Diez Cosas Que Amo de Mi

I have been nominated for an Honest Scrap award by a (far more fit than I) fellow-ess Californian. (I'm guessing the check that comes with the award is in the mail?) I understand the object of this award is for the awardee to post ten scraps of information though I could probably write up ten scraps on anyone much like a psychic would perform a reading.

While I'm waiting for the check to arrive -- below is the list of ten things you probably don't know about me:

When I was 16 years old I volunteered for a local "peace center" and worked at getting people to sign petitions against the war. I also walked door to door trying to get people to sign petitions. I was young, I had a cause though I wasn't exactly sure what it was. I was also a member of Another Mother for Peace though I wasn't a mother at the time.

I was a union steward for the Communication Workers of America. I went to union meetings, filed grievances and saved more than one person from getting fired. I was a bit older, I had a cause. I didn't know exactly what it was. A couple of months ago I was in a coffee shop when a man came in talking about a possible strike with the CWA. I told him I had been a union steward. He shook my hand and thanked me for my service.

I once stood within a few feet of Neil Young, Willy McCovey, and Clint Eastwood, not all at the same time. I didn't have enough courage to say a word to any of them. The last time I was in the presence of a public figure (aside from *you*) I had courage, and we actually conversed.

I am a good cook. In the past I would bake special desserts for holidays though since tackling 

some food addiction issues, I stopped baking for special occasions, and pretty much stopped baking entirely. (I have been known to bake the occasional batch (what is a batch?) of cookies. ( batch = 'how many I can eat in one sitting.') I used to make truffles by the hundreds for holidays gifts though no more. I want to be able to show people that I have love for them without using food. Do you think it's possible?

I love plants and love to garden. My favorite plants are fuchsias. I know a lot about plants in general and can probably identify thousands (or maybe 6 or 7 total) by sight. I once worked for a florist for a year. I applied at a nursery though did not get that job. (I was young. I had a cause etc.)

In the year 2000, the Pew Charitable Trust phoned and asked if I had to time to take a survey? I was annoyed though I agreed. The survey turned out to be about charitable work, community service, spirituality and religious views etc. I was on the phone with the woman for about a half hour and while she asked questions, I realized that I did nothing charitable, I volunteered for nothing, and did no community (or otherwise) service for my fellow human beings. That phone call was transformative. I had been to my own doctor earlier that same week and had picked up an envelope for a local hospice asking for donations or volunteers. I considered volunteering though my first act of charity was sending a check to hospice. My husband, Greg was diagnosed with colon cancer two days later. We used that same hospice service the last few months of Greg's life.

At a political rally I shook hands with Jerry Brown and told him "have fun in Oxnard" (because that was his next stop) while my sister was yelling to someone in the background that I was shaking hands with and talking to Jerry Brown. I almost asked him to come for dinner but chickened out. We were young. We had no cause. We liked Jerry Brown. We were at a rally in San Luis Obispo, CA.

My favorite song writers of all times are Joni Mitchell and Stevie Wonder. They are phenomenal lyricists and musicians.

My sister and I attended Sears Charm School. (Stop laughing!) My mom forced us to go. I still know the 11 step model walk. I can blow those younger models off the runway with my saucy style! Look out --Tyra!

I am related to this woman. She is buried in a graveyard in San Juan Bautista. Do not even think of taking your camera there!