We thought we’d do something a little different this week. Actually, we first did this about 5 years ago and it was a big success.
Anyways, since our reader base tends to change over time, we thought now would be a good time to do this again.
Do what? (You might ask.)
Keep reading.
The idea came from a sleepless night when I woke up about 2AM and couldn’t immediately fall back to sleep. As is often the case, I started to think about stuff. Work stuff. Family stuff. Kid stuff. And of course, blog stuff.
I got to thinking that here we have this blog that approximately 1200 people visit each day (depending on what day of the week it is), yet we are almost all anonymous. We all choose monikers or fake names to help secure our privacy – us included. Nobody really knows who anyone else truly is. Readers can only be familiar with fake names and possibly the situations and backstories that apply to that persona.
It kind of goes with the territory, I guess.
So the purpose of this post is to get to know one another a little better by introducing yourself and telling us a bit about you.
So let’s try to have a little fun and get to know each other more – without jeopardizing our anonymity of course!
Things to consider…
- Where are you from?
- How many kids do you have?
- What’s your occupation?
- What is your favorite sports team?
- What’s your favorite TV show?
- What is your favorite city to visit?
- What do you like to do in your spare time?
- Where do you dream of traveling to?
- What is your favorite beer and how many can you drink before you get drunk?
- What’s your favorite food?
- If someone gave you a 10 million dollars what would you do with it?
- What is the craziest thing you want to do before you die?
- Whatever you would like to say. Let your imagination be your guide!
It goes without saying that we expect all of you who comment regularly to participate! 😉 And hopefully those of you who like to stay behind the scenes will join in as well.
I’ll get the ball rolling…
Both Linda and I are 56 years young (though feeling achier with every passing day). We have three fabulous kids. Our son is 27 and after 3 years of being a special education teacher to emotionally disturbed middle-schoolers, is now in grad-school working towards a degree as a school psychologist. Oh…and he is recently engaged!
We also have twin 22 year-old daughters. One just recently moved about 4 hours away from home for a job as a chemical engineer. The other lives at home with us and is working as a therapist at a school for emotionally challenged young kids.
Linda is currently teaching first grade, and after 30+ years as a teacher, is anxiously anticipating retirement and escaping the hell-hole that teaching has become. I work from home and own a very small business and do most all of the blog related layouts and technical stuff (just winging it and learning as I go), along with writing (not so much anymore) answering most reader/member emails and talking with lots of people.
We both have parents in their mid-80’s. Mine are snow birds and split their time between Ohio and Florida (I drive them back and forth each year). Linda’s parents live close by and require daily assistance from Linda and myself due to aging and other health related issues (dementia).
I was born in Chicago which is one of our all-time favorite cities to visit. I think my all-time favorite city to visit though is San Francisco, and my favorite city to party in is Nashville.
I am a die-hard Ohio State Buckeye football fan (but not a lunatic) and vow that when I die, my ashes will be spread over their football stadium. (Not sure Linda will honor that request). By the way, in my second life I’m either going to be a star professional baseball player (second base) or a lead guitarist for a blues band. I haven’t made up my mind just yet.
We also are big Cincinnati Bengals fans ( I know, I know) and follow the Reds when they don’t stink.
When we’re not working we like to get outdoors and listen to live music – typically classic rock and/or blues. We walk, hike, bike and kayak as much as possible. Two years ago we purchased an RV and spend about 30 days each year traveling and camping. We despise the typical RV resort-type campgrounds and prefer the state or national parks, as well as boondocking.
We managed to check off one of our bucket lists destinations by traveling to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons a few years ago (Here’s a good post about that trip) and plan on heading up to Canada this summer – probably to Algonquin and/or Kilarney provincial parks. Of course hiking, camping and kayaking will be the primary activities (and perhaps a little drinking and over-eating). Eventually, we would like to travel to Europe – especially Italy.
I do about 99% of the cooking in our house while Linda does all the baking. Her chocolate cake from scratch is the best. She also makes this peanut butter, chocolate and Reeses Cups concoction that is out of this world. Many of our neighbors call it “crack” because it’s so addicting.
