Here I am -- warts and all

I have spent the past nearly 30 years interviewing other people. Yet, during that time I have rarely been interviewed myself. Consequently, by a meme in the blog of Andrea (that artist extraordinaire) she posed the question as to whether any of the respondents would like to be interviewed via five selected questions. In a moment of curiosity, or vainglory, I bit. While I am a very private person for the most part, I was challenged by her questions, so I bit.

So here you have it. The questions were posed by Andrea, but the responses are mine:

1. Is there any overlap between your blogging and your freelance work? How do they influence each other? In a word ‘sometimes.’ For 20 years I wrote a newspaper column, one that actually won a couple of major awards. The column was similar to my blog in that I looked at the world/people/things/situations and offered my interpretation. I have also freelanced for decades on various subjects. So, when blogging came around, it offered me this chance for self-expression I’d always not only loved, but literally ‘needed.’ It’s something within me. Sometimes I have shortened and adjusted freelance articles into blogs. Mostly, however, they are original offerings.

2. You live in a promised land/bit of paradise but nowhere is perfect. What would you do to improve the Courtenay/Comox region? The Comox Valley is exquisite at many levels, and the quality-of-life is enviable. What I would do, however, is offer some viable employment opportunities, especially for young and middle-aged professionals. Opportunities are few in this retirement haven, which is a kind of Palm Springs North. And the level of pay sucks. Consequently, our schools are emptying out as what should be the most vital element of a community demographic is leaving.

3. Do you follow the rules? Explain. My goodness, Andrea. Whatever kind of ‘rules’ do you mean? For many years of my life I chose “men behaving badly” as a kind of romantic credo. Had lots of fun, but also had lots of heartbreak and waste of creative potential. So, no, I didn’t follow the rules at one time. Then, I think I grew up, so now, I do. It’s better. It’s calmer. It’s happier.

4. Name one thing you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t quite managed yet: Can I name two? Can I, can I? I have always wanted to have a book published. Not necessarily a best-seller or a big money earner, but just something with my name on it, and something that others might refer to from time to time. The other is to travel as much as I can and as long as my money and health hold out. Kauai is beginning to beckon once again, but then again, it always did
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5. How did you meet your wife? I met my wife almost exactly 10 years ago on a sunny day trip to Hornby Island that was arranged by a female friend. She gathered up a group of walking wounded unattached people for a day’s outing. Wendy was one of those people. We had both come out of wretched divorces and neither of us wanted to get hooked up. I think that was why we clicked right from the beginning. We felt a wonderful and undemanding comfort zone within each other. Even though she is younger than I am (by 13 years), we have never noticed an age discrepancy. That must mean that she is either very mature, or I am very immature. Whatever the case, it works.


DIRECTIONS FOR THE INTERVIEW MEME
1. Leave a comment saying, "Interview me." Cut me some slack -- it may take awhile.
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. Please make sure I have your email address.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.