I have been interviewed by the lovely and amazing Bakerina. My responses follow.
1. What is your earliest memory?
My earliest memories are all olfactory. The smell of my grandmother Nana’s perfume as she picked me up from my crib, the smell of my grandpa Neal’s cigar, and the smell of scotch on the breath of my father. Small wonder that these are all smells that still create quite dramatic physical responses from me 40 years later.
2. Have you ever been to Minneapolis? If no, would you like to go? (Yes, a compound question.)
I have been to Minneapolis. My first response when reading this question was, “Of course, I’ve been. I’m a deadhead.” However, then I realized that I actually have never seen the Grateful Dead in Minneapolis since the one time they played there was in 1969. However, I am a deadhead, so of course, I’ve been to Minneapolis. I stopped there and stayed for a night during a road trip that took me from Washington, D.C. up to Montreal, across part of Canada, down through the twin cities and eventually landed me at Red Rocks in Colorado. This trip ended with my leaving my car in Indiana where it probably still is today and somehow finding a way to fly back to Washington, D.C. despite not having any money. More on that story later if you remind me. I can report that Minneapolis at that time was a fine city as cities go, but I also remember thinking it wasn’t a place I ever wanted to actually live.
3. Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, all of the above or none of the above? Why?
Dark Chocolate. Hands down. But not just any dark chocolate. European dark chocolate. With way more fat content than should ever truly be consumed but without makes your chocolate just not taste like chocolate. I’m particularly fond of dark chocolate with at least 70% fat. And because it tends to exacerbate my seizures, I also have to avoid it. Since I live in America where chocolate is just plain dreadful, it’s easier than one might think.
I have never, never, never understood white chocolate. Chocolate cannot be white. It simply doesn’t taste like chocolate to me. And milk chocolate is missing out on all that chocolaty goodness, so why bother with milk chocolate if you can have dark? At least that’s my philosophy and I’m sticking with it.
4. Have you ever fallen in love with a character from a novel, short story or poem?
Absolutely. Mostly female characters, I discovered when really thinking about this question. Although I will admit to having quite a thing for Jay Gatsby. So much so that I named a lovely Golden Retriever after him. But I also loved Jordan and named a Dalmatian after her as well. Then there’s just about any female character to be found in the novels of Tom Robbins. They’ve been the subjects of more than one fantasy. Of course, there was also Guinnevere in The Once and Future King. Everyone else was pining for Lancelot, I was lusting after her. Having discussed this with Dave over dinner last night, he wondered why I lust after the women in literature but not in real life. Of course, I do lust after women in real life. I just happened to have chosen him as my husband.
5. What is your favorite kind of toast? If you do not like toast, feel free to substitute any similar food that leaves you feeling warm and scrummy.
French toast. Crème Brule French Toast to be exact. Although cinnamon toast comes a close second. But give me French Toast with real butter and just a touch of real maple syrup and I’m one very content and happy girl.
Rules of the game, provided by Alicia:
1 - Leave a comment, saying you want to be interviewed.
2 - I will respond; I'll ask you five questions.
3 - You'll update your journal with my five questions, and your five answers.
4 - You'll include this explanation.
5 - You'll ask other people five questions when they want to be interviewed.
