This article was inspired by Nicole P. I enjoyed reading hers so much that I decided to create my own. I encourage you to read hers as well at:
/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976841925
- I will be 50 years old in 7 months and I am divided between looking forward to it and dreading it.
- I have one daughter who is 12 years old; a firecracker and the light of my life.
- I have a husband who will soon be a wasband who has been extraordinarily difficult to be married to these past 2 years.
- I have one dog, a yellow lab/Rhodesian ridgeback cross, and 2 sweet cats.
- I own my home, with my soon-to-be wasband. We are negotiating about that.
- I did massage therapy for 19 years.
- I am extremely sensitive to, and long for, quality touch.
- I am taller than almost every woman I know; 5'11".
- I am all legs, with an inseam of 36".
- My entire life I have struggled to find pants that are long enough for me.
- I had waist-length hair for 22 years…it's getting there again.
- I have the ability to find joy in life on a daily basis.
- My father was an alcoholic.
- He quit drinking when I was 2 years old and was sober until he died 26 years later.
- I chose a few alcoholic/substance abuser boyfriends, including my daughter's father.
- I never married my daughter's father.
- I spent 4 years in Alanon, learning to place the focus back on myself, where it belongs. My first big chunk of personal growth was because of Alanon.
- I am the youngest of 4 girls.
- I am closest to my oldest sister who lives an hour away from me. She is one of my best friends.
- I lost my mother, my father, and the sister closest to me in age, in 3 consecutive years, 18 years ago.
- I enjoy astrology. I am a Cancer with moon in Leo and Libra rising.
- At present I consider my partner choosing abilities to have, well, SUCKED.
- I first smoked pot at the age of 16.
- I last smoked pot at the age of 29.
- I rolled a VW bug on a mountain road and walked away with 8 stitches on my shoulder.
- I have backpacked Mt Whitney, Mt Langley, and the Grand Canyon.
- I am quite adept at country western dancing.
- I love to write.
- I rode a 1978 Honda 750 motorcycle for a year, with no other transportation.
- I have always wanted a Harley.
- I have traveled to Grenada, Australia, Canada and Mexico, as well as across the entire US.
- My entire family spent summers traveling and camping all over the US.
- My father was a junior high school math teacher.
- My mother was a "keypuncher", now called data entry.
- I treasure my friends.
- I especially treasure my women friends; they sustain me.
- I sometimes use the Motherpeace tarot deck for guidance.
- I am very intolerant of intolerant people…LOL….really.
- I am practically militantly supportive of gay rights/gay marriage.
- A gay friend of mine is the most rewarding person to send male beefcake emails to.
- I have a goal of bicycling across America.
- I plan to do it with the same woman friend who I did all the backpacking with.
- I have never had a new car.
- I'm kind of pissed off about that.
- My favorite color is deep, royal purple.
- I love to bicycle.
- I smoked for 5 years. I recently started again due to stress, but quit effortlessly after I climbed Mt. Langley.
- I had an abortion when I was 19, and it trips me out to think I would have a 30 year old child right now if I had not had the abortion.
- I have been more politically active this year than ever before in my life.
- I love the ocean.
- I occasionally write erotica.
- I love to read.
- I was identified as "gifted" in 3rd grade.
- I have homeschooled my daughter for the past 4 years.
- I have judgment and contempt for the public school system.
- I birthed my daughter at home with a midwife.
- That was the most empowering experience of my entire life.
- I gave my daughter my last name instead of her father's.
- I have never changed my last name (married twice).
- My magazine subscriptions are: Ode, National Geographic Traveler, The Sun, and Sunset (courtesy of my real estate agent).
- I aspire to having something published in The Sun or Ode.
- I am trained in Herbalism, and use the knowledge to keep my family healthy.
- I never vaccinated my daughter; a conscious choice.
- I stay as far away as possible from Western Medicine.
- I took a 3 year God-based Shaman course that changed my life.
- I have despair and dismay about how different religions cannot coexist peacefully.
- I am deeply spiritual, but rarely attend church.
- When I drive somewhere regularly, I like to take different routes.
- I like to have cupboards and a freezer full of food; it makes me feel rich.
- I really, really, love chocolate.
- I aspire to receiving weekly massages.
- A few of my favorite movies: "To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar", Somewhere in Time, Monty Python and The Holy Grail, Dangerous Beauty, The Breakfast Club, LOTR, The Matrix.
