I've been having way too much fun on Facebook lately. Someone stop me, it's becoming an addiction! I joined last spring because my daughter-in-law said she would post photos of baby Grace there. I had only 3 friends for months. But recently, there's been some kind of exponential explosion and it seems like half the people I know are hanging out there.
So I was tagged by three people on Facebook for this meme and I resisted until I finally gave in. I tagged a bunch of FB friends and am really enjoying getting to know everyone a bit better.
If you're reading this, consider yourself tagged and respond (if you like) on your blog. Then let me know by leaving a comment here.
Blessed New Year, everyone!
25 Things About Me
1. I grew up in Los Angeles and lived in the same house until I was 17, when I went away to college. Los Angeles in the 50's and 60's was a great place to grow up.
2. I fell in love with folk music at about age 12 or so, and went to folk concerts & coffeehouses in the LA area as often as I could manage as a teenager. I loved rock n roll too, but folk music more. That hasn't really changed. Yeah, Ian & Sylvia at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Jackson Browne at the Golden Bear, Laura Nyro at the Troubadour, and of course CSN&Y with Joni Mitchell at the Greek. Twice in one week.
3. My father was the youngest of 17 brothers and my mother the youngest of almost that many siblings. I was an only child, though not for lack of trying.
4. I've lived in the Bellingham area since 1990, including ten years on that mythical green island. My chosen home.
5. I miss living on the island every day.
6. Every day I'm grateful for easy access to town, and all that it offers.
7. I'm grateful to have work that engages me intellectually, gives me a creative buzz, serves others, and pays well. (Talkin' 'bout my web design biz)
8. The thing I like best about Twitter is the "water cooler" chatter I do with other work-at-home creatives, and the way it keeps me in daily touch with faraway friends.
9. Once I finish the artwork and book for the Gaian Tarot, I'm looking forward to nature journaling again. It's such a meditative practice of presence, and I miss it.
10. I'm also looking forward to making jewelry and exploring other forms of art media. After 10+ years of working with colored pencils, I'm ready to play with new toys.
11. I've been working on the Gaian Tarot since October 2000. If I'd known it was going to take me this long, I never would have started. So it's a good thing I didn't know.
12. I'm very happy that Llewellyn will be publishing my deck & book in 2011 in an affordable edition, and that I will be able to self-publish a deluxe collector's edition too. The best of both worlds.
13. My granddaughter Grace is the most beautiful baby in the whole wide world!! She's a Capricorn like me, and will be one year old in another week.
14. I had two sons, and my older boy died when he was 15 in a hiking accident.
15. I'm very proud of my son Steve, who has grown up to be a fine man, a good husband and a wonderful father. He chose a great woman for his wife, too!
16. I came close to dying four times from pulmonary emboli. Last time was 1993. The episodes left me with damaged lungs; I get short of breath easily.
17. A highlight of my year for the past several years has been a trip to New York for the Tarot School's Readers Studio. Wouldn't miss it for anything.
18. In general, people of the Tarot tribe are creative, erudite, friendly, eccentric, spiritually-minded book and art lovers. What's not to like?
19. My approach to Tarot reading is not predictive; it's more about self-exploration and insight. I help the querent to access her or his own inner wisdom. I love Mary Greer's description of herself as a "midwife of the soul." Exactly.
20. I practice an eclectic kind of earth-based spirituality. Craig is a non-theist. We have interesting conversations at our house.
21. I spent most of the 70's in church. Fundamentalist, charismatic Christianity. Now there's a story and a half.
22. I'm a Capricorn Sun near Chiron & Juno in the 8th; Taurus Moon & Taurus Rising; Venus & Merc in Sag; Mars in Libra; Jupe in Aries in the 11th; North Node in Pisces/South Node in Virgo, 10th/4th; Pisces on the Midheaven. There, now you know everything there is to know about me.
