25 Random Things

Hello Beloved Blog Buddies,

It has been over half a year since I last posted. Back then I was two weeks into my recovery from surgery: a tumor removal from my anus. Not Uranus. My anus. [Sorry; I couldn’t help myself. If I can’t make fun of or laugh at the idea of it, I get swallowed up into the Pit of Despair, and I absolutely refuse.] I had six more weeks of healing from the surgeon’s precise slice before we started with the big guns: chemo and radiation.

I couldn’t write. Not while I was IN it. I needed every iota of energy to just. get. through.

And now that I’m better – for now – I want to write again, but I’m having some trouble getting up and running. I signed up for my friend, Andrea Scher’s, class called “Brave Blogging.” Assignment #1: make a list of 25 random things about yourself.

[There will be more about my experience with cancer in future blogs. I promise. I bet you can’t wait. But for now…]

25 (or perhaps fewer) Random Things About Me:

1. I chose my last name and legally changed it from my married name when I got divorced. I didn’t want my ex-husband’s name; I didn’t want to return to my father’s last name either. I didn’t want ANY guy’s last name. I wanted my own damn name. “Delsol” means “of the sun” in Spanish. My heritage is Hispanic  and I grew up in the tropics (Venezuela and Puerto Rico). I wanted a name that reflected all of that.
2. I played “Dorothy” in “The Wizard of Oz” as a Junior in high school. My father was an amateur actor/dancer/singer. Due to his love of music and dance, I grew up listening (and dancing) to show tunes, but also salsa, Frank Sinatra, the Beatles, Dave Brubeck, Pablo Casals. For someone whose name I didn’t want, my Dad had a huge influence on my eclectic artistic/creative self. 
3. Growing up in the tropics spoiled me weather-wise. I spent over 15 years in New England and hated every single winter. Now I live in northern California and I believe we have the best weather on the planet. I am never leaving.
4. My left foot is larger, wider and thicker than my right one. Not in the normal everyone-is-slightly-asymmetrical kind of way. More like in the way that shopping for shoes is a big fat drag because I have to immediately eliminate 90% of the footwear inventory.  The remaining 10% is not very sexy. Trust me.
5. Whatever is the opposite of a green thumb is what I’ve got. I’d love to have more oxygen indoors, but I feel bad for the plants which are destined to endure a slow and unattractive death if I bring them inside my home.
6. I’ve been in love with both men and women, but these days I seem to prefer the company of women. I don’t have an explanation. It just is what it is.
7. I hate the phrase “It is what it is” when people say it TO me. Which doesn’t keep me from using it.
8. Comfort food: rice and beans.
9. I studied ballet for 14 years, starting at the age of 3. I also took tap and flamenco classes. 
10. Although fluent, Spanish is not my native language. I grew up speaking English at home, but while living abroad, Spanish was part of my school curriculum from grade school through high school. Plus, watching American TV shows dubbed in Spanish helped: “Bewitched,” (a.k.a. “Hechizada“); “Lost in Space” (Cuidado Will Robinson!).
11. I have a law degree and hated being a lawyer. It didn’t last long.
12. I had a son and loved being a mom. It didn’t last long enough. 
13. I love to knit. I’m working on a sampler afghan for my mother (surprise, Mom!) which involves cables and eyelet, and all sorts of tricky maneuvers with the needles. There are 20 blocks. I’m on #3. And although it sometimes feels daunting, the beauty of a sampler is that no matter how boring (or difficult) a pattern is, it only lasts for 12″ x 12″ and then you get to move on to the next pattern. What I just realized is that what I love about it so much is that I’m LEARNING. Which makes me feel alive. And when you’ve come as close to death as I have, that’s no small thing.
14. I have a little bit of OCD. I tend to “square” piles of stuff on tables or desks, even if they’re not mine! I walk through clothing stores and can’t help but rehang the top that’s half falling off the hangar. If someone leaves a can of corn in the cereal section of the grocery store, I have to return it to its proper place. Not always, but if I don’t, it kind of haunts me for the rest of the day.
15. I drive a Toyota Prius hybrid plug-in. She’s sky blue. Her name is Skylar. I dream of owning a Tessla. Don’t tell Skylar.
16. I’ve been the spectrum of vegan to carnivore. Currently, I do not eat red meat. Fish and fowl are OK, but not every day. Lots of fruits and veggies. I have a new friend who considers herself “manic organic” which I am not, but when given the choice? Organic.
17. My house is too big for me, but I can’t bear the thought (yet) of downsizing. I lived in this house with my son and my ex-partner. Now it’s just me and my doggy in a 4-bedroom. Anyone looking for an upstairs to rent? Two bedrooms, a full bath, lots of closet space, a bonus room overlooking the first floor, shared kitchen, living room, dining room and backyard with pool. (LOL; I can’t believe I just placed a classified ad).
18. At least once a month I think of abandoning Facebook. That’s as far as I get. Thinking about it.
19. I have not had a single migraine since menopause. Thank you. Now it’s just the hot flashes. The kind where I need to get naked immediately or someone better give me some chocolate. (BTW, the chocolate does nothing for the hot flash, but it makes me happy.)
20. I am a writer. Except I can’t seem to make it to #25.