I Never Knew That About You!

We all like to settle into familiar patterns, whether traffic routes, breakfast routines, or interactions with friends. While there is a lot to be said in favor of familiar and comfortable, sometimes it's good to get outside that comfort zone. One way to do this is to find out new things about old friends. For example, I am going to share five things here that most people don't know about me. That might be enough to make you wonder what you don't know about other people you think you know, and explore a new side of those friendships.

I have taken tap dancing lessons three separate times in my life. When I was four or five years old, I barely remember being there. When I was about 10 years old, I have a photograph of me and my younger sister in tap shoes and tutus for the recital at the end of the year. Just a couple years ago, the same sister talked me into taking a few lessons again with her. We did not remember as much as we hoped we would (seriously, more than 45 years later?), but we still had a great time.

I am a convicted international smuggler, on a technicality. When I was stationed in Iceland in the Air Force (two more things most of you don't know about me! Bonus!), I had borrowed a car to drive downtown to get my new contact lenses. (Another bonus, I used to wear contact lenses.) I intended to drop off a turntable at the on-base post office to mail stateside, but the post office was closed. With no time to drop it off at the dorm, I told my story to the gate guard when leaving the base for the eye doctor, and he said "sorry" but had to confiscate it because of concerns about American electronics and the local black market. I went to an administrative hearing, and had to admit I had heard that rule before that day, so I was technically guilty of attempting to take electronics off-base, or international smuggling.

The fingers of my left hand are numb as I type this. I have had carpal tunnel surgery on my right wrist and hope to arrange for it on my left wrist soon. I knew they both needed it back when I had the first one done in 2006, but just "didn't have time" until this summer to take care of the left wrist. Besides, I am SO right-handed it was almost irrelevant that my left hand was not as capable as my surgically-improved right hand. When it got to the point that I could not open a plastic juice bottle without help, it was time.

I ate my first taco in Iceland, at a Coast Guard party, on a Navy base, while stationed there in the Air Force. The whole Coast Guard contingent on-base at that time happened to be from Texas. I saw Blazing Saddles at the NCO Club on-base that year too, when the movie first came out, not knowing ahead of time it was a comedy and not a typical western. Another first in Iceland, I was a DJ on the base radio station for a couple weeks.

I gave one of the speeches at my high school graduation, and forgot the words partway through. I started coughing to stall for time until I could remember the next line (memorized, baby, no notes or teleprompter). The only person who knew what really happened was my English teacher, Ms. Deemer, who had coached and rehearsed us all. My own stepmother wondered if she should go get me some water! After a few seconds, I regained my place, leaving out only one sentence. I've been a fan of improvisation ever since.

I have to get to work now, but here's your "homework." Don't wait until you have to take out a personals ad to find someone who will "like pina coladas, and getting caught in the rain..." Find out something new about someone you think you know today.