Interviewed Again!

My online friend Robin of the blog The Kaleidoscope Kitchen, has sent me some interview questions to blog up.  These are wonderful questions and it's a real challenge to answer them, but a good challenge!  So let's see.

1. There are so many great things about you, Kath, that I can see from half way around the world, and that is why you are my only (exclusively) online friend. :)  What is your favorite quality about yourself, and how do you or could you use it for good in the world? :)

I'm really touched that Robin feels this way.  We've never met in real life, but I hope we do sometime in the future.  Now, in answer to her question, my favourite quality about myself would be my big open heart.  If you've seen my earlier post from back when I got tattooed again last July, I had a tattoo done of a heart balloon on my inside right forearm.  The significance of this is that I wear my heart on my sleeve, that my feelings for the people I care about are out there for the world to see.  I fall in love so easily, not just man-woman love, but in love with my friends, with pets, music, characters from books and movies and television.  I used to hide that about myself, but now I have learned to love it.

2. What is your strongest held belief?

Hmmm... that everyone in this world has a responsibility to respect.  Respect themselves and to respect others.  That doesn't mean that you have to kowtow to people, but to treat them as you expect to be treated yourself.  It's the old "golden rule" for me.  Do unto others as you would have done unto yourself.

3. What is your greatest dream, and what are you doing to achieve it, or what is holding you back?

My greatest dream is to have a family.  I'm not sure it's something that you can just go out and achieve, set yourself goals for.  I think it's something that is meant to come to you, and it just hasn't come to me yet.

4. I personally love cozy comfort, and am comforted by Christmas, books, blankets, baking.... What is the most comforting thing in the world, to you?

I'm a texture junkie.  So it's things with texture that bring me comfort.  My pillow, the softness of my cotton doona cover, worn to slight fuzz.  Oh and hugs from my big Canadian brother.

5. I know you love books, as do I. :)  What is your favorite book, and what book has made the most difference in your life?  And how do you think you ever became so enamored of books?  And what in books speaks to you, and is so worthy? :)

My favourite book is Cloudstreet by Tim Winton.  Every word is pure beauty, and when I have the Pickles and the Lambs I could never be lonely.  They feel like old friends, like family.  There is a scene when Quick and Rose first realise how they feel for each other that breaks my heart yet fills me with joy.  I always read Cloudstreet like I am savouring something really delicious, like a ripe mango or fine chocolates, or a really amazing cup of coffee.

Books always held a safe place for me.  I can't ever remember not being able to read, and I can remember further back in my life than most people.  I remember the feeling of safety and escape and hope that books gave me when I was a kid and things were tough.  When I was afraid, or lonely, or feeling that I would never get to a place that was better than where I was, books always offered me a road out of those feelings.

For me, it is all about character in books.  If I can't fall in love with at least one character in a book, I won't be able to read it.  I embrace characters in books like they are old friends (even with non-fiction!) and hear their lives like they are telling me their stories themselves.  Setting comes next, I love to be transported into a book, but really it's character.