Wednesday, April 18, 2007

My First Meme...!


Wendy, who is quiet about a lot of things, answered 5 questions sent to her by her friend Karl. Now she has given me five questions (of her choosing) to answer. I'll do my best, okay? Then, if YOU want to play, let me know in the comments and I will personally craft five questions for YOU!


1. Compare and contrast women now and then.

Women then were tougher than they are now. They wore hats and bustles and corsets and shoes that required a crochet-hook to button. They didn't have zippers and snaps and velcro, or cute Nikes. They had to go out and gather their own nuts and berries and grind it into pemmican, whereas now we can put on our Nikes and run down to the Safeway, or better, the Olive Garden. They looked funny. Just look at a photograph of your great grandmother, for instance. We look good--we pluck our eyebrows and Botox our wrinkles and color our grey hair.

Women were tougher then than they are now. There is no way in hell I could ever walk a thousand miles through the snow (in my high-buttoned shoes). Or lose most of my children to flu or diptheria (as my great grandmother did), or watch them die of hunger, or cold, and bury them and leave them on the plains. I just couldn't. My children had all their vaccinations, and parkas, and braces on their teeth.

Women were tougher then than they are now. They had to read penny dreadfuls, or the Bible, or nothing at all. We have Blogs!


2. I'd like to know a bit about your faith...

I am LDS (Mormon). I believe that "the Glory of God is Intelligence," and that I am a child of God, that I have a Heavenly Mother as well as a Heavenly Father. I believe that life is eternal, that I existed before my birth on this earth, and will continue to exist. I believe that the universe is filled with light, and with life, and that those are probably the same thing. I believe that "Families are Forever," and that "Man is that he might have Joy." (Joy: being loved, learning to love others, having free agency to make bad choices, learning things -- languages and histories and cultures, planets, stars, galaxies....) I believe that God speaks to men, that there are many 'holy' books, that Mohammed and the Buddha, and Black Elk were inspired with truth. I believe the Old Testament, and the New Testament are testaments of Jesus Christ. I believe the Book of Mormon is ANOTHER testament of Christ. I believe that Christ's Atonement was universal and applies to everyone, to all people, to animals, to "every blade of grass." So, yes, I kiss my dogs. But not on the LIPS. (Does this answer your bonus question, somewhat? --but, I didn't even talk Baby Talk to my babies!) I believe that animals have souls--if any of our lives are eternal, they all are. I believe that I will have the opportunity to hold the baby I lost, and kiss his neck, and raise him to a perfect adulthood as a part of our family. There it is. In a Nutshell.

3. You said you travelled a bit...(from Home) as a young woman...How did your parents and peers feel about that?

I joined a theater repertory company when I was young and had decided to become a great actress...it was a lot of fun and I loved the people I travelled with, the people I met, and I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything. I have a lot of good memories. But, my parents weren't as enthusiastic about my "bumming around the country" with a bunch of actors. But they got over it. As for my peers...I was kind of a loner (not the kind that suddenly buys a gun and 50 rounds of ammunition and shoots people!) but I kept pretty much to myself...so I don't know what they thought. My folks were supportive, in spite of their misgivings.

4. Did your sons marry women like you...or not like you?

Um, probably not like me. THEY (my sons) are a lot like me, but their wives--not so much. One of my daughters-in-law is Japanese, is a wonderful housekeeper (which I am not) and a fantastic cook (which I am definitely not). She is tiny and beautiful, a good mother to Bookworm and Starfish. Another daughter-in-law is Filipina, also tiny and beautiful (which I am not), teaches school, is a good mother to Chime and Cake, and loves to eat stuff I think is hideous--like pig's blood over rice, balut (half-grown duck embryos in a half-boiled egg *shudder*) and fish heads; another is tall and fair-haired and beautiful, and Lutheran, and Swedish, (all good things!). She has a Master's of Social Work degree, is a family counselor, and is the mother of my two fair-haired, blue-eyed and hazel-eyed grandsons. And the most recent is a Baptist/Episcopalian, dark-haired, attorney (much smarter than I!), who is a victim's advocate and looks like she should be on TV in Law and Order... and is the mom of my littlest, so handsome grandson. So, no, they're not like me...They are all four of them beautiful and smart and kind-hearted, and I love them all ENORMOUSLY! We have really interesting Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners!

5. What food soothes you?

What food? ALL food (but not blood, balut or fish heads). I am like a vacuum cleaner, soothed by old crackers, stale cake, cold spaghetti, ...anything. Unfortunately.

Bonus question: Do you kiss your dogs? How about Baby Talk?

I love my dogs. See question/answer #2.



Directions for the Interview Meme:

1. Leave me a comment saying "Interview Me."

2. I will respond by asking you 5 questions. I get to pick the questions.

3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them 5 questions.


** Photo of my great grandmother, Laura Ann. Thanks, Wendy. That was fun!

.

10 comments:

Tammy Brierly said...

You should do these more often :) I wanted more and realized you are a facsinating lady. Well done! XXOO

k said...

That was FUN!

I always like other people's memes but I never want to do one at my own house. Dunno why.

Have a VERY fun poetry reading tonight, and if you have a minute first, go check Marv's email.

wendy said...

You responded with the candor and wit I have come to admire.

Thanks for playing along!!

k said...

And BTW, your great grandmother was an exceptionally beautiful woman. Just stunning.

Pauline said...

Oh what a cool thing to read and to do - yes, please, interview me...

Anonymous said...

That was a fascinating read, thanks. It's so cool to learn more about the people whose poems one reads; that's got to be one of the more interesting memes I've ever come across.

Joyce Ellen Davis said...

This was really fun, guys. Thanks for your comments.

And Pauline...nice eto meet you! So, here are your five questions:

1. Who gave you your first (romantic) kiss?

2. Life is short. How do you spend your time?

3. You teach 2nd graders and adults (I've done this also!). Which do you like best, and why?

4. What do you like best about yourself? What would you change?

5. Who do you admire most? Why?


(A bonus question: tell us about your writing....)

Anonymous said...

I've seen this meme going around, and it seems like fun. For some reason I particularly enjoyed reading your answers, so I am now going to pester you for questions. (Interview me, please!)

This doesn't seem particularly fair since you don't know me at all, but then again, since you don't know me, you should have plenty of things to ask.

Joyce Ellen Davis said...

Split ends:

1. What would you like to say to someone that you have never said to them before?

2. April is my husband's birthday, too! Tell us about your mom.

3. Nature or Nuture--which is the most significant? Why?

4. I know you are really busy with NaPoWriMo. What else are you too busy to do and are doing anyway (besides this)?

5. What will you leave in your will? --(not that you'll be leaving anytime soon!)

Bonus: What is the Meaning of Life?

z-silverlight said...

I really, really liked this story. Talk about when women were women. And men always try to say, that 'women are the weaker vessel'!
HAH.