More journal jar answers

What do you feel has been the most significant world event that has taken place during your lifetime and why?

I am pretty sure that there have been a few of them, but the first one that came to mind was the terrorist attacks on 9/11. I am speaking from my viewpoint here, of course, but I believe that the events that happened on that day probably impacted the lives of most everyone in the world. Yes they had a bigger impact for some than they did for others, but I believe that an impact was made. It is hard to stomach, but maybe for some of those people it made an immediate positive change in their lives. For most people though, I believe that changed them negatively first. Some of those people who had the negative impacts first, quite possibly have had positive things come from them. I know that I for one have.

What happened was a horrible tragedy, especially for all of the innocent people who lost their lives that day. Most definitely for the heroes, the firefighters, paramedics, police, the people who stopped the one plane from crashing into its intended target, and anyone else who risked their own life to save the life of another. I feel for those who lost loved ones.

I for one know that I have learned a valuable lesson from the events of that day. That lesson is that I always need to let those that I love, know that I love them. You never know when something could take that person away from you. Make sure that they know that you care about them. I still am not the best at this. Insecurities and not making it a priority still get in the way, but I think of those that I love and who impact my life regularly. I just need to share more that they really do mean a lot to me.


Describe your dream date.

This is a hard one because I don’t think that I really have a dream date. I haven’t had very many dates in my life, so I don’t really have a basis for comparison, nor do I really have a good idea of what makes a good date and what doesn’t. I think the biggest thing is to have a good connection to the person and be comfortable with them. I don’t think what we do matters as much as having that connection. I can have a fun time sitting on the couch, watching a movie while cuddling. I can also have a fun time going out and playing miniature golf and having dinner. Both would be wonderful dates for me. I just like to feel special and really into the person that I am with. The rest is just a bonus.


What is the worst trouble you have ever gotten into?

I wasn’t the type of kid to give my parents much trouble. I was always very shy and always wanting people to like me and be pleased with me. I can think of two things that I did get in big trouble for though.

1st time was when my little sister and I went to Cholla Lake with some friends. We weren’t really supposed to be out there and we also stayed out way too late. We were playing truth or dare with those friends and we just didn’t want to pay attention to the time. We had already moved to Willcox and were just back visiting and getting more of our stuff. We made mom worry. Dad hated it when we made Mom worry. We got in pretty big trouble when we finally made it back to my aunt’s house. The punishment was kind of silly though. At least my sister and I thought so. We got grounded, but it didn’t really matter to us at the time. We had just moved and didn’t have any friends or anywhere to go anyway, so we were grounded to do exactly what we would have done anyway.

2nd thing I can think of was my activities my all through my Junior year with my “friends”. We would routinely ditch seminary or else show up but walk out in the middle of class. My parents were so upset and disappointed in me for that. I really wish that I would have made better choices during that year of my life.


Where were you and what were you doing when you heard or saw some of the biggest events that have happened in your lifetime?

The first big thing I can think of was when the Challenger exploded. I remember sitting in the library with a bunch of students. We were watching it on TV. I don’t remember very many details because I was pretty young, but I do remember that much. It was so sad. I hated all of the stupid jokes that came out after that happened. They always made me feel so bad and sad.

Next would be during the Gulf War. I don’t remember when it first started or many details there either, but I remember sitting in the high school library talking about it with my Japanese class. I don’t even remember what was said, but I do remember being so scared for my older brother who was in the Army at the time. He never had to go to the Gulf during that time, but I was so afraid that he would have to.

9/11/2001 – My parents, some of my siblings, and me and the girls were staying with a “host family” in New Mexico because that is where my grandfather’s funeral was going to be. We woke up the morning of 9/11 and were eating breakfast and getting ready for Grandpa’s funeral when a phone call came telling us to turn on the TV. We watched the TV coverage until it was time to go to the funeral and then listed to the radio coverage until we got to the church. We went inside and attended the funeral and said goodbye to Grandpa. After the funeral we got into the cars to drive to the graveyard. We listened to the radio coverage until we got to the graveyard and then we had the grave side service. We got back in the car and listened to more of the coverage while driving back to the church. It was so hard to go through both of those events on the same day. I can’t remember the date of my grandmother’s funeral, just because it is a date that I don’t really want to remember. I want my memories to be happy ones of my grandparents. But I can never forget the date of grandpa’s funeral. That kind of makes me sad. I don’t want to remember that day so well.

