Penny's Coffee Klatch

Random 10-point breakdown:

1.  I am 1/2 French, 1/4 Vietnamese and (probably) 1/4 Italian.  Adopted at 6 weeks old out of a Catholic orphanage (Go-Vap) in wartime Saigon and was dying of malnutrition at the time I was adopted.  Dad flew for the CIA and mom worked as a volunteer in that Catholic orphanage.  I was naturalized as a U.S. citizen when they returned to the States in Anchorage, Alaska.

2.  I used to speak Ebo fluently when we lived in Lagos, Nigeria when I was 4 years old.  I wouldn’t recognize a word if it was spoken to me now.  While in Nigeria we had a night watchman and a nanny.  I was scared to death of the JuJu man that mom bought African stuff from because I was afraid he would cast a spell on me.

3.  I have 1 younger sister, 1 older half-sister, 1 older half-brother, 5 older step-brothers and step-sisters from my mother’s remarriage and 5 older step-brothers and step-sisters from my father’s remarriage.  I was raised only with my younger sister with occasional visits from my older brother and sister.  I also have 9 nephews and 1 niece, the oldest and the youngest from the same sister.  I also have 2 sets of twin nephews.

4.  I have never been married and have never been asked because I ran away from anyone if I felt it was getting serious to where I thought they might ask me.  As an adult I have very much enjoyed my independence.  I have wanted children, but have put them off.   I still want to have kids, but don’t know if I still can.  Besides, we need another girl from Ellis descent so Kaelyn’s not the only one!

5.  I’ve lived in the following states:  Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Texas, New York, and Florida.  I’ve visited at least a couple dozen more.  I’ve also lived or visited 15 countries outside the U.S., but only remember Germany, Italy, Turkey, Nigeria, Canada, and Mexico.   I’ve never lived in one state, in my entire life, longer than 5 years consecutively.  Within the 5 years, I will move within the same town several times.

6.  I do not consider myself spiritual, nor religious.  However I have my own beliefs.  I love theology.  I am fascinated with what people believe and how strong those beliefs are and with the fact that those beliefs can’t be shaken.  I am open minded enough to ask questions and try to understand someone else’s beliefs and thier religion, but it does not necessarily mean I want to be that religion.  I have mostly asked questions about general Christianity, Latter-Day Saints (Mormonism), Catholicism, Southern Baptist, Seventh-day Adventist, Judaism (Jewish), Nichiren Buddhism, and Scientology.  I don’t really like sharing my own opinions about what I’ve learned if they’re received negatively, but I can recognize the positive aspects of any religion.  And the similarities, too.  I dislike religious fanatics, however.   If you have an open mind and are willing to consider a challenge to your traditional Christian faith, I highly recommend that you watch the documentary “Bloodline”.

7.  If I should win the lottery, other than paying off bills and spending money, I would become a professional student and study ancient classical mediterranean history, theologies,  culture, and mythologies; specifically Greek, Egyptian, and Roman.  It would mean travel, research, and interviewing.  What can I say, it’s been my passion since childhood.

8.  Random college classes I’m STILL interested in taking, but have not:  classical music, dance (ballroom), and fencing.

9.  I like SPAM and brussel sprouts.  I hate chick peas, tofu, and okra.

10. I’m smarter than you think I am and dumber than you know.  You figure that out for yourself.