- My favorite song: James Taylor's You've Got a Friend.
- Stars I have massaged (literally): Sting (Oh BABY), Jennifer Tilly, Rickie Lee Jones, Jimmy Messina.
- My father grew up on a farm in Nebraska.
- My mother grew up in Chicago.
- They met in California; both had traveled there in search of the good life.
- I am ¼ Swedish, ¼ Czechoslovakian, English, French and some other stuff.
- I enjoy the challenge of public speaking.
- I now make my living in sales.
- I am, like Nicole, realizing that 100 is a large number.
- I love having people over for dinner and board games.
- I play poker well.
- I talk a lot; love to tell stories.
- I had to consciously try to keep my mouth shut during the 19 years I did massage.
- I give better than I receive.
- I love big words!
- I love to look at women as much as men; I think I was male in my last life.
- I have a zestful passion for life, and not a lot of fear.
- I do not fear death.
- I do fear the death of my daughter.
- A good magazine cover of Viggo Mortensen has been known to stop me in my tracks at the supermarket.
- I long to find the right man, and spend the rest of my life with him.
- I am afraid my "chooser" is warped and not up to the task.
- I love to garden, but rarely find the time.
- I can be controlling.
- I love to be held.
- I am very opinionated.
- I don't like people telling me what to do.
- I like long, slow, tender and soft kisses.


Comments: 57
And loud agreement with Marlena's #101
#7. You'll find it, you WILL
12-I believe that without any hesitation
20-Ah Wendy this makes me cringe, I'm sorry
23-24 Fifth Amendment Rights Invoked
28, well of course and that's something we share
38-well said, and I am too
52-55 I hadn't realized she's at home. We have this in common as well, my goal is to have all five of mine home eventually. High school is HARD, but rewarding, I learn as much as they. Oh and just a chance to say it, your daughter is a lovely creature. I'm sure her personality matches the fire in her eyes. She looks like an old soul, like she knows many things we do not.
56-57 You'd be a great doula, with the massage experience. I also sense you would be a very calming influence.
81-hahaha
92-Ah yes YUMMY (there's a high juice factor with that one)
94-mine was too, for most of my life, then I stopped looking-well you know how that turned out.
96-100 could have been penned by us both.
This is delightful Wendy. Did you enjoy writing it? I found it to be quite the experience. I'm so happy that my experience tickled your thought process. Well done my friend
I am extremely sensitive to, and long for, quality touch.
I am taller than almost every woman I know; 5'11". (ok, 5'10", but close enough)
I am all legs, with an inseam of 36".
My entire life I have struggled to find pants that are long enough for me.
I enjoy astrology. I am a Cancer with moon in Leo and Libra rising. (not sure about the Leo and Libra stuff, but I'm a Cancer)
I first smoked pot at the age of 16.
I especially treasure my women friends; they sustain me.
I am very intolerant of intolerant people…LOL….really.
I am practically militantly supportive of gay rights/gay marriage. (not militant, but definitely supportive)
I love the ocean.
I occasionally write erotica. (I'd love to read some, Wendy!)
I love to read.
I was identified as "gifted" in 3rd grade. (ok, 5th)
I have despair and dismay about how different religions cannot coexist peacefully.
I am deeply spiritual, but rarely attend church. (synagogue, in my case)
I like to have cupboards and a freezer full of food; it makes me feel rich.
I really, really, love chocolate.
I aspire to receiving weekly massages.
I love to look at women as much as men; I think I was male in my last life.
I do fear the death of my daughter. (and my son)
I can be controlling.
I love to be held.
I am very opinionated.
I don't like people telling me what to do.
I like long, slow, tender and soft kisses.
1. Look forward to it: the 50's are The Best. Too old to give a crap what others think, but young enough to enjoy that.
3. LOVE wasband! LOL I'm calling him that from now on. I'm so thrilled to not be living with him (though it wasn't an easy realization to come to) that I can hardly believe my good fortune.
4. Two dogs, a pug and a silky terrier. My beautiful cat was eaten by a coyote, I believe.
5. I own my home -- sometimes wish I didn't. Too expensive. But the tax break!
...
13. My father was an alcoholic. Me too. I'm thrilled both that he stopped drinking and that, at the age of 75+, he completely turned his life around from being an anti-social crank to being a sweet and friendly guy. Miracles DO happen!
