I had to fill out an online questionnaire about myself in order to apply for a job this morning, and I was expecting questions of a professional nature, so I waited until I was full and rested and I'd had my morning tea. Then I took a deep breath and opened the questionnaire.
The first questions were about my ethnicity and military status and such. No problemo. I didn't put down my birthdate because that's not supposed to be asked in a job interview situation and I just didn't see the point. If anyone is curious and has a computer they can figure it out pretty easily.
Or they can look at my gray hair.
I've never understood why women lie about their age. I never lie about it. I am always tempted to ADD 10 years, though. Why, you may wonder? Well, then people will say "Wow! You look great for your age!"
Why thank you.
I digressed.Anyway, the next parts of the questionnaire were asking me what adjectives people would use to describe me, and what adjectives I would use to describe myself. There were long lists of adjectives.
Michael said the other day that his friends think I am "cool." That was not on the list. Bummer.
Mother has always said that I am bossy. That one wasn't on there either.The words "just like your grandmother" also can't be reduced to a single word.
So much for a "comprehensive" list.
How silly to reduce people to a list of adjectives. No matter how extensive, the list simply fails to capture me - or anyone else, for that matter.That's like saying a painting done by numbers is a perfect representation of a person. Nope. It's a vague likeness, at best.
Here's some that weren't on the list. Do they make me undesirable as an employee? I dunno. You decide.
CRYBABY: When I watch video of people crying, it makes me cry. Every time. Can't help it. Seeing one of my loved ones upset and/or hurting makes me cry. I rarely ever cry about myself.
PUSHY: A few years ago I had to push and fight and be obnoxious just to get an IEP for my daughter. I had testing data from a prominent neuropsychologist who verified she had a learning disability but the school folks wouldn't look at it. I had to threaten to sue to get the child what she needed, but I got it done.They don't like me at the school, but I don't care.
SILLY: I love to laugh and I love to make people laugh. I was folding Michael's clean clothes the other day while we watched TV and I stuck a pair of boxers on my head like a hat and made him laugh. Why not? My dad used to put plastic pants on his head while he changed me and it always made me laugh.
PASSIONATE: I guess that's a loaded word, to some people. I'm not talking about sex. Passion applies to so much more than that. I am a passionate advocate for adopted children, and ones needing to be adopted. I am passionate about animals being treated with love and compassion. I am passionate about doing the right thing, in every situation. I am passionate about writing. I am passionate about caring for my mom and my son.I am passionate about my faith. A life lived without passion is empty.
DEMANDING: I demand that folks treat me and mine with respect. You don't have to like me. You don't have to treat me as special. You do have to show me basic respect.
OLD: I am OK with being thought of as old. I still have a hard time processing that I am 50 [see how easy it was to find that out?!]. Half a century. It blows my mind. What's wrong with being old, though? What's wrong with saying yep, I don't do high-impact aerobics any more but I can still walk at a good clip. I can still laugh. I like meeting new people. I am not old and GROUCHY. I am aging well, like fine wine. I know SO MUCH more about life than I did when I was 30. I am seasoned. If you want a Gen X person, fine. I bring a lot more to the table, and I'm proud of that.
Here's how I would like people to remember me after I am dead: Dee wasn't perfect but she knew how to LOVE. Her family and friends knew she loved them.
What else really matters?!
