I love how we are all connected by invisible strings of fate, each interaction meaningful in some form. When I was in elementary school, I was exceedingly shy, but I befriended a sweet girl named Dani in second grade, us having fun being silly on the blacktop together. A year later, Dani and I were in the same class. We started playing when suddenly, a girl in short copper hair, glasses, and a yellow hoodie, walks up to me and ask why I was playing with her sister. The rest was fate, meant to be. ^_^ This is how I met my longest close friend, Kristen.
Growing up with Kristen in my life has been a delight. I have never known a more strong soul, hard-working individual, a true role model that made me a better human being. She always knew how to guide me when I needed it and accepted me as myself with a good head and compassion. Everything is easy and refreshing as a breeze when Kristen and I hang out. I can trust her with anything and be fully chill or have an intellectual conversation at the same time. She is a songbird, soothing and exciting. When we get together, its a great time.
If you need a true friend, Kristen and her partner Micah is it. No matter how much time passes between our last visits, we always get back on track, connected souls. Micah and you are the perfect companions and Derric and I treasure our time together.
I think you guys will be able to easily see by reading this article why Kristen and I have been close since we were eight. She is the bee’s knees!
Kristen’s Responses to My Questions:
1. What are your three favorite memories of us together?
Easily one of my favorite and more recent memories is that time we had you out to Denver for the Nan Desu Kan Anime conference. That was so much fun and I want to do it again. b. Remember that time in high school when I insisted that I must be Odd? So weird. But you totally supported me and even made me a green t-shirt (my favorite color) with the word Odd on it. Of course, you remember it because your memory is like a steel trap. :)c. Another favorite is that journal we passed around in high school between Marissa, Erin, you, and me. I love that you still have it. (Because you won’t use it for blackmail. Hahaha!)
2. Where is your favorite place you’ve been hiking?
This is a tough one. There are some really beautiful, breathtaking places out there. I suppose one of my favorites is the Pacific Peak Trail to Mohawk Lakes outside of Breckenridge, CO. The views are spectacular, the water is crystal clear, and at the right time, the trail is covered in wildflowers.
3. What is your oddest, but favorite food you like to eat?
I don’t do this very often, so I don’t know if I would call it a favorite per se. But I think it is quite tasty to create a chocolate ice cream float with orange juice. Sounds weird, looks terrible as it blends, but tastes amazing.
4. What is the most rewarding part of your degree? Why did you choose it? I would have to say the most rewarding part of my degree is the fact that it does open doors to other opportunities that wouldn’t otherwise have been available to me. Not that I’m really applying it extensively right now (degrees don’t typically work that way anyway)… But, at the risk of making it sound like it’s a self-serving endeavor, it can earn a little more respect among peers and employers. But beyond that, I did meet some really cool people in my program and I now have a greater sense of how terrible we all are to our planet (hahaha! You can take that part out if you want).
5. Describe your perfect date night with Micah?
A simple dinner and a movie would suffice. Since we have opposite work schedules I just really value the quality time with her; doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive, just something nice and relaxing with her. š
6. What was your favorite part of going to your first Anime Convention with us?
Oh my god, what was not my favorite part? Above all I loved getting the chance to spend time with you and Derrick, getting to experience something with you all that I had never gotten to experience before (while, of course, you guys were and remain to be the pros at attending conventions like that). Also, I really enjoyed getting to see all the costuming and the amazing creativity that goes into cosplaying a character. The talks we went to were really interesting and the artwork was captivating. So, let’s do it again!
7. What books and movies inspire you? Name five.
As a naturalist at heart, I tend to gravitate towards naturalist kinds of books. So one book that I really enjoy reading is Pilgrim At Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard. It is very poetically written and it will stay on my bookshelf as one of my favorites. I also really enjoyed reading a book called Buzz, Sting, Bite by Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson, in which she writes about the fundamental importance of our world’s invertebrates. Another book, called Wicked Bugs by Amy Stewart, explores just how deeply enmeshed our lives are with the lives of insects and other invertebrates and is a fascinating read, in my opinion. (Support women authors!!) As for movies, I really love Death Becomes Her – so perfectly witty and ironic, and, if you’re looking for a moral, it highlights the fact that it is meaningless to strive for anything beyond the normal bounds of natural human life. Another favorite movie right now is JoJo Rabbit – that complete shift in everything you believe in, in the face of an entire culture telling you to stay where you are, is one of the hardest things to achieve. Also, it’s just a funny movie – Yorkie’s lines are the best!
8. Tell us about your fur babies!
First, there’s Bellatrix; some kind of blue heeler/terrier mix. Lots of energy (probably need to run her actually) and lots of love. She’s one of the cuddliest dogs I’ve ever had. She pretends to hate other dogs but does just fine at daycare…so she’s like a lot of humans in that respect. Then there’s Tarn (word for mountain lake – because her eyes are clear blue like a tarn) the Himilayan. She loves me and my wife, and is irrationally afraid of everyone else who walks through our front door. She imagines herself to be a good huntress, but it only counts when she drags mice and lizards into our house. When they are still alive. And last, but certainly not least, are the two guinea pigs, Afogato and Earl Grey. They make excellent garbage disposals, as long as the scraps are fresh, and every year they pose for a new calendar shoot (whether they like it or not).
