I know this meme is super old, and I've actually avoided doing it.
Until now.
Without further ado, here's my 100 things about me...
1. I was born to two hippie parents in Palo Alto, California in the mid-seventies who named me Kelly Leigh. So I sound like I was born to conservative parents in the deep south in the 50s. I've never lived outside of the Silicon Valley and its immediate environs.
2. My first best friend was named Summer Sparrow. I was devastated that I didn't have a hippie name, and it was a long-running family joke that I should've been named Winter Buzzard.
3. I thank God my mother had some foresight to keep it normal and reign it in. A trait I am also thankful for years later when she kept me in neutral makeup when all my friends had green and blue eyeshadow on in junior high. I still wore Silver City Pink lipstick though.
4. My biological father: a radical, light-show throwing, Grateful-Dead-going, epic-concert-producing father produced a conservative, preppy, National Honors Society, neutral-wearing-makeup, yearbook editing, A.P. classes-taking, J. Crew-loafer-wearing child.
5. Perhaps that was my only way of rebelling.
6. I accepted Jesus into my heart when I was 10, when I prayed in the basement of my first church with aforementioned, previously-radical mother. That first church? About 2 steps away from snake-handling. My current church? The same one we went to after the almost-snake-handling church. Very non-snake handling, and exquisitely normal.
7. I still have a personal relationship with God and plan to 'til the day I kick.
8. I don't think being a Christian and being well-informed and having fun are mutually exclusive.
9.I read 1984 in one night when I was 10. I have always loved to read voraciously. Which probably accounts for people mocking my large vocabularly my entire life.
10. I have loved art my entire life. Drawing, photography, painting. I took almost all the yearbook photos the year I co-edited the yearbook. I won the art award at high school graduation. And I was surprised. I took enough art history classes for fun in college to have minored in it, if I'd thought to declare it.
11. I majored in communications in college. I wanted to major in art. But I was too mercenary, and didn't want to be a poor starving artist my entire life.
12. After college I began a rapid ascent climbing the corporate ladder in public relations. A dog-eat-dog industry with long hours, good pay, and not a lot of appreciation. Nothing artistic about it. My mercenary little heart paid for it.
13. My main professions now? Graphic design and photography. Which proves to me, God really does want to give us the desires of our heart.
19. I have been married twice. My first marriage was to my high school sweetheart. I still think about it.
20. I met Ross in college. He was an art major. Destined to be a poor starving artist. I was dating someone else, and he was my best friend. But he had a crush on me. I had no idea he had a crush on me. Once that relationship fell apart, he moved in for the kill. I'm so glad he was patient. After we started dating my sister said, "Kelly is more Kelly now that she's with Ross. She's more fun and who she really is than ever before." I can't imagine my life without him and I get teary even thinking about it.
21. We decided early on (about 5 months married) that we were going to wait and have kids 'til we could afford to. We wanted to buy a house, pay off our debt, spend some time together. Travel. We had a big heart-to-heart with my dad about it, who agreed with our mature decision.
22. I was pregnant when we had that conversation.
23. I'm so glad we had Isabella when we did. And Sofia as well. They are the lights of our lives. The best thing I've ever done is to be mom to those girls. I get an aching feeling inside almost daily when I look at them. I didn't really understand God's love until I became a parent. Now I understand why he wanted to be with us for all eternity.
24. Despite adoring my girls, I'm not a big fan of being pregnant and breastfeeding. The thought of doing it again makes me cringe, but my desire for another baby will win out over the 2 years of misery.
25. My husband says he's done having kids. I'm not so certain.
26. Sometimes the desire to have time to myself brings me to the same conclusion.
27. I would be a professional student if I could afford it. I love learning new things. I still plan on getting my master's degree. I'm thinking it'll be in art this time around.
28. I love spending time with Ross more than any other person. He won me by making me laugh, and he still makes me laugh harder than any other person I know.
29. I am not an obsessive-compulsive type at all, but for about 6 months in junior high, I would sign everything I said, and practice sign language obsessively.