I don’t have a favorite food per se, though I love Mexican cuisine, smoked meats from my smoker and anything that is hot and spicy. I put hot sauce on just about everything.
Oh, and I don’t have a favorite beer either. I drink any craft beer that is on sale!
That’s all I can think of for now. Maybe I’ll add some more in the comment section later.
Try to have some fun with this!
We look forward to reading the comments.
Thanks and have a great week!
Linda & Doug
*Photo by Neil McIntosh
40 replies to "Let’s Get to Know One Another Better!"
Where are you from?
From France
How many kids do you have?
2
What’s your occupation?
Working on tideles.fr
What is your favorite sports team?
rasta rockett
What is your favorite city to visit?
I recently went to Las Vegas for the CES and I really enyoyed my time in this city
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Make or give love
Where do you dream of traveling to?
South Africa
What is your favorite beer and how many can you drink before you get drunk?
The beer “La none” and a lot of drinks before to get drunk I am a solid man.
What’s your favorite food?
Sushis
If someone gave you a 10 million dollars what would you do with it?
Help other people
What is the craziest thing you want to do before you die?
Something so crazy that I never even tought about it
Best regards 🙂
Bonjour Fideles et bienvenue sur le blog. Je suis très heureux de voir quelqu’un de France ici. J’espère que nos articles sont utiles pour vous. Un blog comme celui-ci existe-t-il en France? J’ai pensé traduire certains de nos articles en français. J’ai vécu dans et autour de Lyon pendant plusieurs années.
Bonne journée,
Sarah
Couldn’t have said it better myself, Sarah! 🙂
Thank you, Doug. 🙂
I am 52, originally from California, but also have lived in Tennessee, Missouri, Michigan, Oregon, Oklahoma, and Montana. I have 4 kids and 2 grandkids.
I am a preacher.
Not sure I have a favorite TV show, although I am currently looking forward to Jessica Jones season 2.
In my spare time I like to jog, although hiking is also great when I can get it.
My favorite beer is whatever homebrew I have most recently made, which is currently a Bourbon Barrel Imperial Porter (very tasty). At my age, I don’t drink nearly enough to actually get drunk. It’s more about the taste.
Hello Nearly Normal,
Here is a question: how does being a preacher and looking forward to Jessica Jones 2 intersect?
I guess you are like me. I too am deeply spiritual but also looking forward to Jessica Jones 2. It’s a wonderful series and David Tennant did a great job as the Purple Man. But, David Tennant was also one of the best Dr. Who’s ever along with Matt Smith. Kristen Ritter is awesome and I wish she would get movie roles.
What’s your favorite thing about Jessica Jones and do you have a favorite episode? Did you read the comic book series before the show?
Sarah
Sarah,
I’m not sure what intersect means. I just enjoy a good thing (sometimes have to wince a little at the raunchier parts, but that’s life). Yes, David Tennant was chillingly wonderful, especially after his much different role as the Doctor. Disagree on Matt Smith – I’m more of a Tom Baker guy. No, did not read the comic books.
I think maybe I like Jessica because she is so dark and pessimistic, yet keeps going somehow. Gee, I wonder why I would like those things?
But all the Netflix Marvel have been at least pretty good, in my opinion.
BTW, working all day today, so I have to wait till tomorrow to binge.
Hi Nearly Normal,
When you said you didn’t know what I meant by intersect, I had to look up all the meanings. I was referring to the geometry concept where lines intersect. But, I looked up the word and found out is has been used recently as a term that describes systems of power and oppression. (Yeah, did not know about that or mean that.)
Here is what I meant: It would appear that someone who is a preacher might not like something such as Jessica Jones and so the two interests would never intersect. That is how I meant it. But, you are apparently like me in that you are spiritual, but still like shows that many church goers probably don’t watch. (At least not the church goers I know!!!)
Tom Baker is wonderful too– I was thinking of the more recent doctors.
