No, they'll never believe me. If I throw in the fact that we lived only two blocks from Dracula's castle, that would really take the cake. Few people know the reality behind the myth of Dracula, Vlad Tepes, nicknamed Vlad "The Impaler", a much revered Ruler of the Romanian people. He stood up to the Ottoman Empire, and he cleansed the country of thieves and criminals.
Maybe I should share the story about my parents leaving me alone and in charge of our family at the tender age of 13 when they defected Romania (I was the oldest, and I was always a bossy kid who fended quite well for herself). No one would believe that one. Child services would be right on top of that here in the US...
Perhaps I should share the story of how my dad went on a hunger strike in front of the UN building in order to garner media attention to our plight. His sacrifice worked: Mr. Kissinger and Mr. Javitz intervened on our behalf and soon thereafter we were allowed to leave Romania and be reunited with our parents here in the US. That was one of the happiest days of my life; I was 15 and I had been without my parents for two entire years (an eternity at that age). There were many tears of joy that day.... But that's too sappy; I shouldn't disclose that.
Maybe I should talk about how my parents arrived here with only $ 125 to their name. They both worked several jobs, many shifts, most days of the week for a couple of years, while saving every penny to open their first business here, the first of many to follow. That's not a very plausible story either....
I guess the worst of the bunch would be disclosing that I don't like doctors and that I follow a more holistic approach to healing, including giving birth to both of my children at home. No one would believe that my mom delivered my first born, by choice, not accident. It seemed very natural: she loves me the most, she brought me here and I wanted her to deliver my first child. We had a doctor and midwife present who watched and coordinated the event.
Giving birth and raising my children is the highlight of my life and the accomplishment I am proudest of. My son, Alex is now 23. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from "The Citadel" (The WestPoint of the South) and he is now a Marine Officer serving our country. My daughter, Amanda, 15, is an honors student and first chair flute. "My other son", Jerry, 23, whom I raised for a few years, and who looks and behaves more like me than both of my natural children, is a mortgage broker and the funniest comedian I know. I just adore all three of them, and would do anything for them. I am so proud of them; they've all followed their hearts and have pursued their passions; each one unique and extraordinary. Maybe this is a bit too personal for a meme... Strike this too.
Here is the official meme:
•1. I love to travel! Growing up in communist Romania I wasn't allowed to cross the border, so the first thing I did after receiving my US citizenship was to get a passport. Everyone in my family has a passport and we use it a lot. I have seen the entire United States, parts of Canada, the Caribbean and Europe. I take at least 3 vacations a year and go somewhere far away. I go somewhere close almost every chance I get. I have friends all over the world.
•2. I speak and understand several languages, some better than others. I am fluent in only two.
•3. I believe in serendipity and my life is a series of random events that are beautifully orchestrated to mean something. After three years together, my boyfriend is still amazed at my "luck". Good things always happen to me. The week all 10 of my agents, plus my office manager left me to join another brokerage, a lady I was trying to recruit for two years called to inform me that she was finally licensed and ready to work for me. She was my Jack of all trades: office manager, assistant, buyers' agent, and recruiter. She is still with me, God bless her, my dear Annie, and I now have the best team I've ever had! Then there is the story about the ants eating the termites at my house preventing a termite infestation, and many other such gems... Serendipity, I believe in it and it believes in me!
•4. I love to read! I read mostly non-fiction, because I want to know as much as possible, as soon as possible (thus my affinity for AR). As a foreigner, it was hard finding my voice in a new language. I still underline in pencil the words I don't know, then extract their meaning from the dictionary and carry them with me on index cards until they become mine.
•5. I'm a fitness buff. I jog regularly; I practice yoga and weight training. I used to figure ice skate as a kid; now I rollerblade. I enjoy the outdoors and spend as much of my discretionary time outside as possible. All my kids are very athletic and we sometimes train together. I've run a 5K race with my son, Alex, and competed against him in a duathlon. I won it and all his friends gave him grief: "Dude, your mom beat you!" I asked him to go back and remind them that I also beat them...
Thank you Michelle Casey for meme-ing me! I bet you didn't want to know that much about it! I can't help myself. I've had a very exciting life, I drive at full speed all the time, and I love being alive! It is such an amazing journey and I have been so blessed with good health, great family and friends, and an amazing journey. I thank God every morning for allowing me to enjoy yet another day!
People I would love to know about: Jeffrey Dollfinger, Michael Tarabotto and Gene Wunderlich. They are hereby meme'd. I can't wait for their meme's! Please, guys don't make it brief! Use my blog as an example. I want to know substance, not fluff, although substance AND fluff is OK. Thank you!
This was ab absolutely delightful meme to read Mirela. Enjoyed it immensely. I can relate to some of your experiences in a different country.