Fear and Courage Meme

I stole this meme from Paul at Melodramatic Diary of a Cynic because I loved it and couldn't wait to do it! I hope you enjoy my answers!

1. What were you afraid of as a child?
Clowns. I find clowns terrifying. It all started when my parents took me to the World’s Fair Expo in Montreal in 1967 and I saw this terrible film where Jesus Christ was portrayed as a sad white clown on a white donkey. It was absolutely frightening to a young child. I mean, we all know how that one ends! On a high note though, I tasted Indian food for the first time and loved it!

2. When have you been most courageous?
I guess during the time I sold Bible books door-to-door and either when: I faced a loaded gun pointed right at me by a drunk, or the time I was picked up by the police, or the numerous times guard or wild dogs attacked me, or the time I was almost hit by a truck on my bike, or the 2 times I was almost raped by my manager or the time my roommate and I were kidnapped when we took a ride with a sleazy looking guy (she insisted) and we had to run for our lives (all of these are documented in Bookfield). That job made me into the individual I am today. When I compare that to standing in front of presidents of the big pharma company I worked for to present projects, there is no comparison, the former took way more courage because my very life was in peril.

3. What sound most disturbs you?
The sound of any animal in pain, including humans disturbs me the most.

4. What is the greatest amount of physical pain you’ve been in?
I was hit in the head with a line drive softball while pitching a coed game and it fractured my skull. That hurt quite a bit.

5. What’s your biggest fear for your children? (or children in general if you don’t have some of your own.)
That they will die in a pointless war, such as our current conflict with Iraq is.

6. What is the hardest physical challenge you’ve achieved?
I rode my bicycle 40 miles a day to sell books door-to-door during the summer of 1976. I was in the best shape of my life and I had to do it every day no matter how I felt or what the weather was.

7. Which do you prefer: Mountains or oceans/big water?
Definitely oceans; I love to snorkel or just plain swim in them.

8. What is the one thing you do for yourself that helps you keep everything together?
Exercise! I walk everyday to keep a cool head.

9. Ever had a close relative or friend with cancer?
My father died from pancreatic cancer. I was so depressed and I still don’t know how I got over it.

10. What are the things your friends count on you for?
They can count on me for everything within reason.

11. What is the best part of being in a committed relationship?
Trust, humor and sharing day-to-day experiences. I can’t wait to come home and tell my spouse what happened that day.

12. What is the hardest part of being in a committed relationship?
Maintaining it.

13. Summer or Winter? Why?
Summer. Winter is too cold and everything is dead.

14. Have you ever been in a school-yard fight? Why and what happened?
I was five years old when a little boy told me he was a faster runner than me. The nerve! He was dead wrong! So I when I caught him, thereby proving I was right, I sat on him and scratched up his face good! But then the teachers told me that that was not “ladylike” and made me apologize. Who knew?

15. Why blog?
Many reasons that include: I miss the social interactions from my job, it keeps me thinking and creating, it keeps me writing, I feel like I am contributing something to society at large.

16. Did you learn about sex, and/or sex safety from your parents?
Um yeah. From my dad’s Playboy mags and dirty jokes of the day. LOL!

17. How do you plan to talk to your kids about sex and/or sex safety?
No kids; not a prob!

18. What are you most thankful for this year?
I am most thankful that I have conquered my block and am able to do art again (It has been 10 long years). I am just a water coloring fool now! I love life again!