Thank you to everyone for your kind words Friday night and yesterday. I know DJ is not my son, but I care an awful lot about his dad and I will always have a very special place in my heart for that kiddo. Thank you to everyone who remembered.

In classic Poppy fashion, I’m completely changing the subject to encourage you to go to Squishable.com and buy huge stuffed animals for your loved ones. Yes, they’re expensive, but it’s because they’re human-sized!

And in the randomest feat of all, I will now do a meme that I stole from Tori:

1. Father went to college?
No. Although, ironically, he worked for one for 35 years.

2. Father finished college?
See 1.

3. Mother went to college?
She has taken some classes in her mature life, but did not go during the traditional after-high-school years.

4. Mother finished college?
Nope! She don’t need no stinkin’ college, I assure you, but she’ll probably finish one day so she can start writing books. She’s a writer who has no time to write.

5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor?
My great uncle was a pathologist. He is slightly famous here, but is no longer living.

6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers?
Huh? I read Tori’s answer, so I guess this is supposed to be about social/economic standing, but it’s still a weird question.

7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home?
Way more.

8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home?
Yes, that makes more sense.

9. Were read children’s books by a parent?
Not so much…

10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18?
No.

11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18?
See 10. Oh, wait! I had gymnastics for like half a minute when I was 8. Totally doesn’t count.

12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively.
This is a weird question to me. I don’t even know how to answer it.

13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18?
No.

14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs?
I went to college via tuition remission ($0 for classes) because my father worked at the university. I walked out of college debt free.

15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs?
My mom gave me some money for books, I had to pay the rest of the fees associated with college that weren’t class. (Room, board, lab fees, rest of book money.)

16. Went to a private high school?
Uh, heh, NO.

17. Went to summer camp?
I went to religious camp for seven Memorial Day weekends in my youth, but to clean the camp up for the paying customers. Those were fun times… How did I go to that camp for seven years of my life but don’t remember what it’s called or where exactly in New York I was? Hmm.

18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18?
A private one? I had an algebra tutor in 8th grade because I was sick so much that year I didn’t even get to master negative numbers before the final exam, but it was done at school during my study period.

19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels?
Yes, when we weren’t camping.

20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18?
I don’t recall. Didn’t have an older sister for hand-me-downs, but I can’t promise that none of my clothes were from thrift stores.

21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them?
No. I did have their hand-me-downs from age 17-22.

22. There was original art in your house when you were a child?
No.

23. You and your family lived in a single family house?
From age 6-8 I lived in a house with Mom, her boyfriend, and one of his four sons. From age 11-15 I lived in a house with Mom, my maternal grandmother, and my maternal uncle. So, yes to single family house, but never in a traditional sense. :smiles: When I was 17 I moved into a brand new condo with my mom and new stepdad. I lasted two years before going absolutely insane and needing to move out despite not quite making enough money to support living away from home.

24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home?
See 23.

25. You had your own room as a child?
My brother lived with my dad, as did my sister who I never talk about (complicated!), so I always had my own room at home.

26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18?
Heh… as soon as I got on the BBS my mom was pretty much forced to buy me my own phone line if she ever wanted to use the phone. She could have said no, but I was a really hard core introvert, so she was just happy I was socializing with someone!

27. Participated in an SAT/ACT prep course?
No. Well, if by “course” you mean “activity book” then yes, but you don’t mean that. :winks:

28. Had your own TV in your room in high school?
Yes. TV junkie. Had cable but no VCR.

29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college?
Nope.

30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16?
No.

31. Went on a cruise with your family?
I’ve never been on a cruise.

32. Went on more than one cruise with your family?
See 31.

33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up?
Yes, Mom took me to a ton of them. My favorite, hands down, is the Boston Museum of Science.

Wow, that’s the end! Ok, then. :smiles: