10 Things You Might Not Know About Me

Elizabeth Taylor as Martha in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" by Edward Albee

In training classes we sometimes use an ice breaker called “two lies and a truth”. As you could probably work out, each person says two things about himself that are true and one that’s made up. The group has to guess which one is the lie. And through the process you all get to know more about each other, setting the stage for a productive learning event. Well this blog post is all truth. And it’s inspired slightly by that icebreaker but more recently by my daughter’s blog post, N.E.R.F. – Natalie’s Extremely Random Facts. If you haven’t read it do yourself a favor and pause now to do that.

Wasn’t it a hoot? I think #6 might be my favorite.

Now for my own list. Hmm, my last post was a list as well. Is a trend developing? Tune in next time to see. For now, here are 10 things you might not know about me:

1. I sing in the shower on weekends (not during the week or I’d wake my sleeping spouse). And I have a set list of favorites including: Sister Suffragette (Mary Poppins soundtrack), When I Need You (Leo Sayers), Que Sera Sera (Doris Day), All for the Best (Godspell soundtrack), and an original spiritual written by my brother Jim, called Wash Me Lord (which seems made for singing in the shower).

2. Related to number one, I know all the words to “All for the Best”, both parts. Check out this vintage footage with Victor Garber as Jesus (start about 40 seconds in.) Warning, the end of this clip may make you a little farklempt (see #10). The film is shot in New York, and the final scene of this clip is atop the World Trade Center, which is still being built at the time of filming. I got choked up watching it now.

3. I’m conflict-adverse. And while in personal relationships I’m learning the value of conflict (thanks to my husband and daughter), I still detest conflict on a major scale, as in war. I was watching the film “The Interpreter” recently and this line by Nicole Kidman’s character (an interpreter at the UN) caught my attention, “I walked away from Africa with nothing: no brother no family no lover nothing, nothing. Just a belief that words and compassion are the better way, even if it's slower than a gun.” Great line.

4. I used to have an autographed photo of Mr. Rogers. And I kissed it. With lipstick on. I think I was about 5 at the time. I visited the set as it was filmed in Pittsburgh where we lived then.

5. Before my career in corporate education, and sparked by an early love for theatre, I started down the path to being a theatre manager. I played the Elizabeth Taylor role (Martha) in a high school production of the Edward Albee play, “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf”. Loved playing that character. Didn’t love that my leading man still had his class ring on when he slapped me across the face in one scene or that he hadn’t yet learned how to stage slap. He’s a professional actor today so I’m sure he’s quite adept at that now.

6. I have mild OCD. Generally only those who’ve lived with me would notice it. But if I’m ever at lunch with you and starring at your shirt, it may be that you have a stray piece of string I’m itching to remove.

7. In high school I acquired the nickname, “Spy”. This was due to the apparently passable Russian accent I could do, while imitating Boris & Natasha of cartoon fame. My father, of Russian decent, hated the nickname because he felt it was derogatory towards our heritage. But I liked it because I thought it was a little sexy and edgy. I love spy films to this day.

8. During high school I took jazz, tap, and ballet classes with two of my friends. One went on to be my college roommate, and is still my BFF. As someone born both klutzy and with two left feet, I was the butt of many jokes about my dancing abilities. This could have scarred me for life but didn’t, as I only took the classes as a way to spend more time with my friends. I really was bad at it.

9. I have a good relationship with my daughter’s stepmother. She is kind and generous to both her stepchildren, and encourages open communication with me. Plus she’s a librarian. In my book, those things make her awesome.

10. I love Yiddish words. I learned a new one from a coworker this week: farmisht. She said it means overloaded or sort of “head in a spin”. I looked it up and it says “befuddled”. In either case, I like it. My favorite Yiddish word is farklempt, learned from the Mike Meyers Linda Richman character on Saturday Night Live, which I understand he created based on his mother-in-law.

And there you have it. So, what don’t I know about you that you might like to share? Did you have a fun nickname growing up? Do you still? What childhood TV star’s photo did you adore? Oh wait, maybe that one was just me. Tell me some good stuff about you in the comments so we can all get to know each other better.