My 25 Random Facebook Facts

Sooooo here they are! Being super honest….

(1) My favorite poem is “a summer night” by W.H. Auden, a close second is “somewhere I have never traveled, gladly beyond” by E.E. Cummings. I find both to be perfection in wholly separate ways, and I think I could die happy if I am some day able to write a poem as beautiful as these two, inspired by the people in my life.

(2) When I am older I hope to have a home in Oxford, England. The best 3 weeks of my life were in the summer of 2006, as I was a rising senior in secondary school.

(3) I try to be anything but mediocre in all things I do, and I firmly believe that good is the enemy of great.

(4) I burn the candle at both ends, and at times I feel so utterly existential about many of the things I’m involved in, but if meaning can be found, I do sympathize with the Edna St. Vincent Millay quote, “My candle burns at both ends, it will not last the night, but oh my foes and oh my friends it sheds a lovely light”.

(5) I will never own anything but a giant breed dog – when I am older I want to have a Harlequin Great Dane. Think: Scooby-Doo with a Dalmatian coat.

(6) I have three major character flaws which I am acutely aware of: clinical perfectionism; what can be perceived as arrogance by those who don’t know me extremely well (and even then, sometimes); and getting bored of things easily.

(7) My favorite vacation spot is the middle of Lake Gaston in North Carolina, with friends who I’ve known for ages. I can think of no more relaxing place in the world.

(8) The biggest lesson I’ve learned since senior year in high school is how to apologize and forgive others. Sort of adopting a more non-religious “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”. People are fallible, but we aren’t supplied with limited quantities of compassion.

(9) I love William and Mary more than I ever could have hoped. When I’m forced to leave it and the people here I will probably cry…a lot.

(10) One of my biggest pet peeves is when people sneeze in sequences greater than one.

(11) I dislike selfishness in others, and I especially dislike people who are not always considering what others are thinking, or the feelings of others. “Society” is based on empathy for others, and without empathy humanity would be something I don’t think I’d wish to be associated with.

(12) There is no distinction in my life between my closest friends and my family, the two are rarely separated in my mind.

(13) One of my favorite songs is Hotel California by the Eagles, because I remember singing it with my dad all the time in the car when I was younger.

(14) I don’t regret the choices I’ve made in my life, if I drop pieces I pick them up again or I let them sit there and move on; it depends on how important they are.

(15) Momma Bear is the biggest moral force in my life.

(16) I find most people insufferably predictable. Unpredictability and surprises make me happier than anything.

(17) I appreciate good food.

(18) Life is short but there is always time for courtesy.

(19) I write letters with those I’m closest with – there’s something about waiting for a letter and trusting another person to wait for it that forms a closeness. The idea of giving tangible evidence to another of your thoughts is a trust-exercise I find extremely fulfilling. For me they’re kind of like horcruxes, if you’re a Harry Potter buff.

(20) Before I die I’d like to see most places in the world – traveling expands you.

(21) If I were an instrument I would be a cello.

(22) I believe it’s important to have a lot of friends, but only one best friend and few close friends. I don’t think it’s possible to have more than one “best” friend (otherwise that’s a misnomer) and I think that the more ‘close’ friends you have, the less ‘close’ you’ll find they actually are.

(23) I’m very aware of everything going on around me at any given moment.

(24) People can change.

(25) I’d like to wake up in Paris and fall asleep in Santorini every night.