38. I am very intolerant of intolerant people…LOL….really. -- I tolerate them, just barely.
39. I am practically militantly supportive of gay rights/gay marriage. -- me too
47. I smoked for 5 years. I recently started again due to stress, but quit effortlessly after I climbed Mt. Langley. -- I smoked for about 15-20 years, started up again when the hasband left (although I never got to more than 5-6 cigarettes a day). I quit quite effortlessly too, only thanks to Wellbutrin and Tony Robbins. Now, sometimes I actually TRY to smoke and just can't make myself do it -- too ucky!
48. I had an abortion when I was 19, and it trips me out to think I would have a 30 year old child right now if I had not had the abortion. -- me too, only we're talking 37. Yikes! Back then, you had to travel to NYC, the only place in the US where it was legal.
50. I love the ocean.
52. I love to read.
53. I was identified as "gifted" in 3rd grade.
54. I have homeschooled my daughter for the past 4 years. -- one year for me.
55. I have judgment and contempt for the public school system.
70. I really, really, love chocolate.
72. A few of my favorite movies: "To Wong Foo..." etc. For me, "American Beauty," "Requiem for a Dream" and just about anything by Martin Scorcese.
73. My favorite song: James Taylor's You've Got a Friend. -- JT's "Close Your Eyes"
75. My father grew up on a farm in Nebraska. -- mine on a farm in Maine.
84. I talk a lot; love to tell stories.
94. I am afraid my "chooser" is warped and not up to the task. -- not dying to find a guy. If I do, fine, but I took am afraid that my "chooser" is permanently warped and that I'll pass the great guys by for a good-looking sociopath. I'm doing my best to focus on better qualities now, like kindness and humor.
98. I am very opinionated. -- ditto
99. I don't like people telling me what to do. -- double ditto
100. AND WE SHARE THE SAME FIRST NAME!
35-I treasure my friends
50-I love the ocean.
67-I am deeply spiritual, but rarely attend church.
79-I enjoy the challenge of public speaking.
84
85
86
87
89- have a zestful passion for life, and not a lot of fear.
90-I do not fear death
93-I long to find the right woman, and spend the rest of my life with him.
96,97,98,99,100
I'll have to see if I can write one of these and post it somewhere...
Great experience and great writing...
Settummanque!
I found this to be a very interesting exercise. I tried to be very honest and not all positive (following Nicole's example). Looking at this list, it's an odd feeling to realize it describes a large part of who I am. Never tried this before. Maybe now I can finally fill in the "describe yourself" on my profile....I'll have to condense this list somehow.....Hmmmm
Give it a try, everyone!
(I HATE how my thought process goes - no wonder I have no life. I am going to make a conscious effort not to write anymore advice about divorce. This is my last comment about it.)
Number 99 and 100 for me!
Marlena, thank you for the sweet #101 - can't wait to see your list.
David, we have much in common after all, and thanks for your second of #101!
Robin, have fun with your firecracker of a daughter and check out longelegantlegs.com for long pants.
Guatami, thank you so much for stopping by with hugs!
Nicole *sings - you are my inspiration* I did enjoy the process, thanks. I take immense pleasure in homeschooling my daughter, or more specifically, not sending her to public school. She is a wise one, you're right. I did consider bring a childbirth education teacher because I am entranced by the magic of birth and pregnant women, but I am hugely biased towards home birth, so decided not to. Oh, and GO VIGGO.
Renie, wow, I think we were twins separated at birth. Another long-legged Cancer woman - yes!
Todd, that is sweet, but a number of those things would have quite a few people turning the page. Glad to hear we have a lot in common; I like your articles. You seem like a very kind man.
Wendy H., well, well - make that triplets with me and Renie. Good for you with the no smoking, keep it up. A pleasure to meet another homeschooler. I know that JT song, I can sing it in my head.
Clive, thanks for stopping by. I checked out your images, you live in a gorgeous place - lovely photos. Tux looks great! And I loved your powerful story "The Red Admirals"
Susan P. - you and I have all the basics in common - like chocolate, reading and writing, and kissing. That didn't sound right....lol
Joanne Huspek, thanks for stopping by. I encourage you to give this a try. I love the way it emphasizes people's commonalities instead of our differences - something sorely needed on Gather at times.
Heather B., I love your description of how your sense of me from my writings melded with my list. Would love to hear more about massage school.
Mary H, thanks for visiting. I checked out your space and will surely be returning soon for more big words. Intelligence, you obviously have in spades.....
