Amanda Takes Off...

OK, I've never in my life been tagged but Joanne just tagged me. I'll play because this one isn't 100 Things or Friday Five but I refuse to tag anyone. If you want to be tagged, I'll tag you. Just leave a comment.

Rules:

Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs 7 facts, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag seven others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and need to read your blog.

The facts:

1) When I was six years old, we were driving from Minnesota to Florida for a Christmas trip. (My parents were still married; I suspect this was The Last Big Family Thing but have no proof.) I decided to stick an M&M up my nose. I was just trying to fit in into my nostril because Penny on PeeWee Herman had yellow eyes and I wanted them too, but I couldn't stick the M&M in my eyeball, duh. So up my nose it went. It got stuck. Mom basically rubbed the outside of my nose until it melted.

2) I do remember my mom telling me (us) she was coming back from a temporary split that happened when I was four, two years earlier than their divorce. I don't, however, remember my parents telling us (me) they were going to get divorced. I am glad I don't remember.

3) My mother and father have at various points apologized for not doing or not giving or not being enough when we were kids. I don't know what the hell they're talking about, and I've told them both so in exactly those words.

4) My father used to take my brother and me fishing at Loring Park when we were kids. We didn't have fishing licenses and I'm pretty sure it was illegal, but nobody every bothered us, probably because we were cute.

My brother and I sold candy bars to go to YMCA Day Camp Kici Yapi for two years in a row. The first time we were there a week, the second time two weeks.

We had a spiel. I would start it. "Hi, my name is Amanda."

"And I'm Johnny."

I'd thumb my chest, "I'm the smart one!"

"And I'm the cute one," Johnny would say. Two years younger and a mess of red hair, he was cute.

Together we'd say, "And we're selling candy bars to go to camp!"

We would stand outside of the movie theaters in Uptown and say, "You should buy from us because it's the same price as in there but half of the money sends us to camp!" Like fishing, we never got in trouble. (Like fishing, this was Dad's idea.)

5) When I was a kid, I wondered how my mom ever dated because she was always with us or working. I know how she met my stepfather George, but I still don't see how she had the time.

I remember Johnny and I saying that George sounded like a balding man. We met him. And he was.

Speaking of George, I hated being asked in school if I "liked my stepdad." Nobody ever asked if I liked my mom or dad or brother. After years of answering, "Why don't you ask me if I like my mother or father?" I switched to a kinder, "I am very lucky, I have three parents who love me."

In Korea, divorce after having children is very, very rare, so I often get "oh you poor baby, you have a stepfather" thrown at me. I grin as if I don't understand and say, "I know! I am very happy! I get two fathers!"

I really mean it, too.

6) My brother and I didn't like each other until we'd both moved out of the house. I graduated from college, he graduated from boot camp, and all of a sudden, we actually liked each other.

7) My best friend in the world is Mark. We met when we were 11 (spring of 5th grade) but didn't become friends until fall of 6th grade when we were in the same class and 12 years old.

Mark and I once made a pact to get married at 25 if we were both still unmarried.

We didn't follow through.

Our mothers still want us to marry.