My friend, Tia, has started a tumblr (inspired by a production being put on by a local theatre company) encouraging folks to go on an Identity Scavenger Hunt.  And in her rallying cry of “let’s be brave and search alone-together” (which I love love love love) – I’m all in.  And I encourage you to play along as well! Over the next 30 days or so, Tia will be posting a question or two a day from the famous Proust Questionnaire on the tumblr.  I’ll be doing my best to keep up and answer the questions here; my approach will be to not think too much about any one answer and to go from the gut.  You can answer the questions on the Identity Scavenger Hunt tumblr, on your own blog, in your journal, in your head, or feel free to e-mail answers directly to the lovely Tia at theatretia@gmail.com – she may want to use some of your answers in different ways in the future!

I missed a few days… so here’s a catch-up!

13. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

“I feel like _____. “; “like”; “I mean…seriously.”; “You know what I mean?”; “Does that make sense?”; and my phone autocorrects “ha” or “hahaha” to “BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” – so there’s that. (I also overuse “so there’s that”).

14. What is your greatest regret?

I love this imperfect little life I am leading even on the ficklest of days, I truly do, and to change one thing would be to change everything. BUT, while I am grateful for my training and education, I greatly regret not auditioning for highly competitive undergrad programs when I was looking into colleges. I had the grades, the SAT scores, the extra-curriculars, the accolades, and the appropriately high-school leveled chops to compete for a slot at a top program but was ignorant to what existed in the world of academic theatre and how qualified I was to go after a place at a top school that would have put me in a strata/market to more easily go after The Dream post-graduation. I was also terrified to audition for a school.  Silly 17 year old, me – you shoulda taken more risks, kid!

15. What or who is the greatest love of your life?

What: Cheese, coffee, or bourbon – they are gonna have to duke it out; Who: someone I have yet to meet or know…or be a caretaker/parent to.

16. When and where were you happiest?

Every summer growing up from the time I was born, my family would go to the beach for a 2 – 3 week chunk of time and then shoot down to the family-shared condo whenever others in the extended family weren’t using it. I lived for those beach weeks. I loved those beach weeks. And because of those beach weeks,  I’m always happiest when close to the ocean.  Someone I knew for a few years once told me that in all the time we spent together, the most relaxed I’d ever appeared was when I was by the ocean.  Sand between my toes, salty air, and the sounds of moving water help me breathe easier.

View from the stairwell of my home-away-from-home every summer from 2 months old – 18 years old. I still miss this place.

17. Which talent would you most like to have?

Musical talent. I would love to have the kind of vocal ability that seems gifted by the Gods. BRING ME THE VOICE OF ADELE OR JOHN LEGEND!!!

18. What is your current state of mind?

Scattered: I’m in love with many things going on right now and am excited about upcoming plans, theatre, weddings, life. But I’m also bored with some stuff, sad about some other stuff, and a little frustrated with myself on a point or two. It all tug-of-wars in my brain for attention.