack of electricity on desert islands.)
It’s hard for me to pick just one. I love music. So I’ll pick one artist: Bon Jovi. Anything from him will keep me company for days and days.

What are three things you hope to accomplish within the next decade?
I think this requires thought that I’m not prepared to do right now. And perhaps that’s sad. But for the moment my goals are just day to day. But I will answer this, I promise, in an upcoming post.

This meme requires that I add a question and ask a few other bloggers to play along. My question is:

If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

I’d truly love to read all of your answers to these questions, so please feel free to play along. But for the sake of keeping it going I tag:
Kelly at The Miller Mix
Dana at The Kitchen Witch
LZ at My Messy Paradise