For Whom the Bell Tolls . . .

Q & A Answers From Thursday's Q & A Post

GrandmaK - When you were a child, what was your favorite game to play? Hands down, when we (my siblings and neighbourhood kids) would play cowboy and Indians. A close second would be when we (my siblings) would play a game we called "library" upstairs in my grandparents house.


Sarah - Being a military family, how many places have you lived? I guess you could include the places you lived before you were married, too. Which place has been your favorite? An Island outside of Seattle through the beginning of our marriage, was my first place. After that, the Navy sent us to Virginia Beach (5 years), Augusta, GA (4 long years), and Maryland (closing in our our 7th year). As you know, HI is in the horizon soon. My favourite? I don't know. Each place has its own "magic", you know. So far, I think I've enjoyed Maryland the most, because there is so much to go and do and see here. But, I'm looking forward to Hawaii.


Mau - If you were limited to only five words in the English language what words could you not live without? This is a tough one.


Suz - If your parents could have helped you to really stop and think before you continued to leap into teen rebellious acts, what are the few words that they could have said and in what manner . . . soft, easy, sensitive, firm, . . and or all the above? What are the few words . . . hmmmm. The dynamics and differences between each set of parents is huge, first of all. My parents hardly communicated well. And, I think that is where it MUST START. What do both parents want expressed to the child. Do both parents see eye-to-eye on what needs to be said? Of course, no yelling when expressing! But the parents need to re-commit to each other that the child will not get between them. That is where the tough love starts. It has to, or you could mess the whole message up - if the child sees leverage, there's leverage, got that? Okay. My parents could have sat me down and said, "Look. I know in many ways we shared WAY too much with you and did not always provide a united front or a positive respect for authority. However, we are together on this project of raising you children to be productive, positive, Christian members of society. And, you must know you are that right now - not later, but right now. If you persist in your current actions/attitude, here is what is going to happen to your freedom: you won't have any. We will police you to submission. So, either you fix yourself right now or we'll fix you for you and we don't care if you don't like it or us in the process. Give us your cigarettes, no more colouring your hair, no more cussing, you will attend church every Sunday, you will do "these" chores, and you will be respectful." But, understand, Suz, my main problem with my parents was: I knew they weren't working together and that was my biggest loophole. My mother was AFRAID of losing her kids - to death, to the devil, and etc. which completely immobilized her. Instead of acting, she reacted, which set the whole house to falling around her. STAND UNITED WITH YOUR HUSBAND AND ACT.


Christine - How long can you do a handstand??? Can you still do cartwheels??? In fact, I have never done a complete handstand. After many attempts, I decided to avoid cranial reconstruction by just avoiding the near constant face-plants. As far as cartwheels are concerned, I can't say I ever perfected one, but I suppose I still could do a very badly done one.

Squelly - Do you have a favourite book? East of Eden by John Steinbeck. At least, that is the book I have re-read more than a dozen times since high school. But, I have many many books I favour and will read again, given the chance.

+JMJ+ - Which Hollywood actress should star as you in the movie of your illustrious life? Well, I guess Jodi Foster, since I have been told on less than a 1,000 different occasions that we resemble one another. I don't think I really identify with anyone in Hollywood, per se.