As for Jessica, yeah, I get what you are saying about her darkness and pessimism and how she keeps going despite whatever happens to her. I love her for that too. She an extremely complex character and Kristen Ritter does the greatest job. It’s like she was born to play the role of Jessica.
What about the latest Star Wars “The Last Jedi”? Did you bring your family? Did they like it? I think this was my favorite one so far. But, no more Carrie Fisher. (So sad!)
Sarah
Yes, we watched Last Jedi. We are big sci buffs. We had kindof mixed reviews. It won’t put us off Star Wars by any means. I liked it (although not every part of it).
NN. Nice to meet you! I’ve never found the taste for Bourbon Barrel beer to my liking for some reason. I think a bad ‘experience’ with bourbon in my younger days might be to blame! Thanks for all your contributions to the blog!
Hi, Doug.
The bourbon taste is pretty subtle. I wouldn’t have guessed it in a blind taste test. The oak taste is slightly stronger, but still subtle.
I am 31 years old, no kids, born and raised in Chicago. Die-hard Blackhawks fan. In my spare time, I ride my bike, play beach volleyball, boating, water sports, triathlons. Pretty much anything around or on water, I am there. Dream vacation is Australia/New Zeeland. I lived in London for a year (favorite city in the world other than Chicago). I tend to drink lagers – not an IPA fan at all. In the summers, most relaxed sitting on the pier drinking a vodka lemonade. If someone gave me $10 million, the first thing I would do is take my parents out for a fancy dinner and pay off their mortgage as a thank you for being the best parents/providers a person could ask for. Married 43 years and they never cease to amaze me how in love they are (even when they annoy the crap out of each other ;)) I think daily about quitting my job and traveling the world. But then think that would be crazy because I am a notorious homebody and would miss my family and friends too much. Maybe one day I will take the plunge.
Hi Joey,
Nice to meet you, Joey.
You and me both. I too wish I could pay off my parent’s mortgage. We are trying to get an ADU built for them on our land so that they don’t have to worry about finances. They lost almost all of their retirement in 2008 and this was after many years of hard work. If I had 10 million I would invest it in areas that provide yield high dividends and then buy houses for my family and closest friends. Then, I would use the rest to build a healing center in Hawaii.
Joey, I know you and I have talked before and am glad that you are doing better and appreciate your contributions to the site. Maybe you need to find a job that allows you to live the “Laptop Lifestyle” so that you can travel the world. Or maybe your employer will allow you to at least take a sabbatical for a year or so. I know, easier said than done. But if you don’t do it now, when will you?
Hello All,
Wanted to chime in and make a statement about anonymity. I don’t have any need to know who anyone is in real life. If they want to one day speak with me and tell me who they are, that’s great. But, I don’t use anyone’s stories I speak with and would never “out” anyone for any reason.
This even includes my ex. I have not even sent Doug and Linda a photo of him or given a name. I never want to out my ex because my focus is not him. It’s about some factual things he did and how profoundly they hurt me. But I always try to focus on an event and how it impacted me. I will never call him names and I have never done anything to get revenge on him. One of the reasons I don’t disclose who he is is because I wish no harm on him. I do not want to influence his reputation at all because even though he hurt me, who he is remains between him and me and all the people who witnessed it first hand. I don’t ever want to have this blog impact his life. It’s up to those who he encounters to form their own opinion of him without it being colored. Who knows, he might have changed. I doubt it, but I don’t want this blog to impact his life in case he has changed.