Living in Germany and having a family support group meeting with the Commander after the bombings started in Kosovo. He told us wives that we did not need to worry. Our husbands would NOT be going to Albania. Less than a week later we were saying goodbye to our husbands as they were leaving to go to Albania. Kosovo was a hard deployment too, but not nearly as scary as the one to Albania. Another having to do with that deployment was when we heard on the news that some hostages had been captured. I didn’t hear from Martin for a while after that and I was so afraid.

Sitting in my house and watching the election results come in on the TV and seeing that Barack Obama had been elected President of the United States and being very exited and hoping that this would bring the change that our country needs.


If I could climb a rainbow…

I would probably be very tired because I am out of shape, but once I got to the top I would love the scenery. I think being that high with nothing to really stop the view would be amazing. Then I would want to climb rainbows over and over in many different areas of the world, so that I could see those views too.


You have an extra $100,000 to give away, and you cannot spend it on yourself. What would you do with the money?

I guess since these are my own questions, I can make my own rules. I would put at least $10,000 for each of my daughters in a savings account for their future. I would give $10,000 to my parents to help out with things they might need. I would also give $10,000 to my mother-in-law to help her out as well. I would do something nice for each of my siblings. Not sure what, but something that would help them out. The rest would go to a few charities that I find to be deserving of some of the money. The Red Cross and the USO would be two of the recipients. I would also give some to the March of Dimes, cancer research, and possibly a few more charities that I could find where the money would go to help children in need.


If you were on a deserted island what 5 things would you want to have with you and why?

I don’t suppose I could pick my husband and kids, since I am alone on this island. Plus I don’t think that I would want them to be stuck there with me. I am assuming that I would have clean water and something to eat.

My choices would be:

Sunscreen – I wouldn’t want to get burned.
Pencil – So that I can write down my thoughts and feelings.
Paper – To write those thoughts and feelings on.
My Kindle w/an unlimited supply of books – It would certainly give me something to do.
Toothbrush – Because otherwise, yucky!


What are some of your favorite smells?

I tend to like fruity scents most when in candle or air freshener form. I love the smell of fresh baked bread and cookies, especially gingersnaps. I also love the smell of cinnamon rolls. One of my favorite smells ever is the cologne that I introduced Martin too and that he wears for me quite often, Santa Fe. Smells so great!


How did you become engaged?

I think I might have posted about this before, but I will go ahead again. Old stories over and over are something I am good at anyway.

Martin and I met on the internet on VargonMUD. We talked to each other for about six months pretty seriously on the mud, e-mail, letters, and on the phone. In July of 1996 I took a trip to Texas to meet him for the first time. We hit it off very well and I had a great week with him. Shortly after I got home, I was talking to my parents about my desire to move to Texas to be closer to him and get to know him better. I wasn’t sure where I would live, and my parents, rather than risk me moving there and ending up living with him, told me that I would not move to Texas unless I was married. I told Martin that over the phone, so he then said, “Well, then will you marry me.” I said yes!!


What is something that really bugs you?

I have quite a few things that bug me. I guess I am just easily irritated. Most of those things don’t bug me constantly, just when I am already irritable, but I do have a few things that bug me all of the time. Crappy drivers really bug me. Drivers who think that they always have to be in front of the next vehicle. The ones who, when driving down the interstate will pull into the passing lane right in front of you when there are no cars behind you. Like waiting a few more seconds means they will be so late or something. People who think that they need to drag race you from the red light. One of my huge pet peeves here in Willcox is the people who pass on the right on Ft. Grant Rd. We always turn onto Cox Road to go home and it is like people can’t be bothered to slow down a little to let me turn. They have to push their way through on my right. Makes me mad.

Yeah. Crappy drivers has got to be the top of the list. I will stop now though, because no one wants to hear all of the things that irritate me.