Answer Me This, Vol. 13 - iTube, YouTube

Welcome to Answer Me This! The Q&A style linkup hosted by Kendra over at Catholic All Year which is super fun and easier than coming up with my own content. It's also known as the internet's favorite virtual cocktail party! (in my opinion, at least)

1. What's your favorite thing on Youtube?
So there's this thing, called Nerdfighteria, and it was started by these brothers who are now known as the Vlogbrothers, and their channel is pretty much my favorite thing ever. They've introduced me to so many other youtubers, it's crazy.

A close second is the "Letters to July" series. Go watch it. Now. (Seriously, I'll wait for you. Go on.)

2. Who taught you to drive?
 My dad. I was 15, we had just bought the Volkswagon which was meant to be my vehicle, and I had no idea how to drive stick shift. My mom helped, too, because she explained to me how the heck you're supposed to keep your car in the middle of the lane when you're sitting on the far left side of it.

Not my exact vehicle - this is a '65 and mine was a '72 - but it was yellow!

3. What's your favorite thing to cook?
Christmas. Cookies, cakes, breads, jam, tarts, pies, candy, chex mix, tamales.... Basically if it involves a family tradition of making it, I'm down. I also really love putting together Dirt Cake because I get to crush cookies with a mallet - how cool is that!?

4. Are you a hugger or a non-hugger? Why?
I'm definitely a hugger. Like, professionally.

My very first day with my very first sign.
Autumn, 2006

I started Free Hugging in high school after seeing the video on Youtube one night. It had such a profound effect on me that I just had to go and try it. I felt like I had been given a sacred mission to make the world feel better. I know very well what it's like to be hurting and lonely and sad and feel like no one in the world cares. We live in a disconnected world that makes physical touch something strictly sexual or aggressive rather than friendly or necessary for our psychological well-being. Sometimes all we need is a simple hug but it's so, so hard to ask for that - so I started offering them instead.  I asked my friends if they would come with me and that first Saturday afternoon was incredible. After that it was really just me. I gained quite a reputation and I took my sign with me to college where I became a small-time campus celebrity.

April, 2009 - The College Years

When I left school I continued hugging but because I was broken, it wasn't the same. I wasn't as brave as I used to be and the stares and catcalls and hurtful words actually affected me when they used to never even touch me. There have been quite a few weekends I've thought about going back out there and trying again but it hasn't happened just yet. It's one of my Someday-Maybes.




5. Where do you pray best?
I've really never thought about this. When I was saying a rosary every night (religiously - no pun intended), that was my best praying: in bed, falling asleep. For a while I found great comfort and solace and ease in my parish's Perpetual Adoration Chapel. Now, it's at home late at night in front of my prayer table when the house is still and quiet. It's peaceful.

Candles, statue of Our Lady, rosary collection, prayer book (usually have my Bible out, too),
pictures of those I love and those I've loved and lost. Left to right: My father's
stepfather, my father's mother, my nephew, my uncle K.C., my niece,
my mother's father and my uncle Russel.

6. When is the last time you saw/spoke to your grandparents? 

Mom's Mom: Oma
Saw her about a month ago when she stopped by the office before we moved everything and before we went to New Orleans. She stops by on her way home from her doctor's appointments and we talk about crochet and cooking and family history.
Mom's Dad: Opa
Saw him about 10 years ago right before he died, I think. I know I saw him at his funeral, but there was a lot of family drama going on and I was only 14 or so and don't quite remember.

Dad's Mom: Lulu
Saw her about 2 1/2 years before she died, the summer I turned 17 (or maybe it was the summer before I went to college, so I could have been 18; I'll have to ask my mother). We went up to visit because her health was really bad and obviously my parents wanted my sisters and I to see her one last time. She rallied, though, and lasted a while longer. I spent an entire day with her, watching game shows and reading and chatting about my friends and going to college. It was a really nice day.
Dad's Dad: Sonny
Saw him last winter when he came to visit because my dad had the Fairlane in the HotRod Magazine Homecoming Show. He was ornery and ungrateful and generally unpleasant, as he always is. I avoided him (he was staying with my uncle and I) and spent extra time at work or otherwise "out." Needless to say he's not my favorite person in the world.


So that's it for this round of Answer Me This! If you have a blog, answer the questions and link up with us over at Kendra's in this post. Don't have a blog but still want to play? That's okay because this whole thing is made up and the posts don't matter - leave your answers in the comments either at Kendra's post or right here! I'd love to hear from you.

love,
Willow


 
*Author's Note: The "Answer me This" logo image belongs to Kendra Tierney over at Catholic All Year. Most of the other images in this post are my property - if you wish to use them, please ask.*