Three Things About Me

The lovely Chris at one of my favorite blogs, Just Beachy, tagged me with a request to share three unknown things about me, according to the letters of my middle name. Well, luckily you've been spared all my dark secrets, because I have a simple middle name, Ann. This name was rather common in the 70's, I'm afraid, and not quite as delicious as names these days. But I have grown to love its simplicity and it fits me more each day as I evolve, or should I say devolve, into a less complicated person (or so I aspire...). I have also met many beautiful Ann's.

Here is my list:

A is for Autumn, my favorite season. Autumn speaks to the old soul in me, the romantic, the part that likes quiet, cool weather, wind in the trees, sleeping in a warm bed with the window open and cool air coming in, a warm duvet or blanket under my chin. I prefer wool-sweater-and-jeans weather and I hate summer. I always loved starting school. I love the way autumn looks and how it feels, the gentle way leaves fall and curl, the saturated quiet colors as flowers die, the way things fade. I love the look of trees but mostly when branches are bare and the sky is grey and there is a perfect cool in the air. There's a solemnity in the shutting down of life that speaks to a very deep place in my soul.

N is for New Brunswick, a province on the east coast of Canada where I grew up. I miss it. I grew up in the country, in a small town, beside the river, surrounded by family and love, in a pretty little cottage house with a veranda and a big yard and forest, and always cats and dogs. There were problems in my house, but I survived them and I am strong from my childhood, although there are parts of me still damaged. My Dad was a drinker, and anyone who knows what that is like knows that they make the rules in the house and everyone lives on eggshells and everyone's heart aches all the time. To this day, I have no time for people who are (a) unkind to others or animals (b) hateful for no reason (c) moody and quick-tempered. I am a defender of the underdog, I am compassionate, I am humble, and I am defiant. I think and I feel deeply and the pain of others makes my heart ache because I know what it is like to be vulnerable. My Mom is amazing, and she still holds the world together, mine included. I like to sleep under the eaves in my parents house and revel at how well my life turned out and wonder how it will all end up. Good I pray.

N is for Natural. I don't like things too contrived, too perfect. I don't like anything that is too "done", including people, especially people. I like people who are approachable, who put you at ease, who don't think they are better than everyone. I deplore vanity. I am sensible and can be relied upon for the practical answer. I own a lot of black shoes.

I am the type of woman who doesn't mind wearing a pant suit when all the other women are wearing dresses. I imagine myself a real Kate Hepburn for that - she knew how to be herself and was never apologetic. I march to the beat of my own drummer. I speak my mind and can be frank. But I am not unkind. I don't need everyone to like me, but I love to be loved. I always struggle with dichotomies.. how to be two people at once. If I were really wealthy, I wouldn't be out clubbing or shopping in Monaco. I would be mucking out my barn in rubber boots and riding my horses. I would want to help people more and spend less.