5 Questions from Shannon

I stopped by Shannon's yesterday and saw this meme. You know I'm never one to pass up talking about myself so thought I'd play along! Let me know if you answer the questions too or just leave your answers in the comment box! I'll be waiting with bated breath.

1. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I crave meat all the time so I would choose to live on steak forever. And with all the different marinades and sauces it wouldn't always taste the same. I'll take mine medium please. Could you pass the salt and pepper too? Thanks!

2. What's the most nerve-racking "close call" you've ever had?

In 2004 I had a shoulder replacement. I was lying on the surgery table and hearing everything that was said. I could also feel the tube they were pushing down my throat. They were having a hard time getting in correctly and they kept pulling it out and sticking it in. I realized then that I should be completely under by now and not knowing a thing!

No matter how hard I tried to talk or move or even open my eyes there was no way for me to let them know that I was still awake. I even heard my doctor's voice and I was scared that they were going to start cutting me open and I would be able to feel them cutting my bone off. You can imagine how scary that would be! I just prayed and pleaded with God to let them realize what was happening.

When I woke up I didn't feel a thing and I honestly thought I died and went to Heaven. Usually after surgery I wake up to pain and vomiting. I thought to myself, "Hey, that wasn't bad at all!" Then I heard a small child crying and I knew then I hadn't died because there is no sorrow in Heaven. I was bummed at first because what better place to be than with Jesus, but then I stopped and praised Him for this miracle and saving me from what could have been.

3. Name five features your ultimate dream house would have.

A. All on one floor with no steps anywhere and hallways and doors wide enough for a wheelchair. Counter tops and cabinets low with easy access. I saw a cool bath tub where you just step inside it and sit and it fills up with water! Oh how I would love to take a bath again. Okay, you got the point, make it handicapped accessible. I didn't want to waste all my turns on explaining what I need and would love to have. I know, I'm cheating!

B. A huge family room with shelves full of board games, all of our books in alphabetical order, and a terrific sound system with every cd I could ever want, a huge movie screen with theatre seating, and a popcorn maker of our very own, and then a candy counter with all of our favorites, a fireplace in the corner, huge bean bag chairs everywhere and a two bathrooms. One for boys and one for just us girls. I'll have my doll collection down there and hubby can have his toys. And we'll have a disco ball too when The BeeGees and Abba are playing! I am the dancing queen you know.

C. A deep freeze with an endless supply of meats, ice cream novelties, and wheat bagels. And a fridge filled with never ending gallons of milk, sugar free drinks and deli meats and cheeses. Oh yeah, and an ice dispenser on the front with both cubed and crushed. And how about shaved too in case we want to make sno cones. Otherwise I'll just get out my Snoopy Sno Cone maker. What flavor would you like?

D. My master bedroom suite will have his and hers walk in closets full of the hippest clothes (or at least some that fit) a fireplace in the corner, a HUGE bed with at least a dozen pillows for me and two for hubs. It will be a beautiful shade of blue, of course. The walls will be filled with special pictures of family and framed art - like the pictures the kids made all through school. My bedroom will never smell like my dog because she will have her own suite. And there will never be clothes on the floor because the minute hubby starts to throw his socks on the ground that song from Hanson, you know....MmmBop will come on. It won't take long for him to put things away because he hates that song! And because I rarely get any privacy (even when I go tinkle) the kids will have to earn a special pass in order to enter my queendom.

E. I want my ultimate dream home to be a place where anyone and everyone feels welcome to stop by anytime. I want my future grandchildren to be excited when they come, not because of all the cool stuff but because it's a home filled with laughter and lots of love!

4. Who has been the most influential non-relative in your life?

I don't remember her last name, but her first name was also Amy. We met at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago. I was ten, just diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. She was 17, also living with JRA. Amy already had had multiple surgeries, but was fiercely independent. Through her I could see what my future could be like. I was in awe of Amy. She drove to the big city all by herself, held a job and managed her life at 17. And she was on crutches and in a lot of pain. I saw Amy about every six months for a couple of years. The last time I saw her she was getting ready to go to college. She was off crutches and doing well. I never saw her after that, but what an impact she made on who I am today.

5. What one non-physical feature would you most like to change about yourself?

Okay, I know I just wrote about independence and how in awe I was, blah, blah, blah. I love being independent, but I also need to learn to ask for help. I'm very stubborn to the point I push myself so much and then I end up in so much pain I can't do the little things for myself. Then I really have to humble myself and ask for assistance when I know my family, bless their hearts, are thinking, "Why didn't she let me do it for her in the first place?".