Although, I will tell one story. At one point he deeply angered someone in the organization and she sent a full account of his behavior to a famous business blog. The blog published his name in full as well as her name and her interactions with him. I found this business blog that mentioned his full name and behavior about 4 years after we had broken up and it took about 3 years after that before the author removed the article. It was a surprise to me when I found the article about him and I knew the incident was true because one time this lady told many of us about it. She had not said anything that was slanderous of him. And it is legal to speak online about factual events and to even use someone’s name. But, I will never use his name and there are many reasons. The first is that I don’t want any contact from him. Ever. Whether positive or negative. The second is that there are many people who do the most heinous things because of infidelity. His behaviors are common to those in the affair fog. They are so common a book called The Script was written by two women whose husbands left them. After they talked to other women, they figured out all cheaters do the same thing. I highly recommend the book. Finally, if someone were ever to figure out who he was and asked me directly I would say that I don’t answer such questions. Why? Because even though what he did still affects me, I don’t want to be contacted by him. But, I am not scared of him either. If his identity was blown and he took me to task, I would say, “bring it on. I am happy to tell a judge and jury all about you and your now wife who was the OW. And call the news stations too. And let’s let all of your friends and your children watch the trial and I will call in my 30 or so witnesses to speak too. And I will call my parents too because they had to scrape me off the floor of the bathtub minutes after you committed your atrocities against my body and soul.” Because I have only reported facts. My ex is a coward — after he left me physically and emotionally violated he jumped in his car and sped off, never to be seen again that evening and I also left that evening and never returned. He has a daughter and I would be happy to tell her in excruciating detail what her dad did. The point is, he broke me to such a degree when it all went down that I was too traumatized to call what would have been a male police officer and wait around while medical professionals prodded my body and took photos. His identity is not important. But his actions are important and the fall out of what he did was and is extremely important. There are others going through the same thing. But this also a therapeutic thing to tell my story to others. Anyhow, for all of you here, I am not interested in your names or the name of the person who hurt you. This is a safe place to pour out your pain and even if I end up knowing anyone, it stays confidential. Period. I want people to know they can speak safely and know that I would move heaven and earth to protect someone’s identity on this site. Even when I speak with some of you, my computer is locked down and there is no way for an outside person to find out who you are. My number one priority is your security.
Now that I have gotten all that deep, hard core stuff out of the way, I will tell you a little bit more about me.
1) I can have an off-color sense of humor and have to keep it to myself most of the time. (More of that in #2).
2) I can imitate about 30 different voices, including several of them from South Park. I can also do an excellent Donald Duck. If I were not counseling people and could wave a magic wand, I would be a voice actor. And I would also record some very spiritual songs I have written and release music that would appeal to both Jews and Christians. How did I manage to get South Park and my deeply spiritual views into the same paragraph? Only God knows!
3) I am an intuitive empath and always have been. I try to use this gift to get a better sense of what is going on behind the scenes when counseling people. I am also a deeply spiritual person and dedicate an hour for very serious prayer each day. I believe in miracles and have seen many. I don’t get into religious dogma and to sum up my entire belief about spirituality, I would say, “God is Love” and all of my beliefs flow from that one statement.
4) I love reading about near death experiences and have officially had one myself about 6 months ago. It was a real trip.
5) On the other hand, I am also a researcher and am generally very level headed. I want to know what research says about a topic, what statistics can show us, and how to use information gleaned by using the scientific method to help others.
6) I love books and documentaries about quantum mechanics.
7) The older I get, the less stuff I want. I live in a beautiful part of the country and would be happy living in a rural setting that has opportunities for hiking, snowboarding, kayaking, and camping. Actually that’s all available in my state but I would like to live right next door to all that, which I don’t.
8) I love Tiny Homes (as in 300 to 500 square feet) and after our kids leave we will probably have several of them in various favorite locations.
9) Instead of being a label snob, as in designer this and that, I am an anti-label snob. Why? That $4,000 Prada purse can be purchased for $30 if you go to Hong Kong.
10) Trying to keep up with the Jones’s is my description of the inner ring of hell. Unless someone is Bill Gates or on that level, it’s a losing proposition that will bring most of us to the brink of bankruptcy. Hey, I don’t judge Bill Gates or judge anyone who aspires to be him. It’s NOT about judgment. Stress makes me physically ill and I just don’t want the stressful lifestyle that goes with it.
