Monday, April 27, 2020

Some 'Me' Facts

Image by Cally Lawson from Pixabay

" Getting to know someone else
involves curiosity about where they have
come from, who they are. "
PENELOPE LIVELY


Getting to know someone is a little like painting a picture. Every brushstroke on a canvas adds a detail to the subject the artist wishes to portray. So too, it's the details of our lives that eventually paints the picture of who we are becoming. No one knows all the details -- we don't even know everything about ourselves, at least not when we first start out. Sometimes the particulars seem insignificant by themselves so we might brush them off, even forget them. But over time, the details put together begin to reveal quite a story, one that often surprises us. Even when we think we know someone well, a new detail can have us exclaiming, "Oh, I didn't know that about you". 

I've been blogging and sharing details of my life since the summer of 2008. So there's a good bit you probably know if you've been following along. Still, there's much that hasn't been revealed—a little mystery is good. I'm hoping the following list of 'Me' facts will have a surprise or two as you read along with your morning coffee or afternoon tea.

In the spirit of connecting as we shelter in place, I'd love a detail or two from you—something we might not know that you don't mind sharing here.

Now, I'm humming that old tune Getting To Know You from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King & I.

𝅘𝅥𝅯𝅘𝅥𝅯 ...Getting to know you,
Getting to feel free and easy
When I am with you,
Getting to know what to say

Haven't you noticed
Suddenly I'm bright and breezy?
Because of all the beautiful and new
Things I'm learning about you
Day by day. 𝅘𝅥𝅰𝅘𝅥𝅰
LYRICS BY RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN




" The shortest distance between two people is a story. "
PATTI DIGH
Four-Word Self-Help: Simple Wisdom for Complex Lives


1.
I was born on a Wednesday in early Spring in the
peak of the Baby Boomer years

2.
I grew up on a farm on the Canadian prairies

3.
I am a second generation Canadian on my dad's side
and a third generation on my mom's side

4.
I'm the eldest of four

5.
I speak English; I know a smattering of
French, German, Spanish

6.
Favourite forever movies—
Chariots of Fire
Brideshead Revisited
Enchanted April
Pride and Prejudice (1995)
You've Got Mail 

7.
I can't watch any film or read any book where children
or animals are abused in any way

8.
I sometimes have the urge to laugh in the middle of tense moments
e.g. in the middle of a funeral service,
when two of us are hauling heavy furniture down the stairs

9.
I like popcorn with real butter, lots of it

10.
Books I've loved since forever—
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Bertram's Hotel by Agatha Christie
Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Living A Beautiful Life by Alexandra Stoddard

* * *

11.
I can express myself better in writing
than in real person

12.
I can’t swim—years ago I took the Absolutely Terrified class
and eventually graduated to Terrified

13.
I married for the first time when it was mostly
too late to have kids, so we didn't (yes, I was sad
about that, but no regrets either)

14.
I don't like things sprung on me in surprise,
except for presents and flowers

15.
I prefer to know ahead when someone is coming over.
Otherwise, I feel cheated of the opportunity to prepare my home,
as well as my mind and heart, to welcome that person with open arms

16.
I love sandwiches, egg salad in particular, on white bread,
cut into squares or triangles

17.
I wear lipstick even if I'm not going out

18.
I like Facebook and Twitter (I know, I know,
that's for people of a certain age, that's me)

19.
I am a lover of Jesus Christ, who once said the greatest command of all
is to love God and our neighbours as ourselves— that's my heart desire.

20.
I don't have any tattoos, not planning on getting any either,
I do have two piercings....in my earlobes

* * *

21.
As a girl, I thought it so romantic to fall in love at first sight, 
but at 40, I deliberately chose to fall in love with
someone I already knew and liked

22.
I love writing blog posts

23.
A garden is a happy place for me

24.
I loved to skip rope as a girl and
chant the merry songs that went with them

25.
I like coffee, cream, no sugar

26.
I adore Lays ripple potato chips
and Cheetos crunchy cheesies

27.
Kitty cats and puppy dogs delight me

28.
History fascinates me, I like learning when certain events
started and the chain of events as things changed over time

29.
Favourite flowers include
pansies, peonies, roses, sweetpeas....

30.
Public speaking doesn't terrify me, 
but I have to be prepared ahead

* * *

31.
Don't ask me to speak off the cuff—I'll freeze

32.
I love Thai food, taco salads, grilled burgers with all the fixings,
turkey dinner especially the stuffing

33.
A favourite author is Louise Penny

34.
I'm not an artist, but I love art

35.
I lived in Venezuela for four months after college

36.
I don't drink pop

37.
I worked in a grocery store on weekends during high school

38.
England is my soul home

39.
I like crispy french fries with
gravy and ketchup

* * *

40.
I took a Victorian lampshade making class in the 1990s

41.
I used to sew my own clothes but I haven't
sewn anything in years

42.
I had a horror of bats as a child,
they don't scare me now

43.
My sister and I went to see Paul McCartney when he
came to Alberta a couple of years ago. We loved it!

44.
I had a doll named Joanne (after a girl I met in the hospital,
we were both getting our tonsils out)

45.
My greatest fear in school was flunking math;
I never did but I think my teachers took pity on me

46.
I like ironing pillowcases, but not shirts;
thankfully hubby does his own

47.
One of the first songs I ever loved (I was about six)
As I Live and Breathe as sung by Frank Verna
Decca Records, 1955
Just found a recording of that old song online! My goodness, Google has everything. Listening to it and I'm six years old again. I used to listen to it over and over—I could never get enough of it. Grooved into my brain, I still remember all the words. This piece of music was originally composed by Ernest De Curtis in 1902; its Neapolitan title was 'Torna a Surriento' which translates 'Come Back to Sorrento'.

