Borrowed from Sue.

1. What were you afraid of as a child?
Death, Russia, and my mother’s laugh.

2. When have you been most courageous?
Hmm. Perhaps right now. I’m doing something that is so difficult that I have days where I feel like chickening out and undoing all my hard work. And then I get through that feeling and smile and pat myself on the back and keep on going.

3. What sound most disturbs you?
My mother’s laugh. Still.

4. What is the greatest amount of physical pain you’ve been in?
My back injury around the time I started blogging was the most pain I’ve ever been in. I cried a lot, took a lot of medication just to cope, and it was a long road to the other side.

5. What’s your biggest fear for your children?
That they won’t know how much I love them, unconditionally. I may never have children, but it’s very important to me that they know I accept them for who they are, even though I don’t even know them yet.

6. What is the hardest physical challenge you’ve achieved?
I’m drawing a blank on this. Trust fall? (I have trust issues.)

7. Which do you prefer: Mountains or oceans/big water?
The ocean always draws me in. I enjoy the beauty of mountains, the view from the top, but it’s the ocean that lulls me, that makes me feel my smallness in the world, that makes me feel the grandness of nature, that smells so wonderful, that speaks to my core, that washes me clean, that scares me to death, that makes me feel alive.

8. What is the one thing you do for yourself that helps you keep everything together?
I love myself.

9. Ever had a close relative or friend with cancer?
My grandfather died of lung cancer when I was 3. I have absolutely no recollection of him, so “close” in family tree – yes; “close” in relationship – no.

10. What are the things your friends count on you for?
Compassion, understanding, a kind heart, a shoulder to cry on, and complete acceptance of them no matter what their transgressions. (My true friends receive this.)

11. What is the best part of being in a committed relationship?
Feeling understood.

12. What is the hardest part of being in a committed relationship?
Not fucking it up when things get hard.

13. Summer or Winter? Why?
Summer for the feel of it, winter for the look of it.

14. Have you ever been in a school-yard fight? Why and what happened?
Two boys named Jason came running at me with severely angry looks on their faces during a 5th grade kickball game for no reason known to me. When they approached I grabbed them both by the arms and knocked them into each other. I still sometimes wonder what the hell they were so angry with me about, but I’m never going to know the answer to that.

15. Why blog?
It helps me know what I’m thinking.

16. Did you learn about sex, and/or sex safety from your parents?
No. My school taught me that. If/when I have children I think I’d prefer they hear it from me so they can ask questions and know it’s safe and ok to talk with me about the subject.

17. How do you plan to talk to your kids about sex and/or sex safety?
I’m not sure. I have time to think about it, though.

18. What are you most thankful for this year?
Unconditional love from family, friends, and kitties.