THIS TIME LAST year, the “25 Things” meme was ricocheting around the net, and we Sister Project sisters decided to have a go at our own lists. I decided to take a second look at mine, to see if it’s true that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Read on to learn at least 25 things, possibly a few more, about me.

1. I tend to feel overwhelmed by my life a lot of the time.

Yep, still true.

2. I know that it’s ridiculous for me to be overwhelmed by my life, which is fun, and cushy, and healthy and full of love. But I am.

Trying to go easy on myself about this. What’s the point of making myself feel worse about feeling badly? I can’t see one.

3. I love old dishes, silverware and crystal. This used to get me into trouble on eBay.

True, but I seem to have broken the addiction.

4. I recently started spinning (bike, not wool) and I’m a little obsessed with it. We’ll see if it lasts.

Oooh, the shame. At least I’ve replaced spinning with dancing.

5. When I was 7 years old, I wore bifocals.

6. I once had sex in a tree. (Sorry, Mom.)

7. I took Mandarin Chinese for a while in high school, and I loved drawing the characters.

8. When I was a little girl, I had penpals around the world: England, Japan, France, Vermont…

9. My first pet was a black and white rabbit named Scrambley. When she died, a mean kid in my eighth grade class made a crack about “the rabbit dying” (you know, the old school pregnancy test) and I neither understood it nor found it funny.

10. One of my gross habits that I don’t want anyone to know about is that I love to pick at my toenails.

11. I met my husband at an Ethiopian restaurant. He was with his girlfriend.

12. I have several first cousins I have never met.

13. I have lived in four countries and thirteen cities.

14. When I was 3, I loved a statue in the Cincinnati Museum of Art called “Eve Disconsolate.” I always thought that would be a good name for a band.

15. My favorite slow-dance song in high school was Wild Horses by the Rolling Stones.

16. My favorite Rolling Stones cover is Beast of Burden by Bette Midler.

All still hold true. Can’t erase your own history.

17. I often have insomnia. I’m writing this at 2:20 a.m.

I have more or less beaten the insomnia bug. I thank my anti-depressants.

18. I am infinitely better at starting things than at finishing them.

Alas. Yes.

19. Some of my favorite works of fiction are all of Robertson Davies’ books, but I cannot remember the plot of any of them.

I tried to start rereading them this year, and haven’t had much luck. Some books, perhaps, appeal due to time and place. But I’m going to give Davies one more try; my memories of the first time through are that good.

20. The best experience I’ve ever had in a museum was a Rothko retrospective at the Whitney about 10 years ago.

21. My favorite flowers are bachelors buttons and pansies.

22. I always think I might see a plane fall out of the sky, or drive off the edge of a bridge. Maybe that’s why I don’t travel much.

23. One of my earliest memories is walking in the woods with my mother. I must have been 3.

24. One of my biggest regrets is that my father never got to know my kids, and vice versa.

25. I have always loved poetry, and write a lot of it in my head.

And again, all of these hold true. Maybe it’s like what I wrote a few weeks ago about growing older: The tune may change, but the song remains the same. And you? Have you done your list of 25 things? Point us to it, or leave it in the comments…

No related posts.

IF YOU ARE a blogger or just a reader of blogs, you know what an internet meme is: one of those viral Q & A sessions that move from person to person, as one answers the questions and tags her friends. Though they occasionally have all of the appeal of a chain letter (read: NONE), sometimes, memes can be enlightening, thought-provoking, even moving. In the last few weeks, the “25 Random Things About Me” meme has swept through Facebook and the blogosphere. I was tagged a couple of weeks ago by a good friend, but kept putting off actually tackling my list. I have real lists I need to make–I didn’t need to make one for fun, God forbid.

But then I saw so many people chiming in–and revealing wonderful and surprising things about themselves–that lemming-like, I had to do it, too. You can read it over at my personal blog, or, to save you the click, here it is. I promise nothing wonderful, but you might find a surprise or two. (One of my dearest sister-friends from childhood already read it and called me a name, so don’t worry–I can handle your reactions.)

If you’re interested in learning more about the meme-ification of the blogosphere, The Daily Meme has a great compendium of memes for every day, on every topic.  And, most important: Tag, you’re it! Either answer in comments, or tell us where we can find YOUR list.

25 Random Things About Me:

1. I tend to feel overwhelmed by my life a lot of the time.
2. I know that it’s ridiculous for me to be overwhelmed by my life, which is fun, and cushy, and healthy and full of love. But I am.
3. I love old dishes, silverware and crystal. This used to get me into trouble on eBay.
4. I recently started spinning (bike, not wool) and I’m a little obsessed with it. We’ll see if it lasts.
5. When I was 7 years old, I wore bifocals.
6. I once had sex in a tree. (Sorry, Mom.)
7. I took Mandarin Chinese for a while in high school, and I loved drawing the characters.
8. When I was a little girl, I had penpals around the world: England, Japan, France, Vermont…
9. My first pet was a black and white rabbit named Scrambley. When she died, a mean kid in my eighth grade class made a crack about “the rabbit dying” (you know, the old school pregnancy test) and I neither understood it nor found it funny.
10. One of my gross habits that I don’t want anyone to know about is that I love to pick at my toenails.
11. I met my husband at an Ethiopian restaurant. He was with his girlfriend.
12. I have several first cousins I have never met.
13. I have lived in four countries and thirteen cities.
14. When I was three, I loved a statue in the Cincinnati Museum of Art called “Eve Disconsolate.” I always thought that would be a good name for a band.
15. My favorite slow-dance song in high school was Wild Horses by the Rolling Stones.
16. My favorite Rolling Stones cover is Beast of Burden by Bette Midler.
17. I often have insomnia. I’m writing this at 2:20 a.m.
18. I am infinitely better at starting things than at finishing them.
19. Some of my favorite works of fiction are all of Robertson Davies’ books, but I cannot remember the plot of any of them.
20. The best experience I’ve ever had in a museum was a Rothko retrospective at the Whitney about ten years ago.
21. My favorite flowers are bachelors buttons and pansies.
22. I always think I might see a plane fall out of the sky, or drive off the edge of a bridge. Maybe that’s why I don’t travel much.
23. One of my earliest memories is walking in the woods with my mother. I must have been three.
24. One of my biggest regrets is that my father never got to know my kids, and vice versa.
25. I have always loved poetry, and write a lot of it in my head.

No related posts.