I’m following up on a meme tag from Sharah (thank you, Sharah, for the opportunity). The rules are as follows: first, I write a bit about who I am — eight things to be exact. The second part involves you, the reader. If you’re so inclined you get to dive deeper and pose questions to me in the comments section.
Before I kick this off, I want to share an epiphany I had this morning. During a long walk (my allergy-induced asthma prevented anything close to a jog) I watched neighboring parents accompany their backpack-clad kids down to the local elementary school where other parents queued up in their over-sized sport utility vehicles to deposit their children before heading off to work and I asked myself: what the hell am I doing here in suburbia? We moved here six years ago because of the top-notch schools and our belief that we’d need them for our kids. We know now how that turned out. Sigh.
So where does that leave me today? A bit bewildered, actually, but I know I am:
* Originally from Detroit, where I was born, before my parents moved to the suburbs (sensing a theme here?)
* One of four children born in five years to my parents (how did they manage?) who themselves were the first in their family to graduate from university; granddaughter to a women who was one of fourteen children (!!!) born to Polish immigrants
* An English Literature major from the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) who somehow ended up in the auto industry where at night I pursued and completed a master’s degree at Wayne State University.
* Now an 11 year resident of the California Bay area and Silicon Valley where I moved because Detroit is second only to Seattle in the number of cloudy days and I truly wanted to live in a sunny and mild climate.
* Married to the most amazingly talented, witty, fun-loving, articulate, caring and sweet-natured man a woman could ever hope to meet and spend her life with…I could say more but as Bonnie Raitt sings with Sippie Wallace, “women be wise, keep your mouth shut. don’t advertise your man…”
* An avid reader of biographies, historical fiction, a variety of non-fiction, anything by Jane Austen, and the occasional “bubble gum for the brain” beach book.
* A free spirit working with one step in corporate America and the other in startup land who is slowly throwing off the shackles that a conventional education and upbringing over the years layered on when I wasn’t paying attention.
* A woman looking to regain the wonder, can-do spirit and optimism eroded away by infertility …
Hmm. More on what I’m going to do now in subsequent posts. That question may involve a physical move, but of course I need to discuss it with my better half. Now, over to you in case you’d like to learn more.
As for tagging five people. How about:
Ellen at Miss E’s Musings
Karen at Upon Awakening
Shlomit at You’re Still Young!
Amy at A Somewhat Ordinary Life
Lady Macleod at Braveheart Does the Maghreb
May 16, 2007 6:13 pm
You know, that Bonnie Raitt is a wise woman – sounds like you are an amazing lady, too. Good work!
May 16, 2007 6:24 pm
Tag I’m it. I shall have to give that some thought. Now, about YOU.
What sort of “startup”?
What do you DO in the automobile industry? Race car driver? Mechanic? CEO? Showroom model?
I’m with Bonnie on that one so I won’t mention what sounds to be a fabulous man. Well done there!!
Have you thought to move to San Francisco? Fabulous city with a young, on-the-move population, and the best chocolate in the world.
Have you read the best of the Brain Candy books by Janet Evanovich, the Stephanie Plum series?
May 19, 2007 3:17 pm
I work with a series of technology-related startups — Internet and Cleantech mostly. Very interesting to be in the trenches when a company is forming.
In the auto industry I worked primarily in marketing and devoted a great deal of time to new product launches. I’ve seen more than my share of auto show models!
San Francisco is a very real possibility. We’re looking into it!
As for your book recommendations, I’ll put them on the list. I’m not familiar with them but since they have your recommendation, I’m sure they’re terrific. Cheers…
May 17, 2007 12:13 am
First off…no worries…your comments were fine and I took them wholly in the spirit in which they were intended!
Secondly, whereabouts in Detroit? I had a long distance relationship with a Detroit guy a few years back (before I met Sariel…welll….duh, obviously!!)
Thirdly, thanks for the tag…it’s a great distraction!
peace
shlomit
May 19, 2007 3:11 pm
I lived and worked in and around Troy, Ann Arbor, Highland Park, Detroit, Southfield, Auburn Hills, Farmington Hills, and Rochester. Never spent much time on the East side…
May 17, 2007 1:00 am
So many of those could be an entire post! Can’t wait to hear more…
May 17, 2007 1:48 am
*Love* the new look! Much lighter in feel… I can only hope that it’s a physical manifestation of feeling lighter on the inside… at least at times.
I only gave Mother’s Day a brief though in passing. I am running fast these days, as usual. It’s easier to concentrate on not tripping than the whole in my heart and soul.
Love your comment about getting out of suburbia. You know I’m not a suburbia fan to begin with, but talk about rubbing salt in the wound. Wherever you end up, I hope we will stay in touch… and I know you’ll land on your feet.
I hope the 4 of us get together at some point. Would be a fun evening… take care, my dear.
May 17, 2007 2:00 am
Very neat 8 things! Auto industry, huh? Sounds cool and interesting=) I would love to come back to CA someday–I have visited San Diego and Anaheim–loved them both!
May 17, 2007 12:49 pm
Manly’s family is from Detroit — I’ve only been up there once. It was an … interesting city to be in. We’ve thought very casually about moving up there, but the idea of living in the snow doesn’t appeal to either of us. The food, however, is fantastic and I wish I could get it down here.
May 17, 2007 1:31 pm
Thanks for tagging me!
FWIW, I’ve been planning a post on how living in the city makes the idea of being childfree a lot more palatable.
May 19, 2007 7:37 am
Thanks for the tag, been thinking about my answers for a while, will add them in my next post! English Literature Major huh? Should’ve guessed that from your masterful handling of the language and the special way you have with words. 🙂