One- I am a prudent rule follower unless I am under my own direction. This is why I need to be alone if I can help it. In spite of this the most reckless behavior in my student life occurred in my formative years. My kindergarten teacher reprimanded me for the “uncivilized” behavior of a few classmates. A developing foodie, I spied unshelled sunflower seeds within the caged confines of the class pet gerbil’s cage. I enthusiastically reported descriptions of this delicious snack to my friends apparently causing my fellow five year olds to storm the cage. I had to sit out recess with my head down for instigating the group and potentially starving the gerbil. I remembered being annoyed with this teacher for not getting it, but crying out of sheer shame anyways.
Two- I love most kinds of dance and for some reason this translated into becoming a cheerleader in high school. My school was no different than most, the cheerleaders tended to be blonde, busty, popular and date football players. I wanted to cheer because I actually liked the choreography and the athleticism. I had a mean jump and I also happened to excel academically. After I made the squad, other honor society girls began auditioning. And by dint of being hard working, determined and excellent at goal setting, many eventually made the team. Critical mass took over and by the time I graduated the popular girls seemed to shy away from trying out.
Three- If I were a superhero my talent would be “pattern vision”. I get a strange satisfaction from looking around me and tracing the patterns which surround constantly. The overlay of shapes and grids excite and rejuvenate me. I like to move items in the room around to compose lines and forms that please me. As I see it the environment both inside and out, is an ever changing snapshot of time.Four- I was an extra on Nash Bridges starring Don Johnson and Cheech Marin. The production crew called the knitting shop where I learned to knit and asked for 7 knitters to portray a hippie commune in an upcoming shoot. We were paid $100 to walk across the set in single file and then sit down to knit. The rest of the day involved snacking, hair and makeup and standing around squealing at how much older Don Johnson looked in real life. I didn’t watch much TV then, but I was a diehard Nash Bridges fan and went into short mourning when the show was cancelled. I don’t think our show ever aired.
Five- The underwater world fascinates me. I especially love cephalopods (octopus, squids, nautilus). I once had a very kinesthetic dream where I was an Octopus swimming deep into my body. I was the powerful pure sensation of tentacles propelling me deeper and deeper in. This dream occurred during a frightening period when I was diagnosed with a rare muscular disease and had to leave college to get well. Though I didn’t consciously understand the dream, when I awoke I felt taken care of by this ancient sea being. Ever since then I feel a real kinship with those funny, strange, beautiful creatures. Although I don’t mind eating them anyways!
And how about you? If there is anyone reading this that wants to reveal all or at least five things, please tell me about it- I'm listening.
15 comments:
nice writing...
to refer "pattern vision"... if I imagine everyone's eye is a camera len, yours must be macro!
That dream sounds so mysterious yet powerful (hope you get better and better everyday), although on the other hand, I also think of the succulent tentacles ... :) :)
Fishing for Market Squid with tiny jigs I've been struck by how completely they exhibit the gamut of human behaviors and attitude. In the clear water beneath the boat hull they are sociable, gluttonous, playful, murderous, inquisitive and, like the face of a 10-armed burgher when frustrated or embarassed, their colors gave an instant reading of their emotional state. And all that without a notochord.
Sometimes, reading your blog, I think we must have known each other really well in a previous life, but then I read deeper and I realize, that's crazy!
There's great depth in your writing. It would be intriguing if you ever felt motivated to try your hand at a more substantial piece
anonymous: Thanks for coming by.
ilva: You are very welcome, it is nice to see you here.
gattina: I actually adore macrophotography and thank you for your wishes, I hope so too.
blatta: I've been dazzled by night time film footage of these guys and you are so right about their range. I think we did know each other a billion years ago- I'm a blatta too.
sher: Yikes you can see me as a cheerleader? That was thrown in because I am v. far from that now, but a squid or octopus....YES! And Thank you Sher,
That sounds like an amazing dream, and I loved point 2 about the cheerleading! Good for you, going for the squad and bringing about change like that!
Five wonderful and intelligent (this coming from someone who had her Batman guise revealed on hers!) revelations, beautifully illustrated! Thanks for taking the plunge and revealing!
Freya
You had me laughing with your kindergarten escapade. Oh, you poor misunderstood child. I loved reading these.
ellie- Yes it was, I heard that with a good dream you can find meaning in it for the rest of your life. Now, it makes me want to eat fried calamari ;)
freya- The Batman Guise is true proof of your discerning mind!
hipwritermama- I'm glad you see it my way, I was definitely misunderstood!
Thanks Callipygia! Wonderful presentation of five new aspects for us to enjoy, and use as context for appreciating your beautiful writing even more. Indeed, a bigger project sounds like it would produce even greater depth. And speaking of depth, if I were a critter of the deep, and you a cephalopod, I would easily be entranced by your show and be eaten alive. Thanks for sparing my kind, me of the simple yeast and bacteria brained variety....
Catch you soon, and very, very nice to have "met."
D-man: You'd be a rather soggy sourdough submersible! And thank you for tagging me.
Only 5 things.....
if I didnt adore you enough already, these stories only reaffirm my candicacy of your fan club, past, present and future.
I'd gladly have raided the gerbil's cage and risked hanta virus to score me some of those cootified sunflower seeds...and be a friend of yours. Thankfully, we had better food adventures since college days. :-)
after having the pleasure of spending so much time with you, there is always more to learn. thank you for sharing your five. can i add that i wish it was a list of ten.... i could have read on and on... but i will save my eyes from the computer. are there any notations on the beauty and buoyancy of marshmellows?
jbird- I know it is a privilege to spend a lifetime knowing someone- We've had lots of great times.
cloudnine- Hmmm the buoyancy and beauty of marshmellows? Especially since these are soused, be careful to blow the flames out before eating.
Wow, you are indeed a very special person:-). I find these little things cute:-), especially the last one...You know, you can draw a story based on that dream...
miragee- cuttlefish are very cute, creatures from another planet. And what a great idea about the dream. My drawings are singular in focus, I so enjoy yours illos/stories- but don't really know where to begin. Plus, I haven't really been able to get people to look like people. But that is a great challenge.
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