30. I only knew the alphabet. It drove my mother crazy.
31. I used to lay on my bed talking to people, on the phone, in person, etc., and kick a pillow over and over into the air. For hours.
32. This also drove my mother crazy.
33. I don't either any more. I still get an urge to sign things once in a while.
34. I'm accident prone. I've broken loads of bones, and had more sprains and mishaps than the average kid. I broke my first bone (my leg), when I was 18 months old climbing up a store display toward a doll when my mom turned her back on me.
35. The cast didn't stop me from climbing out of my crib continually and running around the house.
36. I've always had crazy energy. My mom used to say I bounced off walls. I was not allowed caffeine or sugar when I was younger because I would go into a huge tailspin of energy. I still have that energy, it's just harnessed to my advantage now.
37. Despite having participated in gymnastics, soccer, baseball, basketball, swimming, tennis, I'm still a horrible klutz.
38. But I can dance. And take any available opportunity to. I took jazz and tap for years. It's one of my favorite things to do, and one of the things that won me over to my husband is that he would gamely dance with me until I collapsed. He still does.
39. My weight has yo-yo'd between a 20-lb region for more than half my life (the pregnancies didn't help). However, I'm in better shape now than I was when Ross and I got married. I'm still not satisfied with it, but I'm making friends with my body. I don't deal with a lot of the self-hate I used to.
40. I have no desire to be a teenager again. But somtimes I long for the feeling of that age. The unlimitless possibilities with my life stretched out before me.
41. I like myself more now at 30 than I ever have in my entire life. Even when I was 18, cute and toned.
42. That doesn't mean I wouldn't like to be that toned again.
43. I'm a pretty driven person.
44. I'm not as driven as I used to be. I used to feel like I had to achieve things for people to like me.
45. I don't feel that way any more.
46. One of my very favorite things to do is travel. I've been all over the U.S., Great Britain and Europe. My first trip abroad was alone with my best friend Jessica, when I was 18 and freshly graduated from high school. It set the stage: If I had my way, I'd still do huge grand tours to foreign lands every year.
47. I have always wanted to live abroad.
48. I don't know if I could stand to be separated from my family for that long.
49. I was an only child for 5 years of my life. I was devastated to find out my brother was on the way.
50. The best thing my mom ever did for me was marry my (step) dad. He was the ultimate kinsman redeemer for both of us.
51.My family is incredibly close. I have 2 brothers and a sister. We're in each other's business too much. I was closest to my youngest brother Davy for most of my life. My sister and I? Drove each other nuts for most of our life. Now we're ultra-close. As an adult, she's become the sister I never had. =)
52. She still drives me nuts sometimes.
53. I'm sure she'd say the same thing about me.
54. I don't want my girls to wait 'til they're adults to be sisters like my sisty and I are now.
55. My dad is adopting me. At age 30.
56. My dream is to have a house close to the beach.
57. Given that houses on the beach around here start at close to a million? I probably won't get my wish.
58. That doesn't stop me from wishing for it.
59. I grew up at the beach. It was normal for me to be in the 40 degree Santa Cruz water for hours at a time from the time I was 5 until after high school.
60. I didn't get a wetsuit until my junior year.
61. Laying on the beach, listening to the crashing waves and feeling the sun beat down on me is still one of my favorite things to do.
62. I haven't been to the beach to lay on it, except for on vacation, in about 6 years.
63. I love theater, have been to oodles of musicals and plays. I used to love doing theater. Somewhere along the way (around high school) I discovered insecurity. I haven't been on stage since.
64. I used to sing in a choir you had to try out for.
65. I haven't sung like that since I was young. That doesn't stop me from belting out a song at any and all opportunities.
66. I have loved music my entire life. Songs always bring me back to the places I was when I first heard them. I embrace pretty much every genre, with the exception of country and rap. Although, I've been known to own Dixie Chicks and Garth Brooks.
