25 things about me

I like lists. No, that is not one of the 25 things. It is simply to say that a list of 25 random and quotidian facts about myself is appealing for a number of reasons, not least of which is that I like lists.

Shall we get on with it?

The list:

1. I took my first French class in 6th grade

2. I played violin for one year (1983-ish)

3. I wrote a series of 19 sonnets in high school, just because

4. I've broken all of my fingers, though thankfully neither thumb

5. I would live in Paris (France) in a heartbeat if work and money were not issues

6. I've been to almost as many countries in Europe as I have States in the U.S. (England, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein; California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, Alaska, Hawai'i)

7. I'm a sympathy puker. When I see someone puke, I can usually not restrain my urge to do the same

8. I always do crosswords with a pen, and always all caps

9. My dad played minor league baseball, but I quit after tee-ball because it was boring. I started playing football (soccer) that fall. I was 5

10. I resisted getting an iPhone for 5 months. Now I have one, and I love it

11. I am a Capricorn, but I put no stock at all in astrology

12. I really want to learn Farsi

13. I also really want to travel to Iran. The architecture, the culture, the food!

14. I don't collect things, but if I could have one collectible item it would be a first edition of 'The Hobbit'

15. I grew up in 'the hood.' I've rarely felt uncomfortable in the 'bad' parts of towns as a result. People are people, I mind my own business and it seems to work out fine

16. I love cars, but don't much care for driving

17. I am not religious. I believe in god (or something) but not in God

18. I would like to work somewhere I could wear a suit and tie

19. I don't wear a watch, for the most part

20. I used to skate, I'd like to get back into it, but I am afraid I might be too old

21. I volunteered at a cat-only animal shelter for a few years. My favorite thing was taking a scared or stand-offish cat into a meet and greet room and sitting quietly until he mellowed out. Socializing cats is a really joyful undertaking

22. I got my first (and so far only) tattoo when I was 31. It took that long to figure out what I really wanted

23. I have a lot of books. Last time I counted there were more than 600 in my house. There are more in my mom's storage

24. I wish I was a better gardener

25. I'm not really afraid of death. I've embraced the transience of life, I don't want to die, but I believe that on some level that, sometimes, being afraid of death is really just being afraid of living fully

There it is. Do with it what you will.