Finding Ninee » Sharing our parenting and special needs stories with heart and humor.

10 Things That Might Surprise You About Me

One of the things I love about blogging and the online community is that writers share deep parts of themselves. Don’t get me wrong – I share a lot with my close friends IRL as well. It’s that the blogging community knows things about one another more quickly.

We write about life and our pasts in a way that doesn’t easily transfer to playground or football practice talk while watching our kids and avoiding a stray ball.

It’s easier somehow to share through writing. Strangers have read about my secret worries, moments, and hopes, the last day before becoming a mom, embarrassing moments, and dreams for the future.

Here’s an embarrassing moment…

You know – the stuff that doesn’t tend to come up at a neighborhood mom’s breakfast chat.

I’ve shared a lot on this website, but maybe not everything.

Here are 10 things that might surprise you about me:

ONE: I’ve never baked a dessert from scratch. Ever. I’ve only made cakes and brownies and stuff from the box three times.

Maybe four. Ask me for a plate of nachos though, and you won’t be disappointed (hint – the secret is cheese on every chip).

TWO: I’ve written about being adopted, although not much (here, and here are a couple). I haven’t written about meeting my bio mom and my half bio sister.

When I was in my 20’s, my dad encouraged me to get my files from the adoption agency and to meet my biological mother.

At that time, I had no desire to do so. I was perfectly comfortable saying “I don’t know” when doctors asked about family history. I called, and found out I was named “Ester.” That was enough for then.

After Tucker was born though, I wanted to know. I’ll have to tell the full story sometime, but this one began with hiring a mediation counsellor, making contact through her, checking my email 4,298 times in a few hours, and an eventual trip. I’m glad I did it.

I found out Ester was her sister, who died as a child.

Bio father wasn’t willing to even fill out a medical history form. I’m mostly over that, having decided he’s a mean mean meanie and a Loser.

THREE: I’ve never been embarrassed about people seeing me in sweats or grungy clothes. Only a rare few have seen me without mascara though.

My dumb blonde (pun intended) eyelashes are almost clear. When Robert and I first started dating, I even slept with waterproof mascara on.

FOUR: While I know it’s ridiculous and dumb-dumb like, I’m a little ashamed at how old I am to have an almost-nine-year-old. What? We’re being honest here. After all, this is a post about 10 things that might surprise you about me, right?

10 things that might surprise you about me

OMG look at me and baby Tucker. I already feel so much older and it’s ONLY been eight years…

FIVE: In 9th grade, I didn’t say anything when my friend Carol stole a test and then I looked at the answers, too. We got caught and I admitted everything, and she said it was my idea. I wasn’t even in the room when she took it. We’re no longer friends.

SIX: That same year, my mom had just moved out and my brothers and I lived with my dad. When we were at the grocery store, he asked whether I needed any female supplies.

One brother snickered, and I said “no” rather than yes. I (very) briefly experimented with an invention that was made up of dental floss and toilet paper. Enough said there, and I got braver pretty quickly in front of my brothers at the grocery.

SEVEN: I peed in a graveyard in New Orleans after my friend and I asked for vampires to turn us into vampires, too. Or, wait. Maybe you knew that. I did write about it a long time ago.

EIGHT: Recently, I wrote about scuba diving and skydiving. People seemed surprised although I’d written about it a couple years ago, and I’m not sure whether I shared that I’ve done both a lot. I think I’ve been skydiving about seven times, and scuba diving… hm. Maybe 40 times?

I considered moving to Turks and Caicos to become a diving instructor / ad designer for a while and had several meetings with a couple there who owned an advertising agency.

NINE: I can’t believe I’m sharing this, but once, I kicked down somebody’s door. I was young 20’s, and “we were in love.” Except, one nigh, he never showed up, and a friend texted that she saw him at a club. Gah.

Dumb. Also, lessons, right? OMG I have to delete this. Or not. It’s 10 things that might surprise you about me after all. And this one surprises even now-me.

TEN: Although I’ve been fine with reading what I’ve written out loud to a crowd at Listen to Your Mother and also at a couple of blog conferences, in smaller writing groups, I’m not so much fine.

In fact, my hands shake so badly that I feel them twitching in my forehead and lips.

Same with certain social situations. It was so bad, I couldn’t even reach for my drink, whether it was coffee, water, or wine. That bad.

I asked my doctor about it, fearing early stages of Parkinson’s but she seemed to think it’s more of a defensive adrenaline rush.

I now have a prescription for Beta Blockers that I take an hour before I’ll be doing something like reading out loud.

Mostly, they seem to help, although I still wonder about Parkinson’s or other because why wouldn’t I?

So hey, I don’t usually ask you a question like I’m “supposed to” at the end of these confessions, but what are the 10 things not many people know about you? Do you want to share? Join us!

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This has been a Finish the Sentence Friday post. It’s old-school blogging with the listicle of “10 things most people don’t know about me,” and my fabulous co-host is Kenya G. Johnson of Sporadically Yours.