10) Why does stress make me ill? I was born with a genetic condition called Acute Intermittent Porphyria. It’s nickname is the “Royal Disease” and I say yes it is certainly royal—- a royal pain in the stomach. It’s also the reason I will never have an office where I work 12 hours a day, 5-6 days per week. The disease has progressed to the point that I can no longer do that and stay healthy. Working on this blog is a Godsend. Truly. My NDE was caused by the disease. Thankfully, I now have medication I can take to prevent the disease from progressing and I am doing very well these days (aside from flu season). I am healthy and I will never be in danger like that again. *Whew*
11) My favorite place is the Big Island and I was there the day the nuclear war head was (allegedly) sent from North Korea. It was a very frightening 40 minutes before they sent out the alert that it was a mix-up. That was the scariest “just kidding!” of my life.
12) Do I have fun? Yes, I have two fun children and a dog that has some of the silliest habits in the world. I have a Mister Sarah P. as well and he is a doctor. I am the most “un-doctor’s wife” you could ever meet and that generally rubs the other doctors wives wrong because they were looking for doctors and I was not. I already had a high paying career, paid my own way, and was looking for The Guy For Me and not money. I don’t live in a fancy house or drive a fancy car by choice. We live below our means while all my husbands colleagues are being driven into bankruptcy by their high spender wives.
Any questions?
Much love to All of You,
Sarah
PS-
How could I forget? Today I was hit and run by a female driver in a Chevy truck. I was sitting in traffic waiting at a stop light to turn left onto the freeway. Then “boom!” and I was thrown forward. She did not get out of her truck and took off. I was so stunned and shocked I did not get her license plate.
The last time this happened was when I was 19-years-old. I got that guy’s license plate because my friend was in the car and she kept repeating it out loud until we could find paper. It was my aunt’s car and she is an attorney and had access to the database where she could look up plates. I got the guy’s phone number, called him on the phone and said in a very cheerful voice, “Hello R****, congratulations! I wanted to let you know that it was an attorney’s car you had the good fortune of hitting on Friday night and then you fled the scene. I am calling from that woman’s law firm, by the way…” The way the guy said, “Oh sh**!” and hung up the phone was priceless. I just wish I could have seen his face. No, we did not sue him. We just wanted him to pay for damages and of course he was forced to do that. I hope it gave the guy a wake up call.
Anyone else have such an experience?
We were hit by a driver late at night on the freeway. He swerved in front of us and clipped our front end. Luckily, we didn’t crash. One of the other drivers on the road saw what happened and was able to get the guys license number, so we pulled off the freeway and went to the police station in the area where it happened. They were able to track the guy down and apparently he was partying hard that night because it was his final night before being deployed to Afghanistan. We didn’t have the heart to press charges or anything and just let the insurers take care of it.
Doug,
I hear you. If it were a guy’s final night before leaving to Afghanistan, it would have been almost heartless to press charges. He was facing a situation in life where he wasn’t sure if he would come home alive. So I can’t blame him for partying. (Just take a cab…)
Luckily no one was hurt.
I was rear ended twice in one year, although not hit and run. Very helpless experience, seeing the vehicle approaching from behind and nothing you can do about it.
Hi Nearly Normal,
You were obviously watching your mirrors when rear-ended. I always watch the stop lights and the cars in front of me. I don’t know if it is worse to be surprised (like I was) or to see a car approaching and feeling helpless. Probably the second one.
Were you hurt?
No i was not hurt, but the car was
Where are you from?
I was born in Buffalo, NY; grew up in Wisconsin; currently work in Illinois
How many kids do you have?
Together we have 5 kiddos. His oldest (my stepdaughter) is getting married in August. Our youngest will be starting kindergarten in the Fall.
What’s your occupation?
I’m a school psychologist
What is your favorite sports team?
Football…Packers
Baseball…Brewers
What’s your favorite TV show?
Don’t catch a lot of TV but when I do I like Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder, American Housewife, Big Bang Theory
What is your favorite city to visit?
I love Door County in Wisconsin, New Orleans
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Read, play with the kids, cross country ski in winter, sit in the sun with a good red wine in summer
Where do you dream of traveling to?
Greece, Hawaii,
What is your favorite beer and how many can you drink before you get drunk?
Local beers are best…Spotted Cow
What’s your favorite food?
french fries…I know…so bad!
