Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Seven Wonders of Me



Once, I won a "New York Quebec Scholars Award" (or something like that, it was a long time ago). My friend Eugene won it too, actually, I think he won it first and then when he left the program, they gave it to me. Anyway, Gene told me that when he opened the envelope announcing his prize, he read the first line, which said, 'although there is no monetary aspect to this award..." and never finished reading it.

Well, that's where Gene and I differed. I left that crap award on my resume FOR YEARS. And still today, I am happy to win ANYTHING so thanks Deborah, the Muse in Kansas, for picking me as one of those to whom she is passing on the "Kreativ Blogger" award (not to be confused with the "fonetic speller" blogger award). I am supposed to tell seven interesting things about myself and then pass the award onto 7 others. I suppose if these things circulate long enough, everyone will get one but, no matter. As I say I am happy to be singled out for any bit of praise; "I like your bracelet" practically makes my day, so I am running with this.

I am uneasy about the pay if forward aspect, however, because 1.) I would probably offend someone whom I admire by leaving them out (all the blogs I visit are under "favored ones" on the sidebar and all have wonderful aspects; 2.) I know some people, probably strange, successful people who win things all the time, don't want to receive such honors and 3.) I am worried that if I picked out seven bloggers whom I admire, several of them might not be willing descend here to pick up their graphic - and then I would feel like a loser, even though I just "won". So, thanks Deborah. You would be one of my seven if I were willing to name them. All you other bloggers, if I have ever left more than one comment on your blog, you may also regard yourself as a winner in my book. So write seven things on your space if you feel so moved and I will come read them and comment.

Here are the seven things about me. You tell me if they are interesting.

1.) I just asked my 11-year-old daughter, the Understudy, if she could think of seven interesting things about me - even one interesting thing - and she could not.

2.) My dad is a science genius, isn't that interesting? When I was nine, although he already had his PhD in physics, he became intrigued by human physiology and went back to medical school. He got his MD while continuing to work part-time as a research scientist. He worked as an ER doc for some time after he finished his internship without ever having left his day job. He is one of the guys who figured out Magnetic Resonance Imaging back in the 70s. He also got divorced from my mother (Quel surprise, as they say in France and Quebec, more on that at number 4 below).

3.) My husband (much older than me) is an arch conservative economist who appears frequently on Canadian television and radio. He can be counted on to say things about free markets, Sarah Palin etc. that send most, normal, nice, liberal pink-blooded Canadians into fantods. He is very nice to his friends. Don't ask about his enemies (please).

4.) I spent most of my 20s living in Montreal with the plan that I would learn French. It didn't work.

5.) I went to law school in Montreal because I wanted to go back to Montreal (where I went to college) and I was no good at math or science (despite my parentage) and so was unfit for any form of additional education. And, yes, if you study the common law, even in Montreal, you may be allowed to sit for the bar exams of New York and Vermont, which I did waaaaay back when I had a lot more energy. (I couldn't have stayed and worked in Quebec because of aforesaid inability to actually speak French).

6.) I have an unaccountable interest in England and things English. But you knew that already.

7.) There's a book I am supposed to be writing.

Oh. I feel cheap. Am I bragging or overexposed? Yes and yes. But that was fun.

8 comments:

Denise @ Swelle said...

Aw,you deserve to win the award! I do love that first point. At that age I doubt I could have come up with anything for my mother either!

I'm in Paris at the moment and trying to wind down from a crazy night so I came by to finally read your story! And now I'm off to do it!

Anonymous said...

ha! it is interesting to me that the people (or blogs) i am collecting have several items in common - which one is not aware of until those items just happened to be mentioned. it is to say some of your background reminds me of kate's at holdfast seeker - and the fact you two are of several so much smarter than i...
hmmmm - do they speak French in Canada?
huh - denise needs to tell us more!

Anonymous said...

Your husband and I would get along re: the economics stuff. Long live the free markets!

BTW, you studied law for essentially the same reason I did: Nobody wanted to pay me oodles of cash to pontificate about German literature and I sucked at everything else.

:)

Cheers.

Madame DeFarge said...

Congrats on the award.

Well, I'm intrigued by hearing snippets about people, so this is fascinating. Your dad sounds like he's worth a post or two.

But we want to know how the book is coming along. Go or no go?

Kim Velk said...

Denise - You are obviously very well brought up. I am mentally tipping my hat to your mother. This is the first I have been able to sit down with the computer in days and now that this post has cooled I see a bunch of type-os and other things I don't like much but I do appreciate your comment.

Deborah - Thanks again. I'll check out that Holdfast blog. You might want to look at Denise's "Swelle Life". It's fab.

R - I can't believe that such a thorough knowledge of German wasn't a meal ticket - or maybe you really wanted to focus on the literature? I guess demand for that might be a little weak in the mid-west. Funny how so many of us liberal arts types default to law in the end. I guess it could be worse... I think you would like my husband. Despite the claws he is very convivial.

Hi Mme. We have always been proud of Dad but he is a bit of the shy scientist type. Well, he did play football and belong to a fraternity in college so he's not nerdy, but I am not sure he would like my telling about him.

I have been working away on a summary for my book. (Don't tell anybody because they might make fun of me). I have also been rehearsing how I will answer the questions Terri Gross asks me about it when I am eventually interviewed by her on "Fresh Air." One must be prepared... Thanks for asking. It's motivating for me.

Nan said...

Well, I'm probably the opposite end of the spectrum from your husband; as 'pink blooded' as they come. :<) And I'm with you all the way on England. I'll have to ask my kids if there is anything interesting about me. (do I dare?!)

Kim Velk said...

Hey Nan - Nice to see you around. I know you and my husband would not agree, politically, but none of our friends agree with him and (some of them) still talk to us. I think of you as the kindest blogger. If they had an award for that I would give it to you. Maybe I just did.

Catastrophe Waitress said...

my son says that the most interesting thing about me is the way i prepare cinnamon French toast.
thanks, darling.

i think.

your little snippets are so intriguing, Mme Woolfoot!