DJan from Djanity, recently received a Blue Award, and has asked six bloggers to respond to the following questions...


1. What is your favorite book and why?
2. If you could be anybody, living or dead, who would it be?
3. What is your first memory? Why do you think you remember it?
4. What do you think is your strongest asset?
5. Do you like parties? Why or why not?
6. What is your favorite activity?
7. Why do you blog?
8. Do you get regular exercise? If so, how?
9. Are you happy? Why or why not?
10. Tell something about yourself you want to share.

I was one of those six bloggers and am going to, over the next few posts, attempt to answer her questions...

1. What is your favorite book and why?" My very favorite book was written by Charlotte Bronte in 1847. " Jane Eyre" is not only a love story, but, according to Wikipedia...

"Partly autobiographical, the novel abounds with social criticism. It is a novel considered ahead of its time. In spite of the dark, brooding elements, it has a strong sense of right and wrong, of morality at its core."

I first read this novel in my teens. I have read it several times since. I often imagined myself in a reversal of roles, and wondered if I would one day have someone love me as much as Jane loved Mr Rochester. I think I shall read it again, and I encourage you to do the same.

2. "If you could be anyone living or dead, who would it be?" Now this question gave me a lot to think about! I am afraid that I cannot narrow that down to one individual... At times, I think I would like to live like Thoreau. I would like to write like Bronte and paint like Bateman. I would like to have the hope and faith and the ability to envision a better world, as did Martin Luther King. I would like to have the inner strength of Rosa Parks...and yet, I would like to be the guy that sat across from her on that day when she refused to give up her seat. I wish I had the wisdom and peaceful demeaner of Wayne Dyer. For the most part, however, I am just glad to be me. I have the bounty of a great family and I would not trade that for anyone or anything!

3. "What is your first memory?" My first memory is being held in someone's arms and waving up at my dad who waved back from a window in a brick building. I looked at him through a chain link fence...and no, he was not in prison! I later learned that I was around three years of age, possibly younger...and my mother held me so that I could see my dad who was in hospital at the time. I remembered this incident as it was a painful memory...and I think pain can leave a lasting impression.

Thanks, DJan for including me in this exercise. I will answer your questions over the next few days!