PROMPT RESPONSE

Eating Rattlesnake While Floating on the Dead Sea Listening to Bob Dylan

For starters…

I got suckered into this prompt by Roz, the delightful weird librarian with the broken toe. She disclosed those nuggets of personal info in this story, so since I am easily persuaded and lack imagination, I followed her lead.

Now, Roz may have called herself weird, which is a fantastic thing in my opinion, because weird is the ingredient that makes us sparkle, gives us flavor, and adds interest. Think of it as the squeeze of lime on a taco, or the drops of truffle oil on risotto. Weird makes the meh disappear.

So, here is my sprinkle of weird. Judge gently:

1. If you could jump into a pool of anything, what would it be full of?

It would be filled with seawater from the Dead Sea, which means I would float indefinitely without any effort. Sounds so relaxing.

2. Have you ever had a nickname? What is it?

Lots. Gulgo was my childhood nickname, my family still calls me by that name (and one Medium writer.) My adult nickname is Rigo. My Chinese name which phonetically translates as “the one who cares” is this:

3. What is the weirdest thing you’ve eaten?

Pickled pig’s ear. Blood sausage. Rattlesnake. All three were surprisingly tasty, especially the pig’s ear.

4. What’s the silliest way you’ve ever gotten an injury?

My only two injuries involved ice. One, cross-country skiing, and the other an icy parking lot. Not silly, but painful.

5. What is the weirdest thing in your home?

A collection of pinbacks that number in the thousands.

6. What is one super-specific museum you would visit?

The Tate Modern in London. I’m an art gawker and have visited countless art museums, but never visited London. It’s on the list.

7. If your phone could talk, what’s the most embarrassing thing it would reveal about you?

It would say that I talk to my cat in a variety of strange voices. She is my writing companion. We chat.

8. If you could only listen to one band/artist for the rest of your life, who would it be?

Bob Dylan. I would never get tired of him. Amazing writer, eclectic repertoire, and an expansive discography. A musical genius. There is Bob Dylan and then everybody else. He’s in a league of his own.

9. What’s the best compliment you ever received?

You are not as dumb as you look.

10. If you won the lottery, what are the three top things you would do first?

Sign the back of the ticket. Cash the ticket. Leave town.

There you go Roz Warren, Writing Coach, Sharon Meyers, and Lu Skerdoo, my part is done.