Answering five questions

Saturday I was visiting members of the Shameless Lions Writing Circle and came to Wanderlust Scarlett's blog From the shores of Introspect and Retrospect. She had answered a set of five questions posed by Sognatrice. In a comment after her answers, Scarlett said: "Just a tip... might want to click on that 'Whaddayagonnado'..."

So I did, finding myself under a palm tree with waves lapping gently over my toes. Thanks to my very relaxed state of mind, I decided to take the plunge -- and answer five questions myself. I was in no hurry, though, as I was perfectly happy being a beach bum under her palm tree. That was Saturday and I had forgotten all about my request until ... 3:00 on TUESDAY afternoon when I got the email Scarlet had sent me on SATURDAY. (Where had it been? Nobody knows.) Here are her questions and my answers:

1. You live in Chattanooga, TN, how did you wind up there, and what's it like to live there? Do you enjoy it?

Chattanooga is a beautiful city, as you can see in the photo at the top of my blog Continuing the Quest or the one at the bottom of my Greening the Blue Planet blog or at the bottom of my book blog Bonnie's Books or at the bottom of THIS page. I love this city! How did I wind up here? My parents and grandparents all lived here, so it's where I was born. I have lived in Atlanta for three years and for a couple of years in and near Knoxville, Tennessee; however, the mountains cradling Chattanooga always drew me home. It also helps that my three married children and seven grandchildren are here, all living within about a mile of each other.

2. What encouraged you to start "Weekend Wordsmith"? (which is a fascinating idea and project) and what do you like best about it?

This project hasn't started yet, which means everyone who reads this still has time to join in from the beginning. A great variety of prompts for writers can be found all over the blogosphere, but usually they are limited to words. I'm a visual person, so I will offer a word each week, along with a related picture that captures my attention. Sometimes I may ask questions or suggest more than one way of thinking about the word of the week. I have already posted instructions in the sidebar and we'll have a big kickoff on the first Friday in July, which happens to be the 6th. What I think I'll like best is seeing how many directions a single word can take us.

3. You owned a bookstore... (curiouser and curiouser!) how did that happen, what did you love/hate about it, would you do it again?

My best friend and I both love books. After my retirement and after a few years of learning the bookstore business we decided to take a leap of faith and start a used book store. We were ready to buy, sell, and trade when we signed the lease on a quaint brick building at an intersection where two main roads meet. Then my mother died and her funeral was the same week we opened. We did manage to get books on most of the shelves before opening day, but it was not an auspicious beginning. We discovered that traffic on those busy roads zipped by without noticing we have more than adequate parking behind our building. We started book clubs, tried advertising in print and on the radio, struggled to pay the bills. But I loved it! I absolutely loved helping customers find the right book, tracking down out-of-print books, bringing in local writers for book signings. Then less than a year into our 5-year lease, the floor started sinking and 9-1-1 sent fire and police who evacuated the building and wrapped it in yellow tape. We couldn't go back inside! Long story short: we found another location, less visible, moved a store-full of books, lost the money we had spent on signage on the building and at the street, paid movers and packers, had to sign new contracts for phones and utilities, and watched our customers melt away because we "disappeared" from their radar. The new place was less visible, had less space, was not as cozy, changing the atmosphete ... and by that time we couldn't afford the kind of lighted signs required by the landlord. It didn't stand a chance and closed after six months in that location. Do it again? Nah, I don't think so, especially not after I developed back problems from lifting all those heavy boxes of books. But it was fun while it lasted.

4. Your fortune cookie says "You will pay for your sins, if you've already paid, please disregard this message"... what was your favorite sin (PG-13) and what are some that you thought about but didn't follow through with?

My favorite sin? Hmmm, must be my book addiction, always buying or borrowing one more book, or six or ten. Some I thought about but didn't do? Oh, I think I've managed to do all I thought about, including that BIGGIE ... indulging in a bookstore binge!

5. You took a mini vacation under my hidden palm tree... where would you go with a blank ticket in hand? Why?

It seems foreordained that "wanderlust" Scarlett would ask me a traveling question! I'd probably go around the world, visiting the settings included in the book I am writing, Around the World in 80 Books, which covers both fiction and nonfiction accounts of people living in the widest possible variety of places I can find in print. Though my intended audience is book clubs and individuals who have no one to discuss a book with, I can imagine it being taken on trips with travelers who want to read about the places they are visiting.

Good questions, Scarlett! I had fun, though my answers were probably longer than you had anticipated. Thanks.

Here are the rules of the game, in case anyone else wants to play:

1. Leave me a comment saying "Interview me."
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.