Question #68 - Dad

Did you and your father share any interests? Tell about your relationship with him.

It wasn't until I was a teen when I discovered my love for hockey, and that my father used to play when he was younger. That is one thing that we have shared together, love for the Detroit Redwings!  We also love Simon & Garfunkel, and actually went to their concert last June when they came to town. I will never forget that!  I have always had great love for my father, as much as he has loved all 4 of his girls. I still do. I make it sound like he is no longer with us, but that's not so. I just feel like I don't see him as much as I used to. 

Question #67 - Holidays

What is your favorite holiday, and how do you celebrate it?

I love Thanksgiving!  Getting together with the family is great, and eating tons of yummy food is just icing on the cake!  We all like to make something for dinner, and I usually make a pecan pie. I could eat a whole one myself, but talk about your high cholesterol! LOL  Since I have no significant other, I usually just go down to my parents' house for most of the day, to spend time with them and my sisters.

Question #66 - College

Did you go to any college or technical training? If so, where? What did you study?

I went to a 4 year college after high school, at Niagara University.  I studied to become an elementary teacher. After graduating with my BA, I tutored for a couple months, worked at a daycare for 2 months, and then started working for Headstart as a preschool teacher. While at Headstart, I went back to the University at Buffalo for my masters degree in early childhood education.  Even though I had to quit my job for health reasons, and will most likely never teach again, I finished my masters degree.  I have 2 degrees that I am very proud of, because I put a lot of hard work into a field I love: teaching.

Question #65 - The Teenage Years

What do you remember most about being a teenager?

I had good and bad moments of being a teen. I never was a rebellious person, and that never changed when I reached the teen years. But I do always remember not feeling accepted by a lot of the people in my class. High school was hard for me many times. I had my close group of friends, but I also always wondered what was wrong with me to not be accepted into the "clique." Of course, things have changed dramatically since high school. I realized nothing was wrong with me, that my classmates just chose not to see me for the person I was. I opened up a lot since then, and I'm definitely glad to be out of my teenage years!

Question #64 - Back to Childhood

What was your favorite Sunday activity as a child?

Well, we always went to church on Sundays. Not always my favorite, but it was something we did as a family, and we don't do that now. And that's not really anyone's fault, we just all don't go to church. But I digress. I think one of my fav activities on Sundays was going to my grandpa's house for dinner. We went quite often, and I miss it. My grandpa almost always had meatloaf and mashed potatoes. It's just fun to reminisce now about the times we used to spend there, but I know I appreciated those times even as a child.

Question #63 - Doctors

How do you feel about doctors, and why?

Well, I pretty much like doctors. That is easily said because I have been going to doctors all my life, being that I have a heart and lung condition that I was born with. I've had regular doctors, cardiologists, and a variety of others in between. Most of them, I have liked. The doctors I have currently are wonderful, and very personable. They answer the questions I have, and they are genuinely concerned for my health. And I appreciate that since things won't ever change with my need for doctors!

Question #62 - Grandparents

What did your grandfathers do for a living? Did your grandmothers work?

I don't recall being told that either of my grandmothers worked. My grandma on my mom's side had 11 children, so I KNOW she took care of them over the years!  My other grandmother did a lot of things at home, but I don't think she had a regular job.

My grandfather on my mom's side did work, but I can't for the life of me remember what he did at this moment. My dad's father worked a bunch of different jobs, including running a gas station, and working at Carborundum.

Question #61 - Life After...

How do you feel about death? What is your philosophy of "the afterlife?"

I don't really fear death, because I know that there is a much better place I'd be going when I die.  I think I fear the most how I'd die. I hope that I just go in my sleep, with no pain. But of course, that's not for me to decide. As for the afterlife, if there is one, I'm not sure. I believe we go to heaven or hell, depending on what kind of life we lead. I'm not sure there is life after death, or reincarnation. Maybe I'll find out when it's my time to go.  lol

Question #60 - Childhood Vacations

Tell about a favorite childhood vacation.

We didn't take many vacations when I was growing up. Trips to my grandma's house three hours away were considered vacations, but they also became habit. I think the place I remember most when I was little was Wasaga Beach in Canada. My parents would rent a cabin for a week, and I remember playing down at the beach. We really were quite little then! I think I was like 7 or 8.  My dad's friend's family would come down too, sometimes.  I vaguely remembering one of his kids trying to dig a hole way down in the sand. He got it so deep, that he was able to just stand right up in it. So I'd have to say that is my favorite memory, because we were just little kids. And I miss my childhood days. 

Question #59 - Open Wide!

How do you feel about dentists?

I have always felt tense going to the dentist, even when I was a little kid.  I got through childhood with no cavities, AMAZINGLY.  Several years back, I tried a new dentist, and the people there told me I had 4 cavities. Like out of the blue. I had them filled, but then I heard horror stories about this place from other people, and knew that I probably had only one cavity at that time.  So, I didn't go to the dentist for like 2 years.  When I finally got up the nerve to try a new place, I ended up liking the people there. So, I go to the dentist twice a year. I still get nervous, but I haven't had any major problems!  I guess I'll keep going since one of my biggest fears is having problems with my teeth. 

Question #58

What convinced you the most in your choice of a spouse (significant other)?

Well, I honestly can't answer this question. I'm not married, and I currently don't have a significant other. This question was easy.  lol

Question #57 - Lessons Learned

What was the hardest thing for you to learn in life?

I think the hardest thing I've always had to learn is that I could not do a lot of what "normal" people could do. And that is still true today. Because of my heart and lung disease, I could never run around as much as the kids I went to school with. I couldn't go on a lot of rides at amusement parks. I couldn't learn to swim. There are still things today that I have a hard time doing, like taking longs walks, or doing things like vacuuming. There have been many times when I've pushed my limits anyway, and I usually regret it afterward because I end up feeling so lousy. So I've learned to deal with the fact that I'm not "normal" physically, but I certainly am normal mentally, and there a lot of things I can do!