23. I'm convinced that the practice of gratitude is life-altering.
24. I'm grateful that, when it comes to marriage, the third time was the charm. I appreciate my guy for his creativity, his sensitivity, his commitment to us as a family, and for the way he keeps me on my toes. Among other things. ;-)
25. I'm deeply grateful for my chosen family of friends near and far. I love my solitude, my partner and my family. But I just wouldn't make it without my friends.
This all made me smile. It was so open and I learned things about you that made me weep and smile. Thank you.
FWIW, I'm a huge lover of folk music but rarely go to any concerts or even turn on the radio or music players because I relish silence so much. It's odd when I think about how much time I voluntarily live in total silence.
Posted by: Arwen | January 05, 2009 at 08:36 AM
This made me smile too, because I think I knew every one of those things about you already! Which makes me happy that I know you well, long-time friend and priestess sister. :-)
Posted by: Lunaea | January 05, 2009 at 01:29 PM
That is a lovely, honest list. I whole-heartedly agree with you about gratitude.
Facebook is amazing isn't it.
Posted by: Ellen-Mary | January 05, 2009 at 05:59 PM
I just got tagged myself. My list wasn't as long as yours. I love to hear how you went to fundie christian to earth mama Taroist. That must be a story. Your 25 about me list makes me feel like I know you a bit better now.
Posted by: Shell | January 05, 2009 at 06:43 PM
Thanks Arwen. Well you are living in the right place for folk music, are you not? Austin? Lunaea, yup you have definitely known me a looooong time. :-) Ellen-Mary, I am enjoying Facebook more and more. Glad we are "friends" there. Shell, I will have to go read your list!
Posted by: joanna | January 06, 2009 at 08:45 AM
Joanna, this is wonderful, and I am working on my own list!
Posted by: Cate (KerrdeLune) | January 07, 2009 at 04:28 PM
I've already got a "100 Things About Me" list on my blog...although I've only gotten up to 73 or so, lol...so I won't redo a list, but I want to say how much I enjoyed this post. Well, I always enjoy your blog, so this is just more good stuff! I find it interesting that if you'd known how long the Gaian Tarot would have taken, you'd not have done it...really? It seems like it was such a strong calling that you'd not be able to ignore it, lol! :-) Thank you so much for sharing! Your words always brighten my day. :-)
Posted by: Cyberdelia | January 07, 2009 at 06:45 PM
I have a 25 things about me in my LJ.
Posted by: Zion Mystic | January 13, 2009 at 11:54 AM
Thank you for sharing these very personal things whith us! I more or less took you up on the challenge and have a list up on my blog
BB
/Anna
Posted by: Anna | January 18, 2009 at 07:21 AM
Hi Joanna,
Great list. It inspired me to do one on Facebook. I also lived in B'Ham until 91 now I'm over in Spokane. I do miss B'Ham though. i am also an artist and have always wanted to do art for Tarot cards. Take care,
http://ajsloan.com
Posted by: Austin | February 01, 2009 at 09:06 AM
When I recently did my 25 random things (I love the idea of doing a 100 random things list), at first I thought "I can't even come up with 5," and then I found my list was very long indeed (one of my 3 am rounds of insomnia). Then I couldn't find the draft I saved, and started over at a different location. Anyway, as it turned out, I had three lists of 25, some duplicates, but many new. I think it's a different take on journaling. I've been working with a 5 year journal, and there are quarterly and annual summaries, that just stump me. This type of "snapshot" of who I am and where I've been has been invaluable.
I always find so much in your posts that resonates for me on a very deep level. I admire your commitment to creativity, self, nature and staying true, and am working daily to bring my life into that type of integrity. Thank you for you being you, and sharing yourself with me/us. I was touched by most of what you shared.
I usually have a playlist of music going which creates a type of soundtrack to my life. I do spend quiet/silent time alone when I'm journaling, writing morning pages, meditating, doing tarot spreads and working with my tarot journal. And I am a folk/roots/indigenous music junkie.
Posted by: Sage | February 02, 2009 at 05:45 PM