Question #86 - Toys

Did you have a favorite toy as a child? Did it have a name? What are your memories?

I had a lot of toys growing up, many that my sisters and I shared.  I think one of my favorite toys was my Barbie.  I still have her, too!  I also have my Todd doll, I didn't have Ken. And, I have all the clothes I accumulated for her, too.  My other favorite toys that my mom still has are the original Fisher Price farm house, and the Treetop House by Mattel (I think that's who made it).  I just loved playing with them!  I think the farm house that is out now doesn't leave very much to the imagination!  My favorite memories of toys have to be the times when my sisters and I played house with our kitchen set-up in the basement. We had pots and pans, and real dry beans and macaroni that our mom got for us. It was a lot of fun! I also remember the times when the beans got spilled, what a mess to clean up!  lol 

Question #85 - Authors

Do you have a favorite author?  Who, and why? Tell about a favorite book as a child, youth, adult.

This is a nice question, considering I love reading!!  I read a lot of books, with a wide variety of themes and story lines. I'd have to say my favorite author is John Grisham. I have all of his books!  I just like reading books that have to do with law, and the court system. I guess that's why I also love Law & Order so much. lol  I also love J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter has got to be one of the best series I have read in a long, long time!  It is so well written, and so imaginative!

When I was a really little kid, I used to love the Richard Scarry books.  Lowly the Worm was my favorite character.  My absolute most favorite book that I read when I was a young adult was Island of the Blue Dolphins, by Scott O'Dell. I love that book even now.  I think it was one of the first books I read, where I could picture everything, and felt like I was on that island with the main character.  As for my favorite book as an adult, I don't really have one. I read so many books, sometimes they seem to all blend in together!  lol

Question #84 - Life Lessons

What is the greatest lesson in your life you find to be true?

There have been many lessons in life that I have learned, especially being a person with a major disability....a disability that cannot be seen just by looking at me. So I'd have to say that the biggest lesson I've learned is not to judge a book by it's cover. It sounds to cliche, but it's so very true. So many people judge others without even knowing someone. And I am no angel, I've done it many times myself.  I jump to conclusions about a person just by what they are wearing, or how they are acting. And it really is very unfair. I have had many people yell at me when I park in the handicap spots at the stores or restaurants. There are times when I don't wear my oxygen, and when I don't, you'd have no clue that I had a heart/lung disease. These people are rude enough to embarass me in public, when they have no idea why I'm even parking there. Even when I try to explain it, some of them still threaten to call the police. I just tell them to go ahead. I now have cards with me that explains my disease, and I just hand it to someone who asks about my oxygen, or who berrades me in a parking lot. So, I definitely have to say that judging people is one lesson I have found to be very true.  Unfortunately, it's not something that is easily changed.

Question #83 - Birth Order

How did you like being the oldest, youngest or middle child? Did it have a particular advantage or disadvantage?

I am the oldest of 4 girls.  I guess in a lot of ways, I always had to be the responsible one, the one who was an example for my sisters. And while I do admit that I am responsible about a lot of things I do, I never wanted to feel that I had to be the one who my parents used as an example to talk to my sisters. It didn't happen often. But there have been many time where I haven't been responsible, and then I feel so guilty about it. That I'm supposed to be "perfect" in some way. All this being said, I don't consider it a disadvantage of being the oldest. Sometimes I don't feel like I'm the oldest. I guess it's the way we all behave and act with each other. Sometimes when we are together, it's like we're kids again!  I love my sisters with all my heart!

Question #82 - Christmas

Describe the downtown area of your hometown at Christmas.

I am still living in my hometown, and unfortunately, they do not do Christmas like they used to when I was a little girl.  They used to have a Festival of Lights downtown, and it was so neat to go down and walk around and see the different displays. There was a wonderful atmosphere, and it seemed like everyone seemed so friendly. Of course, I was very little back then, so I guess it was just a child's perspective. I do miss the Festival of Lights, though. It was always a nice "date" thing to do around the holidays.

Question #81 - Spring

Describe the perfect spring day, and activities done on that day.

The perfect spring day would be to take a walk in the neighborhood to admire all the new life coming up and starting to grow. I would love to walk around and see all the tulips I could see, since that is my favorite flower.  I'd also love to watch the birds that come back in the area when spring begins again.  Watching life grow again after a long winter is definitely a welcoming sign to me!

Question #80 - Favorites

Tell about a favorite aunt.

I think this question would be a lot easier if I had to tell about a least favorite aunt. LOL  Seriously, I do respect all of my aunts, and I have a LOT of them! I have 9 aunts, 8 of them on my mom's side of the family!  I like all of my aunts for all different reasons. If I had to pick one, I'd say it would be Ann.  But that isn't very fair, because I like all of them!!  They are all wonderful women, funny as heck, caring, nurturing, and even some are kinda kooky. But that's ok, every family has someone (or even more than one someone) who is a little strange!

Question #79 - Peace

What brings you the most peace, and why?

I think I always felt peaceful when I was little and going to my Grandma's creek. Seeing that much water flowing at a close-up range made me feel calm. Nowadays, I find peace when I listen to music. No matter what I listen to, it gets me in a good mood. I also find peace in prayer, and talking with God. I find peace also in my new little niece, Hailey. I love her so much, and I just beam when I'm around her.