Interview me
In response to the Interview me post of a few days ago, Kristi at Indigo Insights answered what I asked of her with very honest and emotionally charged words, the sort that you want to read twice and contemplate as both an example and inspiration.
I am simply saying "Thanks" to Kristi.
Without further ado, the questions and her answers:
1. When forced to choose between a lesser evil, but strewn over time, or a big bad thing that will pass almost immediately, what would you do and why?
Unfortunately, we don't get to choose. But if we did, I'd probably choose "big bad thing that will pass almost immediately", because I've already experienced the "strewn over time" scenario and it's awful. My husband died of Alzheimer's - and it took a decade. That was a "strewn over time" experience that was disastrous. Better to have a "big bad" and get it behind you. A decade is too long to suffer.
2. Please describe one action of yours that had a deep, personal impact on the life of somebody that you know.
My grandson came to live with me when he was 14 years old. His single mom was at wit's end coping with a rebellious teenager and asked if he could live with me in another town, hopefully to get a fresh peer group. He lived with me until he was 20, with all the ups, downs, and crises of those growing up years. But the impact those years had on him will be with him for the rest of his life. He was very musically talented, but his God-given talent had not been developed. The music teacher in me could not let that talent go unused. He wanted to play guitar, so I bought him a good one. Then we found a guitar teacher and he took lessons for about a year, learning the basics of music to enhance his innate talent. By the age of 17 he had his own band and was "famous" in the area. Not too many 17 year olds make $150 a night playing music, but he did and his self-esteem skyrocketed. He's 24 now; still working on his music degree because his "education" has to be integrated into his music career! Still, as I told him, if he doesn't sell a million CDs, he can always teach. He writes and records his own songs -- and THEY ARE GOOD. (No prejudice there, of course!)
3. You have been chosen as the historian of your family. What five things will you made sure are told by the following generations of Indigos?
(1) Oddly enough, I am in the process of chronicling my family history in a book for future generations. The roots of one limb of our family tree were planted on this continent in 1620 at Plymouth Rock via the Mayflower; and the other limb took root in North Carolina in 1720, via a land grant from King George. Genealogy studies are available.
(2) The War Between the States was not as decimating to North Carolinians as to other states farther South, but the family wealth required several years to recover. My great-great grandfather was able to keep his land and eventually regained affluence and influence for his progeny.
(3) Our family's men have been war heroes since the Revolution. Yes, we are also proud of those who served in the Civil War because they were no less heroes than the rest, even though their cause was futile.
(4) Indigo has had an exceptionally fulfilling and happy life, always with music in the background, but active in other areas as well. i.e., journalism, editor, crisis counselor, church music director. The major force and fulfillment of my life, however, has been the joy of my wonderful children and grandchildren.
(5) The family anthology is a plethora of entertaining "stories" that must be shared with future generations. Through handed-down tales of wit, pranks, and sports history they will be able to get to know their roots.
4. Please describe the moment when your values were shaken to the core. Did you still abide by them? How did you resolve the conflict?
A loved one became entangled in the drug scene. My values were very shaken. Although "hard drugs" were not the issue, the interlude definitely caused a deterioration in the person and in our relationship. Addiction is anathema to everything I believe in, and, yes, I do still abide by my core beliefs. My love for that person allowed me to get through the crisis with him without compromising my philosophies. We/I resolved the conflict with patience and love and many, many soul-searching talks.
5. Do you forgive? Why? Of course. To "not forgive" cements a stone in the heart s that hurts the both persons.