67. I have strong opinions.
68. I'm better at keeping them to myself than I used to be. And I'm getting more flexible as I get older.
69. Although my friends tell me, I'm fairly easy to read with my heart on my sleeve the way it is.
70. I am fiercely loyal. And I've been told one of my better traits is being a good friend. I still keep in touch with friends I had when I was 4.
71. I wonder sometimes if my friends know how very much I love them.
72. I wonder if everybody feels things the way I do. I have always felt things deeply and emotionally. It's a blessing and a curse. I'm embarrassed to say, I tear up at cheesier things than I'm proud of.
73. Sometimes I'll keep arguing, even when I know I'm wrong.
74. I'm a more merciful and kinder person than I thought I was.
75. Laughing is my very favorite thing to do. Making people laugh? My second favorite.
76. I've had braces twice. I didn't wear my retainer the first time around, and my teeth got all jacked up again.
77. I still forget to wear my retainer.
78. I don't really like cooking, cleaning or anything remotely domestic. I like my house to be clean. This creates a conundrum of epic proportions. I feel like I won the lottery that I have a husband who could care less that he didn't marry a domestic goddess.
79. I was a tomboy growing up. I always had more guy friends than girl friends growing up, because I couldn't stand the cattiness and mean-spiritedness that little girls are so capable of.
80. I have loads of women friends now. Most of them used to be tomboys too.
81. Despite looking like I never used a brush or washed my face until I hit puberty, I love shopping, shoes, jewelry, makeup and all things girly.
82. Despite having a closet-full of cute clothes, jewelery, a bin of makeup, I can usually be found in jeans, a t-shirt and thongs without makeup on.
83. I have a 3 year span of my life where I completely rebelled against everything I knew to be right. My dad was right, it was empty.
84. I don't have any tattoos, but I had my bellybotton pierced in '95. Once I had to wear nylons every day after college, I took it out. I still think about getting a tattoo, but I hate how tattoos look on old saggy skin.
85. I went to prom every year of high school.
86. I skinny-dipped for the first time as a senior in college, in the college pool, with my best friend Kiersten.
87. I have always been insanely competetive. I used to get angry at my mom when she would win Monopoly. When I was six. Things haven't changed much.
88. I love listening to my husband sing.
89. I have been dying my hair since I was in junior high, to some degree or other.I've had gray hairs since I was 18. Curse you genetics! I can't remember what my real color is.
90. I've always loved writing. I have always wanted to write a book. I still plan to.
91. I have chronic medical 'conditions' but I don't think of myself that way, which continually gets me in trouble. Despite my back going out on more occasions than I'm happy with, I still want to bounce on the trampoline.
92. I still feel like I'm about 18 most days.
93. I've watched Grease more than any other movie, at least 300 times. It's still one of my all-time favorite movies.
94. I've always set high goals for myself. Maybe I'm still rebelling from those hippie parents.
95. I've never spent more time with anybody as I have with Ross. We were inseparable in college, didn't spend more than a night or two away from each other until a mission trip this past year, when he was gone for 10 days. He works from home now, and is here all the time. People have said they don't know how we can stand being around each other all the time. But there's nobody I'd rather be with.
96. I want to be able to retire early with my husband so we can spend a lot more years together just goofing off.
97. I think my best feature is my eyes.
98. Lately I've been thinking about getting older. I just turned 30. And I've decided I don't really like the idea of looking old. I don't know if I'd get plastic surgery on my face to look younger though. It kind of freaks me out.
99. Most people think I'm younger than I am. This used to drive me crazy. Now I'm glad.
100. I feel like I've had a very, very blessed life. And if I died now, it would have been a full, rich one. I'm not ready to die any time soon. I want to live until I'm old, because I've still got a lot I want to do.
"I was dating someone else, and he was my best friend. But he had a crush on me. I had no idea he had a crush on me. Once that relationship fell apart, he moved in for the kill."
OH MY GOSH STOP LIVING MY LIFE YOU FREAK!
"My dream is to have a house close to the beach."
My dream is to have a house ON the beach. We are already close. to the beach--not to the beach house.