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  • Kenya G. Johnson - I would have never guessed number 10 because you did do so well. I had to do something at church one time and my kneecaps were jumping. I didn’t know they could do that. It’s been a long long time since I’ve done anything else like it. I can’t imagine it being works. I’m also surprised at the “many” scuba dives. I know you wrote about it but wow 40ish is a lot! I think my kneecaps would twitch down there too. I seem to remember you peeing in the graveyard. I’ll have to click over to refresh my memory. 🤣 We are going to have to work in a prompt for meeting your bio mom because I want to read it. Oh and back to Parkinson’s, “of course”. I’d be worried about having a for real heart attack because I take blood pressure medication.May 10, 2018 – 10:36 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I’ve thought about writing a post about meeting my bio mom and half bio sister but I’m not sure how private they feel about it and I’m friends with them (and two aunts and several cousins!) on Facebook and sometimes, a few of them read this. I don’t know if I could really write about all of the emotions and be totally honest about the ups and downs and frustrations knowing they might see it. But I could write about some… hm. LOL to your kneecaps jumping while scuba diving. Honestly, it’s so relaxing and calm. All you hear is your own breathing and it’s so beautiful.
      I completely understand the worry of a for real heart attack! Scary!May 11, 2018 – 7:38 pmReplyCancel

  • Lizzi - You kicked. Down. A door…!!!May 11, 2018 – 5:08 amReplyCancel

  • Vickie - I’ve kicked in a door (or two) in my younger days 😳😬May 11, 2018 – 4:35 pmReplyCancel

  • Emily - Great list! So funny about you and mascara! I have an episode about a door and an old boyfriend too — I wasn’t strong enough to kick it down, but boy did I try! And, I can sooo relate about public speaking — I hate it and I’m a wreck when I do it. I recently had to give a 2-minute toast to my cousin for his 50th — 2 measly minutes!! — and I was so nervous — kind of irrational! Anyway, I like this listicle and will try to participate but have been crazy busy trying to move Big Dude back home for the summer — lots of laundry and lots of stuff that I need to find room for – ugh.May 11, 2018 – 5:28 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I know – dumb right? The things we worry about. Mascara! Gah. Hmmm funny that you also tried to kick down a door (I wish I had failed…later I paid to have it fixed). Speaking in public is scary! And I can’t really figure out why. Good luck getting all of Big Dude’s stuff settled and I hope you will write a post and link up!May 11, 2018 – 7:42 pmReplyCancel

  • Pat B - Thanks for the prompt this week.It caused me to think back a few years, well actually a lot of years. 🙂
    Over the years I’ve made a lot of things from scratch, but sometimes I look for recipes that do not call for lots of ingredients.
    Oh, my. Your invention mentioned in #6! If your doctor had heard about that, he would have given you all sorts of warnings.
    I remember reading your #7 and #8 stories. I was so impressed with your skills in #8.
    Your anger in #9 must have come blasting out through every muscle in your body. What strength can be exhibited when one feels betrayed.
    I’ve known people who have joined Toastmasters in order to get past their fear of speaking, and it helped them.May 11, 2018 – 11:33 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I’ll have to check out Toastmasters. I’ve heard good things about them. And oh my – number 6. I can’t believe I shared that – so embarrassing but then again, everything about being 13 and 14 years old feels embarrassing I suppose. Luckily, I got brave pretty quickly!
      I’m quite embarrassed about number 9 as well but you’re so right. Anger and betrayal blast out. Later, I paid for his door to be fixed but I’ll never not cringe at the memory. Oh and recipes without a lot of ingredients is a good idea. I don’t mind (and enjoy) making complicated meals – it’s just baking that I seem to not enjoy although I have no idea why!May 12, 2018 – 8:20 pmReplyCancel

  • Allie - I love this post! I may even quick try to write one:). I’m sorry about your Bi0-dad, that really sucks. I get shaky, too. I diagnosed myself with MS, but the neurologist said I was cray-cray. Oy! What is wrong with us? And I’m impressed by your door kicking skills!May 14, 2018 – 9:14 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Oh I’d love to read yours!!! LOL to the parkinsons and self-diagnosis, and MS and the cray-cray. I don’t get it. Also boom I’ll always have my door-kicking-in skills! 😀May 22, 2018 – 11:01 pmReplyCancel

  • Kerry - Cheese on every chip. Haha. Good advice. I have rarely, if ever, baked anything from scratch either. We have that in common.

    Kicked down a door. I’m surprised, I’ll admit, and impressed at your mighty strength in such a situation. I could never round up the strength to do something like that.

    I’m glad you came up with this prompt and feel free here to speak about all these things that make you “you”.May 20, 2018 – 9:57 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Baking feels overrated to me although for the friends I have that love it, it’s therapy, so I guess one more proof that we’re each different. I like that I share the never baked with you! Thanks for your sweet words Kerry!May 22, 2018 – 11:02 pmReplyCancel

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