I am stealing these ten “required” award questions from Natalia (who, I believe, took hers from the person who nominated her, though it is blurry whether or not we are allowed to just make up our own). But it seems like answering them is hard enough—inventing them may be too much. ;-)

What is your real fear?

I have always been afraid of dying before my mother. But this is fading now that I have made it to my fifties.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was in the sixth grade, I wanted to be five different things, and all but one began with the letter “A.” I wanted to be an artist, an author, an actor, an archaeologist and a teacher. (Shall I cheat and say now, “academic”? ;-)

What are some of your hobbies?

I love to read, to walk, to watch birds, to take long naps in the afternoon. (Does napping count as a hobby?) I want to sing when I ride on the bike path, like to sink my fingers into moist earth, catch glimpses of the mountains when I come up for air, stroking my way across the pool.

What hobby would you like to start?

I’d like to work with clay again one day. I took a semester class in high school and fell in love with it. And I’d love to learn to sail.

If you could tell people anything, what would be the most important thing to say?

Hmm. I guess this depends. What people am I telling? People I know well? All people in the world? I love you. Tell the truth. Go for the gusto.

What’s the best prank you have pulled off?

Would that be the smashed Christmas lights, the thirteen rolls of soggy toilet paper, the bag of dog poop, the eggs on the graveyard shift at Denny’s? All are terrible from this side of adulthood, so I don’t believe I’ll say.

What book are you planning to read next?

I have Rad Bradbury’s Dandelion Wine from the library sitting on my table. That’s a handy coincidence, since I have to answer this question in public. (But I may opt for the other book I checked out, a summer romance by Luanne Rice.)

Coffee, Tea or Champagne?

I don’t allow any of the above, except for the rare indulgence in yerba maté, which I steep too long and drink with coconut milk and agave nectar.

Lemon Torte or Chocolate Cheesecake?

Neither, unless it happens to be gluten free and made with maple syrup or ??