" Laying on the beach, listening to the crashing waves and feeling the sun beat down on me is still one of my favorite things to do"
again ditto. And frankly--6 YEARS??? are you waiting for a gilded invite?? get off your butt and GO!
"I love theater, have been to oodles of musicals and plays. I used to love doing theater"
I met my husband doing theater--i miss it.
DITTO on 72-75
oh yeah--and why aren't you singing now--is there anything better than song?? I think not (well maybe a little smoochy face, but that's ALL)
thongs being flip flops --or thiongs being panties??
just curious
Ditto on 78-80 (except the cooking--i love to cook)
LOL on the monopoly (you, of course know my story)
you should skinny dip more often---its DA BOMB
ditto on 87-92
scarily similar i say
I plan to look at the pics--when i have time to do them ALL AT ONCE (will at least some of them be captioned??)
Posted by: Dana | Sunday, August 22, 2004 at 01:01 PM
I love reading stuff like this. I think you could have easily done a "200 things about me" list, maybe even 300, actually next time do a "500 things you didn't know about me" list. It's better then a People Magazine anytime!
And, six years you haven't been to the beach? Did someone say Watsonville people aren't allowed? It's one of the easier dreams to check off the list.
I want to write a book too. Why don't I write a book and you take the pictures. Or, you write the book AND take the pictures and we'll both put our names on it? =)
I think everyone with a blog should do a list like this.....it's so fun!
Posted by: tami | Sunday, August 22, 2004 at 04:06 PM
oh and i forgot to say
CRAP! could my comment have been longer???
Posted by: Dana | Sunday, August 22, 2004 at 07:47 PM
#21-#22 - that is so typically God. great list. thanks for sharing!
Posted by: rick | Monday, August 23, 2004 at 03:24 AM
Hey darlin, I loved reading this post, brought back lots of memories. One correction, your first broken bone (your leg) was at 13 months, not 18...and you were continually climbing out of your crib with your little cast on, clunking down the stairs to let me know you weren't quite ready to go to sleep. Even then, a VERY determined little cookie!
Posted by: Mother Jackson | Monday, August 23, 2004 at 10:00 AM
I love this list, Kel. It speaks volumes to your heart and your character. I particularily love seeing how much our kids have enriched your life. And how God has brought such redemption to your life, from your new life with me and the girls, to your new professions which are truly where your talents and heart lie. Also, on #72, you feel things more deeply, and experience life more deeply and richly than any one else i know. I love you.
Posted by: Ross McCord | Tuesday, August 24, 2004 at 09:23 AM
A very enjoyable read! Thank you for sharing :)
Posted by: Amber | Tuesday, August 24, 2004 at 04:22 PM
I love you Kel. You really do have so much you could share and we'd still be sitting on the edge of our seats. I liked Ross' comment, very sweet.
Posted by: Misty | Tuesday, August 24, 2004 at 10:16 PM
Wow, what an incredible post! I think #29-30 made me laugh the most :)
Posted by: Neely | Thursday, August 26, 2004 at 11:17 PM
Kelly! Wonderful list. Thank you for sharing it.
I followed a comment from Suburban Bliss and am so glad I did :D
Posted by: Rae | Wednesday, October 12, 2005 at 01:11 PM
I have read your blog the last few months and even referred a few wedding photographers to your site for ideas! Love the list (71-73 are the closest to home for me). You seem to have resolved so much, how brave.
Posted by: td | Tuesday, November 29, 2005 at 04:10 PM
Wow... what a list.
Now I'm reading it almost three years after you wrote it. And it's been a really action-packed three years for you. Surgery, photo business has exploded, kids are growing up. In a couple years, I bet I'll be reading Bella's list of 100 on her blog.
Kelly, you're a great friend and have an amazing way of communicating through images and words things that many of us feel but few know how to express.
Thanks for being you. Keep it up. And don't disappear behind that camera.
Posted by: Todd Millikan | Friday, July 06, 2007 at 06:15 PM