List three books that have had an impact on you. Why?

First, I have to say that “Infinite Jest” by David Foster Wallace had a huge impact on my 20’s. The story though long with footnotes has a very clear point. That in the end we’re not as different as we want to seem. If you’re a drug addict or a preppie; your life can end in their place & or on the “right” side of town.

“White Teeth” by Zadie Smith, deals with lower class London in the most powerful way. The story starts off with a ricochet of circumstances that are hard to fathom. As you get deeper in the book you understand her title & why she chose it.

“The History of Bees” by Maja Lunde grapples with our extinction in a powerful, no holds barred book. I really enjoyed reading it but found it depressingly real. In a good way of course. If you think it can’t happen, think again.

I’m an avid reader so to pick 3 books was hard. I feel that they all gave me knowledge about subjects I hadn’t thought of before. That’s why I read paper books & not electronic. I also believe in the independent bookstore & keeping them alive.

Describe one simple thing you do that brings joy to your life.

I think that volunteering in your local community is the most important thing you can do. Because of the reward of meeting others & making a difference.

By volunteering you learn what’s happening in your community & make a difference in someone’s life. I have been doing a passion project for the last 2 years, where I volunteer & help people with cognitive decline.

My dear Farmor developed dementia so working with others that have it is important to me. I’m also hoping to become an art therapist & working with people with cognitive decline gives me an insight on how I can help in the future.

I’ve worked in my local community as a volunteer on both coasts in the US & now I’m doing it here. It always repays in ten fold & you learn about yourself as well.

I think that having a passion project is also something that gives great satisfaction. By working on something you’re passionate about also gives back to you.

Do you remember life before the internet?

Was once a device you had to carry. My favorite device before the interwebs was my Walkman. What’s a Walkman you ask? It either had a tape or cd in it. What is a tape, a very old method of recording music from your boombox. Tapes had a thread that would very often get tangled in your Walkman or boombox. You’d use a pencil to gently wind the thread with music on it back or inside the tape. Sometimes this would work, other times not.

I had a collection of tapes that would sometimes last a few months other times years. If you had a favorite track you’d have to forward or rewind your tape to the song. If you heard a song on the radio you’d have to be quick & press record on your boombox.

This would mean you recorded the song off the radio. If you had a crush you’d have to record from your tape/cassette that was blank from one with songs on it. This was a tedious, long way of showing someone you liked them.

Ear buds where on a string connected to your Walkman. They were cheap & the sound was grainy & you’d barely make out the lyrics or the instruments. Always on a string that’d get tangled in absolutely everything. It was archaic & hard to enjoy music.

Your phone was connected to the wall, & it didn’t display who was calling you so you had to answer when it rang.

Life before the interwebs involved paper & notes & you could not instantly get the news unless your parents were rich & you had CNN. I miss that simpler time just not tapes I had but how fun it was to get mail in the mailbox not on my phone.