If someone gave you a 10 million dollars what would you do with it?
spend it on my family…college, vacation, etc.
What is the craziest thing you want to do before you die?
???
Hi Den,
Congratulations on the milestones of one (step)daughter getting married and your youngest going to kindergarten.
As a school psychologist, do you like what you see on this blog? I always like to ask others with psychology degrees and/or in the profession if I am on track.
Thanks,
Sarah
Hi Den, Nice to meet ya! We had a great few days in Door county a few years back. We actually camped on Washington Island (I think that’s the name). Door county reminds me of the way resort type towns were back in the 60’s and 70’s. Kind of nostalgic to me. Anyways, cool place.
Hello! I am one of the ones who is “behind the scenes.” I’ve been reading this blog since 2014. It has helped me tremendously, and I’ve learned a lot! I feel very blessed that when I was hunting around on google one night that I came across this site.
Where are you from? I am from Michigan but am currently living in Missouri.
How many kids do you have? No kids. I have cats! Fur-kids who think they are tiny humans. I kid you not!
What’s your occupation? I am actually blessed in this one. I am now a homemaker, and I really enjoy every minute of it.
What’s your favorite TV show? Criminal Minds, Impractical Jokers, Mom
What do you like to do in your spare time? I like to read a good book! My goal is to read 10 books this year with the Goodreads site. I’m almost halfway there! Sometimes I like to binge watch on Netflix. I am also addicted to Candy Crush. lol!
I have anxiety. I’ve had it since I was a child, but that was before they actually had a name for it. Not many people know this about me. It got worse after like many of you and why we are on this site when my husband has his EA 4 yr ago. I have managed to get it under control but still have my moments. I find that listening to music like Michael Jackson, Imagine Dragons, & Coldplay helps me a lot. I also like to color in those Adult Coloring Books. It is very relaxing.
Where do you dream of traveling to? I want to go back to Hawaii someday.
What’s your favorite food? pizza, meatloaf sandwiches with tons of mustard!
If someone gave you a 10 million dollars what would you do with it? I would pay off all our debts, put some away for my nieces for when they are older, and move my parents to where ever they wanted to live. They deserve it so much. My mom is my rock! I could go on and on about this one…there’s so much a person could do with that kind of money!
Hi Pushing! Thanks for your comment. It’s been a long time coming! 😉
Hi Doug! You betcha! It sure has been! 🙂
Hey All,
I want to ask everyone a question and let’s see who comes up with the best answer. Everyone can vote on who has the best answer and that person can have a free half hour chat over the telephone. Luckily this is a question that doesn’t ask anyone to speak about who they are but it’s a hard one. I discovered the answer about 10 years ago and have been trying to live it. So here is the question:
What’s the meaning of life?
Many blessings,
Sarah
PS-
This is not a trick question and there are no rules. You can even tell me about why you struggle with answering it.
The meaning of life:
In a nutshell,
Understanding that life doesn’t begin and end with you, that you are a part of something bigger than yourself, no matter what you are doing at the moment.
Finding your purpose, through human interaction and spiritual (not necessarily religious), and making every moment of every day count toward that purpose.
Hi Angela,
Looks like you are the only one who answered this. Go ahead and email me at
[email protected] if you would like to have the free chat I offered. Nice to meet you!!
I do agree with your definition of the meaning of life.
Blessings,
Sarah
I have lived in New Jersey all my life. I have two daughters, one divorced and one married
I watch my grandchildren whenever needed
I really don’t like sports but lately do enjoy watching soccer
I enjoy Las Vegas and New York City
I like to go on walks, see movies, go on vacations and spend time with my grandchildren
I plan to vacation in Hawaii and Alaska hopefully
My favorite beer is Coors Light
My favorite food is Sushi and Italian
If I was given 10 million dollars I would give to family and make sure college was paid for the grandchildren and buy a boat, as I love being on the water.
Where are you from? Chicago area
How many kids do you have? 4-2 step and 2 natural ( 2 boys and 2 girls). The oldest is 32 and the youngest is 17
What’s your occupation? Admin. Asst.
