Interview

Marsha has sent some questions for me to answer.

1. I have been interested in your life-storytelling since I started reading your blog. Where were you born and how old were you when you got to the US?

I was born in Colechester, Essex, England. My family moved to Canada when I was eight, and I moved to the US in 1971. What a long, strange trip it's been!

2. What was the first play you were involved in, either in front of the curtain or behind the scenes?

Aside from a very short play--a skit, really--with a girls' club in high school, my first play was "Ten Little Indians" at Sam Bass in 1983. I played Ethel Rogers, the housekeeper. I had a background in public speaking, but had a very hard time coming out from behind the furniture in the play. I was absolutely terrified!

3. What would you like to be doing 10 years from now, either job or hobby wise?

I'd like to be working for Ramona full-time, and doing shows. Oh...wait. I'll be 68, half-blind and arthritic. Better keep it to part-time at Ramona's. And if my memory continues its downward slide, I may be auditioning for very small roles! There are still roles I want to play--the Madwoman of Chaillot, or any one of her friends, Eleanor of Aquitaine in "The Lion in Winter," Lady Bracknell, Ouiser...

4. Tell me about your writing experience. Have you always been a writer or is this a new occupation?

I used to fill notebooks with handwritten drivel. Converting Bible stories into news reports--that sort of thing. I started again when I was trapped in the house with a Jackson-sized child, no job, no car, and the nearest neighbour half a mile away. Did I mention that SSS had run off all my friends? After I had a second child, there was no time for all that pen-and-paper stuff, and I didn't start again until I realized that my (now grown) kids weren't listening to me any more. My mom died in 1977, and I wish I had asked her questions when I had her here. That thought prompted me to start writing down some stories my kids might eventually want to know. I started putting them on line when I needed something to do with my hands. Loretta Dillon of Observations of a Misfit and Lisa Watson of The Lisa Life were very supportive. It was very scary, at first, as some people found my blog that had formed a dislike of me from some of my comments at Loretta's blog, and would copy and paste my entries elsewhere and rip them to shreds. Pictures I posted wound up photoshopped in such diverse places as Usenet and other blogs. Eventually, I learned not to care. Surprisingly, at least two of my three offspring actually read this, and occasionally comment. Comments from friends and strangers alike have been very encouraging.

5. Describe the prettiest gown you have ever worn, owned or made for yourself or someone else.

This is the most difficult question of all! The Gunne Sax I wore when I married Jim has to be high on the list. Addy bought it for me at the Antique Mall. The beautiful one I made for my high school Graduation Dance is way up there. It was floral print chiffon over peacock blue taffeta. Very different from prevailing style, but very becoming. I love the rose faille gown I made for Kelsey in Charley's Aunt, and the 70s black and while halter dress I wore to that party Kyle threw for Dave Butts' 30th birthday. It is also my weight-loss goal--to get back into that dress.

Interview rules:
1. Leave me a comment saying “Interview me.”
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with a post containing your answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.