* * *

Enough about me. Here's wishing
you a beautiful week ahead. Stay safe.

Heart Hugs,
Brenda
xox




20 comments:

  1. Now that was fun! I like my coffee the same way and love crunchie Cheetos!

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  2. It is always interesting to learn about other people. There are often more similarities than differences. Canadian, eldest of 4, loved all the same books and movies, used to be shy but now a competent public speaker, writes a blog, loves art and flowers, math phobic in the day
    and named Joanne. Isn't the blogging community amazing?

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    Replies
    1. Truly, it is an amazing community. Thanks so much for leaving that lovely comment. Now I'm off to visit your blog.

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  3. Ooh I love lists! A very well-rounded list, it seems to me, but I'm also quite intrigued by what did not make the list. #8 is making me, er, giggle:)

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    Replies
    1. Now that's a question to ponder, what didn't make the list.

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  4. I adored learning these facts! I was so intrigued by the juxtaposition about speaking!
    I ALSO get the giggles at bad moments! I think it's because I have a mind that skips onto thinking about other things so much! Oops!

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    Replies
    1. Good to hear from you, Kezzie. I was surprised at myself when I learned years ago that I really enjoyed public speaking, but the key is knowing ahead what I want to say. I really am really tongue-tied if someone asks me to speak on the spot, for there's no time to consider my thoughts. I admire folks who can do that.


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  5. Fascinating post. Here are a few tidbits about me. I don't watch movies, just because I don’t care to. Grew up in a simple home, but was taught about Jesus early on and follow him as best I can.The passing of my husband, almost 10 years ago, has forced me to become braver. I have learned to step outside my comfort zone and am now doing things I would have said I could never do.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Ruth, for giving us a glimpse of your life. I know you have been stepping out of your comfort zone in recent times, and I'm so proud that you have the courage to walk into His new ways for you.

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  6. Oh Brenda, that was such fun! We are truly kindred spirits. There were so many things on your list that were identical to what I would love. It was truly remarkable.
    Here are some things about me-----my favorite color is pink, followed by purple; I love crystal vases, sugar bowls, pitchers, and decanters; soft violin, guitar, cello, and harp music squeeze my soul; Andrea Bocelli's voice makes me weep for joy; chocolate anything is yummy; I loathe going on the treadmill; I love lace tablecloths and curtains; I have a deep and abiding faith in God; writing is my passion and my blog is a labor of sheer, unadulterated love; flowers make my heart sing; I love to read; interior decorating makes me happy; and I love giving to others. Hope your week is blessed, dear Brenda. Susan

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    Replies
    1. Susan, I so much enjoyed your list -- we do share so much in kindredness, no wonder we're friends here!

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  7. Well that was fun! I felt myself nodding in agreement quite a few times. I like Hawkins Cheesies and Miss Vickie's potato chips, though. I love writing, reading, and teaching, but I'm very shy, although I'm learning to overcome that, even now as a woman of a certain age. I fell for my husband when I was in Grade 9, although it took him awhile to come around, and I did date a couple of other fine young men while waiting for him. I'm a great fan of chocolate and love bacon.

    Have a wonderful evening / day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yes, I love Miss Vickie's too, oh, and bacon. I always find when I declare my favourites, a dozen others tend to show up that I hadn't thought of in that moment-- haha -- maybe it's best not to declare favourites, or at least say 'these are a few of my favourites'. I so enjoyed hearing about how your love story unfolded.

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  8. I enjoyed your post. I am new here. Thanks for sharing who you are.

    Here is a bit about me. I am from the US, a Boomer also. Paris is my soul city, although I haven’t been there for almost two decades.

    I love solving mysteries (thank you Nancy Drew). I love reading children’s books. A favorite is Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath.

    I take Afternoon Tea regularly with friends, well, I did before the world tilted. I am a doll collector.

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    Replies
    1. Dorothy, it's lovely to 'meet' you. I too love children's books, mysteries; Nancy Drew was always a favourite. Thank you so much for sharing this little glimpse.

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  9. Brenda, this was a great post. Loved learning so much about you. Things you may not know about me, I am a weaver and do 18th century reproduction work, not as much as I once did. Also, taught basket weaving for many years as well as a class titled, "Little Rays of Beauty In The Home." Am a lover of old textiles, especially quilts and coverlets and most all antiques. Must not forget I have a real weakness for beautiful china. There is more, but you get the idea.
    Have a lovely week, my friend.

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  10. I found your falling-in-love story to be very satisfying!! As I know it has been for you, ongoing :-)

    I also like coffee just that way.

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  11. That was fun and interesting. I was also born on a Wednesday...never did like the rhyme concerning that...

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  12. There is such a thing as an Absolutely Terrified swimming class? I'm afraid I would be to terrified to take it.

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  13. I always enjoy these "me facts" posts! I can relate to #8 and #36.

    I like to dip my French fries with mayo...and I know they're not healthy, but I love McD's french fries.

    For most of the 2000s-2010s, I was obsessed with Kiefer Sutherland (aka Jack Bauer). I even saw him play at a couple of local concerts!

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To My Beautiful Readers,

Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same. ~ Franz Peter Schubert

Thank you so much for leaving your 'footprint' here in my comment box. I do appreciate you taking a moment to share your thoughts today.

Brenda xo