What is your favorite sports team? Chicago Cubs
What’s your favorite TV show? Anything history related
What is your favorite city to visit? I’ve not traveled much so don’t have one
What do you like to do in your spare time? Write, paint, and spend time outdoors when the weather permits
Where do you dream of traveling to? Australia and Alaska
What is your favorite beer and how many can you drink before you get drunk? I don’t like beer
What’s your favorite food? Italian, Mexican, and German
If someone gave you a 10 million dollars what would you do with it? Give some to each child and buy property in New Mexico
What is the craziest thing you want to do before you die? Live a healed life of love and trust with my WH.
Hello,
I am from India
Just one kid for now. we are both in our early thirties. Might consider for the second if things go well. I am a professional photographer and have a business I share with my brother. I am a TV person so my favorite show till date if GOT. I am a big sucker fro GOA, in India. I invite you all to visit my country. I am reader. I love reading books. Once I start reading I no longer belong to the earth. I become one with the book. I am also a blogger and love to write in various subjects, concerning women. I would definitely like to visit Europe especially Paris and Venice. I am more of a whisky person than beer and 3 is my limit. I love all Indian dishes plus I like Chinese and Italian. if i get a 10 mil. dollars I would definitely travel the word with my family and remaining amount would go for charity. My dream is to try and achieve the mental peace in life through meditation. I am a person who is trying to read and understand our philosophy and trying to make sense of it so that I can follow it in my life. Its a path of lots of struggle hard to get out of loving oneself and be one with the universe.
Hello Tanmayee,
It just so happens that I have visited your country and have seen many of the lovely temples in Tamil Nadu area.
I have no descriptions that are adequate regarding India for Westerners who have never been there. It is so very different than the United States and the people of India are so very welcoming, warm, and accommodating.
My friends had a joke when we were in India. (I was there with my fiance at the time and his best friend– all Americans.) We went to some very rural areas where the children had never seen a Westerner before. My male friends would tell me to turn around and when I did, there would be about 100 giggling children smiling and staring at me. (We took photos of them and they are on my office wall.) My friends started referring to me as Madonna (as in the singer.) And no I do NOT look like Madonna. This was in 2000 when Madonna was still popular.
I have been to 23 countries and there is something in India that I have never seen elsewhere in the world. The children have such light and joy in their eyes, especially in the poorer areas. Some of the people we met had no running water and no real material possessions to call their own. Yet, when the children saw us, their eyes lit up and they were so joyful. I have never seen a child with such a light and joy in their eyes in the Western world. I tend to believe that when we have less material possessions and are surrounded by a loving family, we are wealthy. In my mind, wealth is measured in joy, happiness, and most of all love for ourselves and others.
There were also cultural things that I knew about, had read about, but did not understand because I see all people as equal. My friends and I went to a wedding of Brahmin friends. They hired a driver to take us touring all over the country side. Our driver would never come and have lunch with us and I did not know why. His English was not great. So, I invited him to have lunch with us and he said he could not. And I asked why. And he said it would not be proper for someone like him to dine at the same table as us. (Anyone who knows me well knows that I will not hear of such a thing and a lecture will ensue about how no one is any better than another.) So, I told him that we insisted that he is our guest and we will pay for lunch. The whole lunch was awkward because he kept trying to make his body seem lower than ours. And so I gave him a lecture about how he was our equal and needed to sit with us as equals. When he finally got the message, he was very happy and kept thanking us for honoring him in such a way. And I wanted to cry. And I will tell everyone I am NOT someone who cries. But, about 4pm on the dot everyday, I would burst into tears. And if we were at a temple, my (ex) fiance would tell me to go back to the car until I was done bawling. Why was I bawling? Well, because I saw so many things happening each day that involved real poverty and things such as people having no access to medical care– people who I could tell were seriously ill. By 4pm each day, I reached the threshold of all I could handle and would have to cry it out. This is not to say anything bad about India. It says I was a sheltered American — sheltered from the real world.
