Time for Sunday Stealing

Time for another Sunday Stealing! I always seem to come in on the latter parts of these memes, hence the numbers starting at 15.

15. How would you describe your childhood in general?

Pretty happy and free of angst. I had a pretty rough year in eighth grade, though.

16. What is your earliest memory?

Pulling into the driveway of the cottage we were renting in Ocean City. I couldn't have been more than four. I distinctly remember walking over the dune to see the ocean -- the start of my love affair with the beach.

17. How much schooling have you had?

I have a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland, followed by lots of courses, seminars, and such in clowning and technical communication. Yeah, weird.

18. Did you enjoy school?

I did (except for eighth grade). In fact, I've always said that if I won the lottery, I'd go back to school and just audit all of the courses that interested me.

19. Stop and count, Since you were born until today; how many homes have you lived in?

Seven. No wait -- nine. For awhile there we were moving yearly, but we've been in our current home for 25 years now.

20. While growing up, did you have any role models?

Well, I had kind of a crush on my fourth grade teacher, Sister Moya, but I think my mom was probably my biggest role model.

21. While growing up, how did you get along with the other members of your family?

Fine -- I had the usual sibling squabbles with my older brother and younger sister. My older sister was already a grown-up when I was a kid.

22. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A nun. Hah!

23. What were your favorite activities 3 years ago?

Let's see... that would be 2009. Much of my energy that year was taken up with caring for my mother, so all of my favorite activities kind of fell by the wayside.

24. As a child, what kinds of personality traits did you display?

I was a goody two-shoes, anxious to please and follow the rules. Annnnd... that didn't last past adolescence.

25. As a child, were you popular?

I never thought that much about being popular when I was a kid, until eighth grade, when I wasn't.

26. When and with whom was your first kiss?

Olie Bedell, at a teen club dance, the summer between eighth and ninth grades. Well, I really don't think it could really be called a kiss. Let me change that to Charlie Hermann, my first real boyfriend.

27. Describe any influences in your past that led you to do the things you do today.

My Aunt Ruth and my sixth-grade English teacher, Sister Aloisa, taught me grammar, which certainly is a large part of what I do today. I got my sense of humor from my Pop, which led me to clowning and comedy and finding the funny wherever I can.

28. What’s next?

Dinner.