It’s always nice to be recognized.
(photos.com)
It couldn’t have come at a better time. Winter is so not my cup of tea. There’s nothing I like about it – not only does the cold cut right through my bones, but the lack of sunshine sends my mood plummeting to minus minus minus degrees.
So receiving this Sunshine Award, passed from one blogger to another (thank you Lois Alter Mark, of Midlife at the Oasis whose blog won this, and many other awards, too) accomplished what the winter cannot succeed in doing – it brought a smile to my otherwise expressionless face. (Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a little. And feeling a little sorry for myself after returning from a much-needed vacation to Mexico that turned out to be somewhat of a disaster.)
“What do I do with this award?” I emailed Lois, who I was happy to meet in real life a few months ago in California, where she lives. I’m woefully behind on all the finer points of blogging.
One thing she told me was to write 7 deadly sins random things about myself.
It’s time to get personal, I suppose.
After all, sunshine comes at a high price this time of year:
1. I like really quirky movies. I like serious ones, too, but quirky is much more fun. My two favorites: Lars and the Real Girl and Ruby Sparks. If you like quirky, I guarantee you’ll love them too.
2. I am very upset at the closing of Loehmann’s. Very upset. Although hubby insisted I bought too many things there that ended up just taking up room in my closet, I still have those 2 or 3 “special” pieces I wear over and over. (Okay, not exactly a good ROI, but half the fun of shopping in Loehmann’s was the thrill of the hunt.) And Loehmann’s was a place I used to make a day of with my grandmother every time I visited her in Florida. It was our, shall we say, big field trip for the day.
3. I had the most wonderfully special and close relationship with my maternal grandmother, Celia, who lived until she was 94. I’m lucky I had her through a good part of my adult life, but I miss her all the time.
4. If I like it enough, I can eat the same thing for breakfast/lunch/dinner every single day for a very long time until I get tired of it. If I lived alone, that would be fine, but hubby – a food lover – finds the concept very tough to grasp. (Salmon? Again? Muesli? Aren’t you sick of it yet?)
5. When hubby is out of town, he worries that I’m not going to eat (much). And he’s right: I usually start thinking about dinner at around 6 PM – when it’s way too late to do anything about it – but am perfectly happy eating a bowl of cereal, some scrambled eggs, popcorn or frozen yogurt. And always, always top it off with some dark chocolate.
6. When I was little, I wanted to be a ballerina. I took dance lessons until, at age 12, my teacher suggested I go to a professional school in the city; but my mother, who worked full-time, couldn’t take me. I was too young/shy/frightened to venture in alone. So I gave it up.
7. Sometimes I tend to go into too much detail, so I’ll keep things shorter for the last 3 random facts.
8. I have psychic dreams. I’ve had long, detailed dreams of random things, only to find out later that they actually took place. I wish I could channel this ability to lottery numbers, but so far, no luck.
9. I shy away from doing things that I would probably be good at (like playing the piano and drawing) because I’m impatient and although I realize intellectually that practice makes perfect, emotionally I want to succeed right away.
10. The decision to return for my MFA when I was 50 was among one of the best decisions I’ve recently made. Since then, I have a whole new writing career that inspires me each and every day.
Oh! I’m not done yet! This award comes with a price. Now, I have to answer these questions:
1. If you could go back in time ten years and tell yourself one thing, what would it be?
Worrying is fruitless. It doesn’t change a thing, and takes you out of the here and now.
2. What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?
Coffee chip, hands down.
3. If you were to take me on a date, where would we go and why?
To the beach. It’s where I can fully breathe.
4. Above all else, what are you afraid of?
Skydiving. Never would do it. Offer me a million dollars – and I’ll still say no way.
5. What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?
I would try out for the Rockettes or the chorus line in a Broadway show.
6. What has been your favorite age to be and why?
Can’t say. Every decade unearths something new and wonderful.
7. Coffee or tea?
Coffee. Not even close.
Thank you, Lois, who inspired me to write this post and reveal some random things about myself.
Did any of them surprise you, or resonate with you?
Estelle Sobel Erasmus says
Oh, Sheryl, I love this and learning more about you. I also loved the movie Lars and the Real Girl, and wouldn’t go skydiving, ever. Wonderful to hear that getting your MFA when you were 50 was a great decision for you and the start of a whole new career. I applaud your bravery-and it has paid off in spades. Thanks to Lois for giving you this prompt and opportunity to share more about you with your fans and friends. This has inspired me to do my post as well.
Estelle
SherylK says
Well, thanks so much Estelle. Nice to know I am not alone! I can’t wait to read your post and get a deeper glimpse into your life as well!~
Helene Cohen Bludman says
Loved this post, Sheryl! We are alike in many ways–hatred of winter and skydiving are just two–and lke Estelle said, you’ve inspired me to write my own Sunshine post. I wish I had gone back for my MFA as you did. Kudos for making that decision!
SherylK says
Yes, I realize how alike we are in many ways, Helene (don’t forget being directionally-challenged~). I’m looking forward to reading your Sunshine post to find even more commonalities.
Lois Alter Mark says
I LOVE Lars and the Real Girl, too, and would NEVER go skydiving either! I knew I gave the right girl a little sunshine! xo
SherylK says
Well, would you look at that. So glad you decided to send that sunshine my way, Lois…
Irene S. Levine says
Loved learning a bit more about a very special person who deserves this award!
SherylK says
Thank you, my friend!
Cathy Chester says
None of these things surprised me, but made me admire you even more.
You bring sunshine wherever you go, and now that I know more about you I realize we have even more in common.
Loved getting to know you better!
SherylK says
That’s sweet, Cathy, I appreciate your comments, as always!
Nancy Monson says
Lars and the Real Girl is a real treat, I agree! Other, more recent quirky indies I liked: The Way, Way Back, Don Juan (though it’s close to porn at times!), Enough Said, and The Spectacular Now.
SherylK says
Yes a real treat. I did see The Way, Way Back and Enough Said. Really liked them both. Couldn’t find The Spectacular Now when I searched just now on Netflix; and will have to take a look at Don Juan. Thank you, Maven!.
merr says
I echo the Loehmann’s closing sentiment. I used to go with my mother (ahem) 45 years ago to the original one in Brooklyn and remembering the huge space, the huge open dressing room and running out and getting sizes for her. The Loehmann’s of today I appreciated more for the private dressing rooms! I’ve found wonderful deals there and the people who worked there, at least in my experience, were always so nice. Sad to see it go.
Alexandra says
This post was great fun and congrats on the award. I’m a coffee chip fan, too. Well, mocha chip. Howard Johnson’s used to make it. Will check out Ruby Sparks.
SherylK says
I’ll gladly take mocha chip, too, Alexandra. And do check that movie out…it’s wonderful.
Roxanne says
Funny! I liked Lars & the Real Girl too. I wonder how it compares to HER, which I’ve not yet seen. I didn’t know about your MFA. *If* I had the money and time, I would totally do an MFA program.
ruth pennebaker says
what a lovely post! Agree with you on the quirky movies and on repeat performances of dinner. I could eat the same thing forever until I decide never to eat it again.
SherylK says
Well, I guess that’s what happened to me, Ruth…I decided never to eat coffee yogurt again, after eating it for lunch for probably 5 years going.
Donna Hull says
It was so much fun learning about you. I can eat the same thing repeatedly as well. But there comes a time when I grow tired of the dish and then I can hardly stand to look at it for a very long time :-).
SherylK says
Yes, agreed, Donna! I’ve eaten many things repeatedly that I cannot even stand to think about now.