I’ve been tagged!

Aruni, over at entrepreMusings, got tagged for this meme and asked if she could tag me — since I love these things, I said “yes, please!” Of course, then life got turned all topsy-turvy and I didn’t have time to do it. I told Aruni that I hadn’t forgotten it, and I’m not sure she believed me since it’s been so long, but here it is:

1. I played the clarinet from sixth grade through tenth grade, and was usually first or second chair. I would rather have learned to play the cello, but we didn’t have strings at our school. (I have a thing for bowed instruments — especially the ones with deep voices.) My next choice was the French horn — probably because my friend Jenny played — but my parents said that it cost too much and was too big for me anyway. Funnily enough, guess what Clint played in his band. . . .

2. I believe everything happens for a reason. My Grandma started telling me that, probably before I can remember, and I used to hate it. Now, I’m the one saying it. As I look back over my life I can see that everything is connected, and if you change one thing you change a lot more than just that one thing. For example: my fourth grade teacher wanted me to skip fifth grade, and I really wanted to, but my parents said “no” and switched me to public school. If I had been allowed to skip the fifth grade like my teacher and I wanted me to, I wouldn’t be married to Clint, and I wouldn’t have any of my kids — what a horrible thought!

3. I can remember most of my life. I can remember details of everyday life going back to about three years old, and I can remember specific events back to eighteen months. I remember diaper changes — especially getting stuck with a pin — and I remember learning to walk. (I might do a post about those sometime, just to get them down before my mind gets old and feeble. . . .)

4. I dreamed about my husband when I was around thirteen years old. I saw his silhouette, and close-ups of a couple of body parts (back of his neck/shoulder, side/waist, forearm), and he snuggled behind me in bed; we didn’t meet until I was 34, but it was a perfect match, especially the feel of him snuggled behind me. . . .

5. I’ve been sewing since my Grandma taught me when I was about five or six years old. She started me with her scrap basket and some safety pins, then showed me how to sew with a needle and thread. By the time I was eight, she’d begun letting me use her old sewing machine on its slowest speed. The first time I used it, she stood over me and showed me how to position my hands, then told me to press the pedal as hard as I could: the machine yanked the fabric out of my hands and scared the life out of me. Grandma said, “Now, when I tell you to go easy on the pedal you’ll understand why.” I never stomped it again. I’m still sewing, sometimes for money, sometimes for me. I made the bridesmaid dresses, the flower girl dress and basket, the ring-bearer pillow, and matching vests for Clint and Alexander, for our wedding. I also made the bridesmaid dresses for Billy and Shana’s wedding.

6. I once joined the Air Force. I was only in for about a month, because I hurt my knee and got sent home, but I’m still considered a veteran. (Funny, huh?)

7. My all-time favorite snack food is the original Taco Doritos. I haven’t liked them since they added the sour cream, and I’ve spent decades trying to find a replacement. Tom’s brand had the closest alternative, but now they’ve quit making them. I think I need to start calling Frito Lay at least once per week and begging them to bring them back. Who’s with me?

8. I once taught ballroom dance classes at Fred Astaire dance studios. It was about fifteen years ago now, and I don’t remember anything but the basic steps for any of the dances, but I did it! :)

9.I have trouble with arbitrary limits of any sort. (’nuff said?)

10. I once went to Paris for a weekend, to attend a ball. I barely knew the guy who invited me, but he said he’d always wanted to do something like this, so I agreed to go– after talking to Clint (who was just a friend of mine at the time) about it. . . . I had my own hotel room, and I had my own airline ticket — in my possession — and I checked the guy out online before we went; he’s a college professor, and very sweet, and besides: how often do you get invited to go to a ball in Paris?!? (Clint said if I didn’t go, that I should ask Andy if he’d be interested in taking along a nice, straight, 35 yr old man.) Thanks again, Andy! : )

11. I tend to over-think things. . . . (I could have been done with this post months ago, if that weren’t true!)

12. I’m an outgoing introvert, meaning: I can be very friendly, and it’s fairly easy for me to talk to people whether I know them or not, but being around a lot of people (or just a few people for a long time) can completely drain me. Because I can be quite outgoing, many people believe I’m an extrovert, but I’m really, really not. (Extroverts are energized by being around others, introverts are exhausted by it.)

ps

I know I’m supposed to tag some other bloggers, but I don’t really know any besides Aruni. . . . Plus, I need to go to bed now. I’ll try to come up with some people (besides Clint) to tag, and I’ll edit this post if/when I come up with them.