9. How do you like to be creative?
I guess I like to build and restore things. I built my bed frame using pine poles to make the four posts. One of my favorite things I built is the corner shelf I made using an old wooden door. Taking old things and making them new again is a very satisfying transformation as it happens under the direction of your hands and your imagination.
10. Which one of Lauren’s superpowers would you want to have? How would you use them?
I wish I could be a badass with the bo staff – it would feel so empowering. Also, it would be pretty sweet to be able to summon and harness the power of lightning. I would never have to worry about the battery life on my phone again.
11. If you become an ice cream flavor based on your personality, what would it be and why?
Hard to say. I wish it could be something exciting and unique but on the whole, I feel pretty vanilla. It’s the candies (friends) and syrups (family) you add that make me interesting.
12. Why do you think you and Morgan’s friendship has lastest so long and is so strong and wonderful?
Obviously, it’s because Morgan is the most amazing person at keeping in touch and maintaining patience with me as life gets busy and we lose track of time. Seriously, it is because of Morgan’s stamina that we are still friends today and I am so grateful and find it so meaningful that she is willing to keep up the effort to stay in touch with me. Long-distance relationships are difficult at best, but she really pulls us through those challenges so that we may continue to call each other friends. Thank you, Morgan! I appreciate you and love you!
Questions Kristen Asked Me:
1. What are your three favorite memories of us? I know you asked me this but I couldn’t help returning the question; I’m curious to know.
For an individual event, I agree our near week seeing you both at Denver and taking you to your first con was for sure incredible. ^_^ Growing up, I always loved going to your house to study, bake, and hang out. Everything is always so peaceful when I am with you. And the sleepovers were always rad. I must admit, I still loved our 20’s skit in 9th grade, even if we did break the shot glasses, which I felt bad about! LOL! I treasure the notebook we shared in high school. Looking back at it now is entertaining. Ah, before texting! š
2. What inspired you to become a teacher?
A few factors: One was I had to take a test in 5th grade and it said I would have been an excellent teacher in the future. That was the year I had Ms. Mahan, one of my favorite teachers I have ever had that inspired me to be a better person. Two, I have always had an affinity for interacting with kids and I have several little cousins that I played with growing up, often playing school. Seeing the light in their eyes when they learned something new or it clicked fueled me. Lastly, deep down, I did want to follow in my dad’s footsteps, but not with rude high schoolers. LOL! But, he doesn’t know that, so don’t tell. š *shush*
3. Which of the anime characters that you have created do you most identify with? And why?
I have not really created any anime characters (although I made OC, original characters, for animes I like or for cosplays and D & D, lol). If you mean book characters…I can’t pick favorites; you do not pick favorite children, ha! Stary and Val are based on me with traits I wish I did have. Many others are based on children I know. I think the most fun character to write for me is Jeremey Darington from “The Hunter and The Bringer.” He is so over-the-top but has a good heart under all that oozing charm. I just let him take over often when I write and what pops out of his mouth stuns me, but I don’t fight it! HA!
4. If you were granted the opportunity to travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Where in Japan? Anywhere else besides Japan? š
Darn! You know me so well! >.< If I could go anywhere else in the world, I would have to choose England. I love their lore and I have friends there. š
5. What is your favorite superpower that you have created for your characters? Would you wield that power if you could?
I really do love Stary’s powers: seeing spirits, light abilities, flight, connecting her heart to those she loves, making everyone stronger through their love. Plus, a magical book and sword! ^_^ But, it’ll be a lot of responsibility.
6. What is the best adventure you and Derrick have ever been on?
Our whole relationship. š <3
7. If you could get a tattoo that spanned your entire back, what would it look like? (I’m imagining a cherry blossom tree…)
Oh! I never thought of a tattoo. I have to get blood drawn so often that the thought of a needle on me for fun isn’t my cup of tea, lol! But, I see some lovely designs. If I HAD to on my back: I think a cheery blossom tree would be great, it carefully highlights my curved spine, then at the top, exploding petals of pink at the top. Purple butterflies from my lupus fluttering between them. I think a burst of colorful confetti dancing around too, maybe symbols from my beloved animes and shows snuck in there. Maybe on the falling petals, I can put the initials of who I love on them. Man, that would be a pricey tattoo! HA!
8. Describe Sock’s favorite toy(s).
Ironically, Socks’ favorite toy is Derrick’s hoodie string that fell off his Batman one ages ago! LOL! We even tied milk rings at the end, ha! She also likes a Tribble plush we got her at a con, ribbons, and sometimes twinkle balls. Trust me, she has a billion toys! LOL! If she really wants a toy, she will dig it out and make a mess from her toy box. Hehehe. She adores boxes, crinkly paper, and knocking off my pens and chapstick! Goofy baby!
9. Would you rather team up with Wonder Woman or Captain Marvel?
Oooh. Well, I am a bigger fan of Marvel, but out of those two, I am more of a Wonder Woman fan. So, either would be fantastic!
10. If you ever moved out of Farmington, MO, where do you imagine you would live and why?
I adore my hometown. But, if I had to move to somewhere else in my beloved state, I would pick Perryville, that way I am close to home, but also only 30 minutes from Cape. I have many friends in that area. I do like the states of Iowa and Indiana too. My dream would be to teach English in Japan for a year; that would be an out-of-this-world, breathtaking experience!