Ron Hall, thanks for the visit. I intentionally tried to put some stuff in there that was not positive, but was an important part of who I am. BTW, every time I see your icon of you kissing your wife, I smile.
Richard - aha! Another public speaker - kudos. Thanks for joining in, here.
M N, Get those gurgles going and go for it!
Ann, you are so succinct. Thanks for visiting.
Mike Walton, *fans self* I think you got the touch thing in common with me, anyway! Thanks for your kind words.
Goddess Nancy, love the name. Thank you for visiting.
audrey, 16 years - that's a long massage career. So you recruit massage therapists?
Mark J, I so enjoy your comments, thanks for the connection. What a kind offer of royal treatment for our bicycle trip, I just might take you up on that! As far as massage, there was a period of 6 months when I was receiving a 2 hour massage every other week - heaven! Andno, it didn't sound dirty, actually sharing my inseam brought up more visuals...lol
Joe T, thanks for the encouraging words about 50 and beyond. Deep down I know you are right on, and none of my decade birthdays have thrown me for a loop so far. I expect 50 will be like the others - a huge party!
Serina, Glad I got a laugh out of you. The newest car I have ever owned is an '89 Subaru. I lust after the Toyota Prius, and would paint it a deep, royal purple.
witch, go for it - these lists are an interesting way to get to know yourself and others, too.
Donna, Ahh, a divorce attorney. Not to worry. My husband is not my daughter's father. Her biological does the best he can, but is neither emotionally nor environmentally capable of taking care of our daughter (as he lives is a camper in a parking lot). I have raised her from birth. Thanks for the heads up, though - sweet of you.
Amber, you found sparkling lips my favorite shade of purple!! That rocks.
Visionaerie, love the eclectic comment - I resemble that remark. I use Bach flower remedies for my family and myself, too - they are awesome. We surely have many health-oriented views and products in common, you and I. Thanks for the ultimately supportive compliment as well - you are sweet.
Kathryn, you are too kind, Madam. I have always been a person who is very forthcoming and honest; I don't play my cards close to my chest (except in Vegas). As a result, I have been deeply hurt a few times, but I love the freedom openness provides.
2. "I have one daughter who is 12 years old; a firecracker and the light of my life."...yr quite a firecracker yourself, gorgeous :)
3. I have a husband who will soon be a wasband "...any man who doesn't appreciate the treasure that you are, doesn't deserve to keep you...hey! does this mean I'm now allowed to flirt with you?
5. "I own my home, with my soon-to-be wasband. We are negotiating about that."...my advice...keep the house, dump the guy...if he bitches, give him the dog.
6. 7. & 51...hey lady! this is a family forum...enough about the touching and erotica...you made me go through an entire box of Kleenex :)
8. 9. & 10....that's statuesque, honeychile...revel in it.
12. "I have the ability to find joy in life on a daily basis."...you are a constant joy to all of us, princess.
18. "I am the youngest of 4 girls." ...OMG, you mean there are FOUR of you hotties?
25. "I rolled a VW bug on a mountain road and walked away with 8 stitches on my shoulder."...my question is...how did you fit into a WV bug?
30. "I have always wanted a Harley."...yeah, right! you on a Harley, in that shoulder length hair...doesn't America have enough road accidents already?
35. "I treasure my friends."...and we all treasure you, cupcake:)...in spades.
36. "I especially treasure my women friends; they sustain me."...don't be cruel...some of us guys are almost nice :)
87. "I love big words!"....supercalifragilisticexpialodocous
96. "I can be controlling."....you can control me anytime, darling girl :)
Nicole, we need to discuss some screening procedures, here....lol.
Nicole...I'm not sure precisely wht "it" is that I can't handle...some clarification would be welcome
I think he does =)
If I made a list, it would no doubt be biased in my favor. lol.
And of course the list is biased in my favor! Which puts a whole new light on the openness part...hmmm...
I don't think it is a question of openness verses non-openness in this instance. It is a question of how you choose to be open. For example, I could tell you I have a sense of humor--or, I could tell you a joke that would make my sense of humor evident. Experience has taught these tired old eyes that action speaks louder than words. Not that there is anything wrong with words if they are sincere.
I just find it is better to watch people, and I make my open communication with the assumption that others would rather watch me than simply hear me.
OK, I too am 1/4 Swedish, leggy, and tall with so many other similarities I lost count.