12

As part of the recent Facebook fad, many of my friends were given a number and then they were to  share that number of random facts we may or may have not known about our friend.

I must admit, it has become quite addicting. I mean, I really like learning about these people, many I have known since primary school. It is interesting to learn not only some of the things that they are engaged with as adults, but some of the things that influenced them as children. And if I had been part of it or witnessed it, then it was much cooler.

And then I was given the #12.

With 12 random things about me, well, frankly that was blog-material. I could write a novel of the shit I have done, but picking 12 random facts about me, well, that was going to be challenging.

What was the tone going to be?

What was the intent of the message?

Was I really over thinking this? Yes.

So let me get to business, I have a few things to share..

1) I always believed that I wasn't smart enough to be anything amazing. As a child I was constantly reminded that I wasn't as smart as my older brother academically. As a result, I picked the two hardest things I could think of: speak Chinese and be a lawyer and told myself that I was not smart enough to ever be able to do them.  Ironically, or not so, I learned Chinese as an exchange student in Beijing and  worked in China for five months as a bi-lingual cruise director on a Yangtze River cruise ship. After I returned to the states, I applied to law school and got in to New York Law for the fall of 2001. I decided to turn it down since I didn't want to spend my days translating documents. I realized that decision may have saved my life since I would have been just a few blocks from the World Trade center on 9/11 and since I am a trained first responder, I would have been running towards it and not away.

2) When I was 28, I told people that when my biological clock went off, I'd buy a fish because I didn't want kids. Ironically, every fish I ever owned has died. I am personally responsible for the goldfish shortage in NJ.  The kids...well, they can feed themselves.

3) When I was accepted to be a foreign exchange student in Beijing, I didn't want to pay $1500 to fly there, so I got a ticket to Berlin for $260 and took the train through Germany, Poland, and Russia, on the trans-Siberian through Mongolia to Beijing, and I went alone. When I got off the train, the only Chinese I spoke was "Ni hao" and I had a letter to hand to the cab driver to get me to my school. I did make it and the rest is history.

4) Three of my five children have Autism. I may make it look easy or that it doesn't bother me, but every day is like having to navigate a mine field and it is not easy.

5) I was almost hired by the CIA to work for the Clandestine service. I made it to the last round and failed the Psych exam. Go figure.

6) I was diagnosed with ADHD while I was at Ohio State working on my PhD. When the doctor was reviewing the results with me, she said, "Looking at these results, I am amazed you made it to this stage of academic achievement. It is really amazing".  All those years, I thought I had to work harder because I wasn't as smart as everyone else. 

7) I met my husband in Tae Kwon Do class

8) I was a competitive Tae Kwon Do fighter for four years. My biggest achievement was when I went to the AAU Nationals in Iowa and lost the gold medal match to a woman that was a fourth-degree black belt, which meant  that she was a black-belt for 10 years. I was a meager first degree black belt and had only been in the sport four years total.  Long before the match, people I didn't even know told me to be careful and that she was a really difficult opponent, and if I felt like I couldn't continue the match, it was alright to forfeit. I refused to listen to them and fought as hard as I could.  I lost that match by 1/2 a point and the crowd stood still at judgement because they didn't know who won.

9) I don't drink nearly as much as I imply in my blog.

10) I am jealous of people who have their families around them to help them with their kids. We have always been alone, and sometimes, it just sucks.

11) I have no patience for people who don't keep their word. If you say you're going to do something and you don't and don't apologize, I will never believe you or your intent again.

12)  I am a jack of all trades. I played several instruments in college, taught myself how to refinish furniture, paint, spackle,  drill, scrapbook, sew, garden and the list of what I want to learn keeps growing. It kills me to pay someone to do something I can do myself.

And there you have it. Nothing like having to do some introspection to realize how far you've come.  

Though I do recall a time when I could lie in a hammock all day, enjoying the moment and drinking beers and I wish I could go back there;  if not for the afternoon.