Another Gather Birthday: Leah Christensen

Yesterday January 30, was Leah Christensen’s birthday.  I apologize profusely for not being able to get her birthday message out in time.  I had a personal situation at home to deal with and then computer troubles followed by gather shutting down for maintenance.  It seems when one thing goes wrong everything does. Leah has been a member of gather since May 30, 2006 

Right now I'm in Guelph, Ontario, Canada but my dream is to head for Sedona AZ some day soon. I am a Canadian citizen born to a Danish mother (now Canadian) and a Canadian father. Though I can't legally file for dual citizenship, one is as important to me as the other. Because my citizenship is Canadian I thought it was important that my name be Danish, and that's why I took my mother's birth-name of Christensen as my legal surname.
 
I don't work outside of the home as yet. I have a cookbook of Danish recipes published that I wrote in memory of my Mormor (Danish for Mom's Mom, Else Christensen 1917-2004. My sister Rebecca came up with the title "Tak For Mad", which translates to "Thanks For The Food." My whole introduction is about her, and Mormor, and how the book came to be.

It is availaboe from my page at lulu.com

Tak For Mad

ISBN: 1-4116-3456-X

http://www.lulu.com/content/116633

> 4. What first inspired you to write?

I was inspired to write by life.  I started writing in mid 2004, to get my mind off of Mormor's passing. I wrote a couple of children's stories which I hope to get published, one about my step-niece Alexis at Christmas (I wrote that to get myself over a BAD case of Christmas blues) and another about a little girl named Katja, and her immigration to Canada from Denmark. This is based on my mother's childhood.

My hobbies are: Reading, writing, music from around the world, my computer, learning about different cultures.

Other things that I like are :my cat Shakti (I got him the day after I moved out on my own), drinking a perfect cup of coffee (Turkish coffee, or the mocha lattes at The Second Cup, just up the street from my apartment), visiting Morfar (Danish for Mom's Dad), reading all the wonderful books Mormor gave me...
 
My pet peeves are loud invasive pounding music, and people who chew strongly scented flavoured gum on the busses (it's as bad as second hand smoke sometimes!)
 
Some social issues that I am concerned about are, Religious extremism on any side (there are many right answers, not just one.

Also, women's rights, and the rights of minorities, I think we all deserve the same privileges regardless of our gender, race, culture, religious beliefs, people who take things personally (I don't speak in public unless I'm willing to acknowledge the opinions of those reading/hearing what I had to say. If I wanted to keep it private I'd write it in a notebook with a pen).

I was the first person in my immediate family to graduate high school. It was tough (not the classes, the people!!!) but I did it. I saw what my sister went through with peer pressure, and I was DETERMINED to bypass it. I DID!! I wasn't going to let them run me.

One of the important events in my life is that in 2005 I published my cookbook, Tak For Mad.

As of January 30th, I'll have lived a QUARTER CENTURY on this crazy planet, meeting some wonderful people and some less than encouraging people along the way, but I'm still here, writing it all down.

 The one thing that I would like to do that I have not already done is to travel around the world

A favourite birthday memory of mine was in 1998 when I turned 16, and Eatons was going out of business, Mormor and Morfar took me to Eatons, and together we bought out the ENTIRE chocolate section. Morfar and I both have a big sweet tooth.

My birthday wish is for World peace, no one fighting, arguing with anyone. People are still going to disagree, but from those disagreements we can open our minds and learn great things. What new things would we learn if we all agreed?

Katja's Journey... this is one of the children's stories I referred to earlier. I would like gather members to read it.

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976762677

Janelle has graciously offered to provide you with your favourite song for you birthday please tell me what it is here â€" name the title and singer if you have it:

My favourite song is Morgen, by Ivo Robic. I love that song, because the message behind it is that better days will come "tomorrow." It's a German song, but somehow one doesn't need to know how to speak German to fully appreciate it's message.
>
Thank you Carol!! You do wonderful work on The Birthday Club.

-Leah

Happy birthday Leah from all your friends at gather, we hope we have made your day a memorial one.

Note to the birthday club members.  If you have not yet submitted your birthday dates to me please to so.  I need to prepare well enough in advance. Furthemore, when I send you the questions to do your celebration I need to have them back, at least one day prior to your birthday.

Carol Roach: winterose.gather.com

The birthday Club:

http://thebirthdayclub.gather.com/