The Holy Mackerel Inquiry

God only knows why I volunteer to do these things. I must be sado-masochistic, an amnesiac, or just plain stupid with a capital "S". I recently volunteered to be interviewed by a fellow blogger, Jill Jill Bo Bill, and answer the questions she sent me. Like I said, why? I don't have the answer to that question. I hope I can answer Jill's questions a bit better than I did this one ...

1. If money was no object, describe how you would make your life more perfect and why?

Oh man, that's a good one! And easy. I would lie in bed all day long, eating bonbons, reading trashy novels, and I'd have three houseboys -- two to serve me the bonbons (I could only find a picture with one houseboy feeding his masteress, so just cross your eyes and you'll see two)




and the third to refill my vodka martini. I'd have a swimming pool like this

and I would have a very big flat screen tv in my bedroom where I could watch endless episodes of Grey's Anatomy and Dog The Bounty Hunter. I'd also never have to leave the house unless I absolutely wanted to. And Mr. Handsome would address me as Your Absolute Goddess of Everything. And the children would just listen to me the first time instead of the twelfth. That's all I ask.

OK, seriously...

Very good question, Jill. Money is always the object, unfortunately, but if it was not, I would probably move somewhere warm; right by the ocean; close enough but not too close to Disney World, so that we could go once a year or so without breaking the bank and get the major discounts by living in Florida, but not so close so that we would be able to go every day if we wanted to, which would just be a waste; have a housecleaner; be in better health; be in a profession where I would be helping people in some way (i.e. a doctor); have a couple more kids (did I just say that???!); know what and who I know now without my son having to go through the whole cancer thing; have my dad around; have more self-confidence; more patience with my children; MUCH more energy; and I would volunteer my services, such as they are.

2. Where do you see yourself realistically in 10 years and what would you be willing to change to get to your "desired place in life"?

In 10 years, my god, I will be *gulp* 29 years old. HOLY CRAP! Is that even possible?! In 10 years' time, I would love to be working at something I love (i.e. writing), making enough money so that the financial worries are no longer, and volunteering in some way in order to make others' lives easier. I am always willing to change in any way needed to make things work as they should be, although I find that as I get older, it's getting tougher to want to make changes. My kids will be long gone by then as well (I can dream, can't I?), theoretically giving me loads more time to devote to my passions, my volunteer work, and my life in general. Does that sort of answer it? I hope so because I need to lie down now after that question.

3. If you could start all over from Junior High on what occupation would you have chosen and why?

Probably a meteorologist because (1) they always look healthy and fresh, (2) they are always well-dressed, (3) their only focus is the weather, (4) they can tell jokes on the air, (5) and it doesn't matter whether they're right or wrong, they'll never be out of a job.

But, if I couldn't get marks high enough to do that, I would still want to be a writer, but knowing now what I needed to know then about writing, I would have gone into something more lucrative and worthy earlier in life, such as medicine or social work. I'd write on the side instead of making it my main focus. I would have also worked harder at getting top marks, instead of not caring quite as much.

4. What one characteristic or quality would you want your kids to have that would make you feel like you had succeeded as a mom and why?

My kids have already made me feel this way. Honestly. The one quality I hold in high regard that they've already got is empathy. They think of others, and usually treat others with the respect and dignity with which they would want to be treated. Can't say this is 100 % of the time, but who can? I do know, however, that they are growing up to be wonderful people, people I'd be proud and honoured to know. To me, this is one of the highest qualities a person can have: treating others as they would like to be treated. It's not easy since so many of us are so wrapped up in our own lives.

5. Tell us how you parent/parented your children that was similiar or totally different than how you were parented? In other words, what did you learn to do or not to do as a parent that your parents did?

Wow, that's a big question, Miss Jill. I can say that I parent NOTHING like my parents did. I am very involved in my kids' lives, more than they'd sometimes like, and I'm always there for them. I was abused physically and mentally in childhood, and in a way I'm thankful for that because it showed me what NOT to do when I had my own children. I could have followed the same path, but I didn't. It was a very conscious choice. It was my big fear when we were expecting our first, and I quickly learned that I could no more do what my mother did than swallow a worm whole. Did that make sense? My dad was a good dad, but he worked a lot, and wasn't "present" and was unable to protect me much of the time. I have vowed, and have kept my promise, to always be in my children's faces, and to remind them daily that I love them. I can only hope I'm doing it right.

Many thanks, Jill Jill Bo Bill! I hope you all enjoyed my interrogation under the lightbulb.

Please take a minute and visit Jill at her site. You won't be sorry!