India is a beautiful country with the most beautiful people. The temples are gorgeous, the clothing and the colors are gorgeous, the food is delicious, and the spirit of the people is welcoming. I honestly believe every Westerner should visit India at some point in their lives. After that visit, the very core of me shifted and I was never the same again. I was a better person. I was more grateful, more compassionate, more spiritual, and that was the time materialism (as my only life goal) became absolutely meaningless to me. And I never returned to my prior viewpoint about accumulating stuff just for the sake of accumulation. And thank God for that! But, I will admit re-entry into the United States was hard. I had some cultural shock while in India but it was NOTHING compared to the reverse culture shock I had on the return to the United States. That reverse culture shock was the very thing that caused me to shift at my core and I have never been the same (in a GOOD way).
Welcome and Namaste,
Sarah
I am 49 years old, my H is 51.
I’m in my 2nd marriage to a wonderful man.
(I love that I actually feel that way about him again thanks in large part to this blog!).
I am from Tennessee but lived most of my life split between Atlanta & Oklahoma City. As a child, my father was in the Army and I went all over the world with him. Those are experiences I hold near and dear to my heart, especially since I lost my dad in 2004 to cancer. I moved back to Tennessee 12 years ago and met my husband 2 years after that. Been with him ever since.
He was born and raised in Tennessee and has never lived anywhere else, so I DEARLY LOVE SHOWING HIM THE WORLD.
He has a 21 year old daughter from his 1st marriage, currently attending college, who lives near us in town. She was only 10 when we met, so I consider her one of my own!
I have 2 sons from my first marriage, ages 26 and 22.
The 22 year old is currently attending college in Georgia.
The 26 year old has graduated from college and is a 2nd Lt. in the Army, currently stationed in Washington state, but moving to Tokyo in May. He got married in late 2016, so I also have an incredibly beautiful and sweet daughter-in-law.
I graduated from UGA with a degree in Business. I am currently managing a newly opened department for a major grocery store chain. (Online grocery-ordering department)
My husband works for the same company but at another store, of course.
Our favorite activity is planning out a hike and hitting the trails, whether it’s a day hike near home, or an overnight trip where we pitch a tent anywhere we can find a level spot on a mountainside!
(Let me tell you, nothing is more compatibility-testing than hitting an overnight trail together. Especially if the weather gets crappy or something unexpected pops up and you have nothing but whatever is in your backpack and each other)
Hiking the AT (Appalachian Trail) from Georgia to Maine is on our bucket list for the next 5-6 years, before we are too decrepit from age, lol.
Honestly right now, we are just really enjoying our entry into our 50s and re-enjoying a loving relationship that got damaged for a while, so having a “healing honeymoon” is what I’d call it, and staying busy planning the next 2 or 3 overnights for Spring.
Our last two squabbles were about how much money and when we were going to spend it on new sleeping bags and a tent. After those fights were over, (not really even fights, just bickering), I cried with relief that we were just having a “normal” kind of argument after 3 years of you-know-what fights.
PS – $10M ?
I’d definitely give the kids some and then invest it in a way I could go ahead and retire, spend my life stinking without a decent bath on a trail somewhere. Maybe even go for the big one and try Kilimanjaro or Everest. Die in a tent, and I’d be satisfied, lol.
Well I would like to stay anonymous so I will not reveal any identifying information, I hope that is ok.
I do not live in the US. I live somewhere else.
I work in the health care field.
I absolutely hate all sports.
I love cats. I like dogs as well, but I’m always afraid the big ones will bite me.
I have travelled to many places around the world.
If I had 10 million I would put it into a charity that made a difference to humanity at the grass roots level.
Hi I am a California Native living in Sacramento
Three children
I work for the State of CA
I love camping and relaxing by a beautiful lake
I love to walk on the beach any day
Bucket list Kentucky Derby
If I had 10 million dollars I would contact an attorney who could help me be level headed and of course make sure I had a home with some acreage to have horses donkeys dogs etc I would make sure I helped my children and their spouse’s and my grandchildren and by all means help some charities, because I would not need all that money….
Favorite sports team: San Francisco Giants