The One Where Sarah Talks More About Sarah

Maybe it’s just my over inflated sense of self-importance, but when Emily asked on her blog if anyone wanted her to interview them, I was all, “Ooh, me! Me! Pick me! Pick me!” Because you should all care, right?

1. Name one event or moment in your life that changed you forever.
I feel like I should say here, the birth of my daughters, but well, duh. Of course that changed me forever. Like, I can’t sleep through the whole night anymore. I can’t pee alone. Oh, and I have my little smoochy daughters who give kisses and all that stuff. It’s great. Yes, life is changed. But… The UNEXPECTED answer would probably be going away to college. I went to high school in a small town where I’d say a good percent of people didn’t go away to school – either attended community college or local colleges that didn’t require a move, or a change in lifestyle. Not me. I moved about two hours away and spent my freshman and sophomore years at University of Michigan (GO BLUE!). It cost an arm and a leg, and it challenged me beyond belief (I still wonder why they accepted me – everyone there seemed so accomplished and smarter than me). But, I got to expand my circle of friends (I still keep in touch with several friends I made there) . I got to embrace diversity in a way not possible in this town, and I got to taste independence. Wouldn’t trade it for anything.

2. What in yourself do you hope to see in your children? How do you hope they do not take after you?
We’ll start with the easy part. I hope they don’t get my self-esteem or lack of it. I’m pretty tough on myself. I hate that. My girls are such amazing and smart and beautiful beings, I hope they are able to embrace in a positive way all that they are and all they have to offer without beating themselves down.

Okay… the toughy. What do I want them to get from me? I am a good hearted person. I like to believe the best about people and I am pretty forgiving. I hope they get that.

3. What is the story of you and your husband? Meeting, length of courtship, proposal?
Hubby and I met in high school – my sophomore year, his junior year. We met by a mutual friend’s locker (Note: neither of us know where this guy ended up in life. Haven’t seen him since graduation). We became friends. Dated briefly. Had a theatrical high school break up after two weeks of dating (during which time, he wowed my mom with his sense of humor when he picked me up for a date, she told him to be careful — he looked at my younger sister and said, “Why? You’ve got a spare?!” Hardy har har). After the breakup, we didn’t speak for several months – maybe even longer. We became friends, he entered the military, I went away to college and we corresponded by mail and renewed our friendship. He met and married the Ex (Little known fact: I was AT that wedding). It ended at some point, and at my friend’s 21st birthday party in 1997… there he was. He spilled his drink in my shoe.

We began dating and he proposed to me in the dorms on Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS in February 1999. We got hitched in August 2000.

4. Would you want your girls to be like you were when you were a teenager? Why or why not?
Actually, I should be so lucky! I was one of those goody-goodies who was so scared of getting caught, I pretty much steered clear of trouble. I wasn’t a drinker, didn’t smoke, wasn’t doing any of those things that I worry about my kids doing when they become teenagers. As far as that kind of thing, I doubt my mother lost much sleep over me.

Having said that, I hope that my daughters and I have a stronger relationship than my mom and I did. My friends always felt they could tell mom everything. I felt that she would judge, get mad, or otherwise react to things going on, so while I wasn’t off doing anything “bad” – I didn’t really talk to my mom about much of anything. I really hope my girls don’t feel that way about me.

5. What’s your favorite song? Why? Include any special lyrics.
This is a question that I could go on ALL day about, but won’t. There are two songs that immediately pop into my head as favorites: “Anna Begins” by the Counting Crows is one. The second is “The Rainbow Connection” from the Muppet Movie.

I have to say that I pretty much adore ALL Counting Crows songs because I love the way Adam Duritz writes – and when I start to try to come up with special lyrics, I could darn near type word for word the whole song… it just rocks my socks. But there are two parts especially that get me everytime:

“The time when kindness falls like rain
It washes me away and Anna begins to change my mind
And every time she sneezes I believe it’s love and
Oh lord, I’m not ready for this sort of thing

She’s talking in her sleep
It’s keeping me awake and Anna begins to toss and turn
And every word is nonsense but I understand and
Oh, lord, I’m not ready for this sort of thing.”

Pumpkin was very close to being named Anna. I don’t know what it is about this song – just the realization of being in love – how it hits you smack! Upside the head. When you’re not expecting it. Man.

“The Rainbow Connection” is slightly more sentimental to me. My dad is a pianist – and when I was a kid he worked nights, playing in bars, resaurants, that type of thing. Sometimes, on his breaks he would call me and I would ask him to play that song – MY song. To this day, it remind sme of my dad, and of being a kid. Love it.

“What’s so amazing that keeps us star-gazing?
And what do we think we might see?
Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection
The lovers, dreamers and me…”

Honorable mentions to:
“Elsewhere” by Sarah McLachlan (“I believe this is heaven to no one else but me…”)
and
“American Pie” by Don McLean (who can name just one lyric – the song is like a year long!)

About sarah

Sarah is a book nerd, a music lover, an endorphin junkie, a coffee addict. Oh, and a goof ball. She writes, she tweets, and she sings off key.

Comments

  1. I love that line about the sneezing. Counting Crows are on the tops of my favorite list.

    Good answers all around. You’ve known your husband forever!

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