An interview with Kathline Gore

Kathline, you are a musician, a mother, an equestrian and write insightful copy on life in general. How long have you been playing the violin?

I have played the violin since the age of 5 years old.

How has being a violinist impacted your life?

I have been given the gift of music and mathematics and tone. It has given me the opportunity to have something in common with far smarter people than myself. I have traveled as part of a group when I was in high school. Groups are good there and in college it gave me a distraction to all of life’s issues. I have been exposed to a lot of music, but a restful sonata or Vivaldi’s Four Seasons picks up my mood. For thinking, I enjoy the Brandenburg Concertos to help me sort things out. My kids roll their eyes and say, “Uh-oh, mom is thinking again!” when they hear my playing. It can be an emotional release and a touching tribute when need be. I have been so lucky that my parents were able to afford this gift that is always giving to me everyday.

I understand that you’re a horse lover. Do you keep horses of your own? If so, tell us about them.

When I was 5years old, my parents also let me take lessons and get my own horse. I rode everyday and enjoyed it so much. As I grew older, I competed in shows and even still compete every once in awhile. I attempted the Olympic trials for jumping but my horse fell and I suffered nerve damage in my leg. I am still very active in the horse community. I teach on the weekends for spare change and have a Sunday class where I invite handicapped individuals to come and ride. They learn what it takes to brush and clean horses and have the Sunday chores, brushing and doing what they can to have a “one-day-a-week horse”. I mentor and train people as well to be better horseman and hopefully people.

My kids and I have 4 horses with one on the way. We have a local stable that we frequent, namely the woman who taught me owns a stable with an indoor arena and that makes it possible for us to afford this. We allow others to use our horses for lessons and it pays the board. In competition, I learned to never quit and get back up there. My son had been 4-H horse President for 2 years and is now in college but still very active in our local chapter.

What kind of things did/do you do in 4-H? Any interesting projects or experiences?

For the 4H we do show each year at our county fair and goodwill project, learning about recycling, etc. They have lots of project work like the Boys or Girl Scouts. If you have not taken a look at 4H, do it. We have sewing competition to car projects, digital photography to travel. We can always use another set of hands (hint, hint.)  Personally, my family has competed in the gardening division with 6 plots at our community garden 20 by 30 feet each we have raised a lot of veggies for ourselves, our church and our community pantry

 
It says that one of your heroes is Sally Field. You must watch Brothers and Sisters. What is it that you admire about her?

I admire her professionalism and ability, as well as the ability to be truly honest. She was so glad to belong and be liked.  So many say they don’t care but it is nice to be accepted. We don’t watch much TV; too busy or reading but we like Survivor and the pirate show currently. Survivorman is another favorite and of course, the food channel.

Did you watch Gidget and The Flying Nun when you were growing up? (TFN was my favorite show, next to The Beatles)

Actually, when I was young, I was busy practicing the violin and riding. There were not the channel options of today and we got 2,5,7, and channel 9 which is WGN, so I remember watching Bozo’s Circus in the morning, Ray Rainer, and Gilligan’s Island reruns when I got home. Chips was another favorite of mine and I have since met Erik Estrada a few times. Great guy. I did not even know Sally Field was on TV.

Can you tell us about your illness?

I have battled cancer 3 times in my life. This makes it a 4^th. Your thyroid has 2 lobes and this is my second time with it. I have a fast-spreading aggressive type that we are battling. I am also an insulin-dependent diabetic, so sometimes the two are hard together. Generally, though, let me caution everyone: thyroid cancer as well as others can be very treatable and you should not panic when given the cancer diagnosis. Keeping in mind I have had cancer and other health issues affect how my body is handling the stresses. My health is a struggle but I have just finished my dose of radiation today and am still breathing. Wait oh yeah I am breathing.

 
Can you tell us about single parenthood while battling cancer?

That is a tough question…break it down.  Parenting is very tough.  Being a Mom is something that I value and cherish.  They make me reach higher and love greater, but lots of work. Single: I have been specifically not dating until I felt like they were ok.  A year turned into 8 years, I am afraid, but being single is truly not a bad thing. I would love to meet the man that would love me for the rest of my life, but, if not, I have lots of friends and my life is pretty busy. Cancer, overall, is the easiest to deal with. People tell you what to do and treat you. I have become very knowledgeable and my own champion. I always ask for all the alternatives and get second opinions. If I do not agree, I go ahead and seek another professionals’ advice. I figure I am the one at stake here and it is my responsibility to care for me, first.

What ages are your children?

Johnathan is 19 and going to college to become a chef, he would love to own a restaurant someday. Samantha is 15 and being a teenage girl, well, that speaks volumes. I love her creative and spirited wit. When she smiles you absolutely tingle. Casey will be 14 in December and is just entering high school this year. He is the inventor and builder of the family: give him a hammer and wood and he is happy, let him take things apart and fix them and he is in heaven.

Describe a typical day for you.

Weekday: get up, take a walk, make sure that everyone is prepared for their day, and head to work.  After work, grab the kids, head to the barn, then off to the garden if summer, if not, home and we eat late. Since it is summer we do our own things after 9pm.

I’m going to use your own questions against you, here:

My answers always change, lol,  Maybe I could start asking the same people over.

If you could choose 5 people to have dinner with living or dead who would it be?

Today’s answer: ha ha ha...Tomi of Gather, you, the interviewer, Gary of Gather, Neil Diamond, my Grandma. If I could…have everyone from Gather because I know I have left off some dear friends. That would be nice.

 
If you were alone on an island what three things would you have to have with you?

I have to grab an answer from my son, Casey:  a  laptop with a house attached to it, cell phone, my family. Bonus item: seeds. I can grow anything. Fuzzy math after all I am a Gore we invented the internet right?

 
Now I feel bad… I didn’t even think of having people on that island with me.  What is your favorite word?

Yes.

Your favorite sound?

Dinner with my family talking and eating and just living

What makes you happiest?

My family

What makes you laugh?

Life.

What do you like about your life?

My family and my life. You all like me and that makes me so happy. For those who have not met me or do not like me think of what you could be missing.

 
What are you grateful for?

For the chance to live, have a family and being me

If you could have three wishes what would they be?

1. Good opportunities for my kids to live, work and be well spiritually, emotionally, mentally and financially. ( I have learned to be very specific with my intentions before presenting them.)

2. My health and the health of all that I love and touch on a personal basis.

3. I will save my third wish for a spare you never know when you might need to lend it out or use it.

 
(Ixnay on the extra ishes-way…) Have you figured out the secret of life?

Live it and make it something special, this is not practice.  The people you touch are beyond belief when you are living well.

 
What do you dream of?

 In a lot of ways I have everything I dream of, but I have to be honest and say being in good health.

Thanks for sharing yourself with everyone Kathline.

Peace be with you!

Read Kathline Gore at kathlinegore.gather.com  The Kat Gore Admiration Society can be found at Kat Gore Admiration Society