I seem to be full of contradictions: I love the city where people don't all look alike and you can buy an international meal at any hour (the Smiling Banana Leaf is a favorite), but I also yearn for time amidst green trees and running water (camping in Audra or Clear Creek State Parks); contemporary art and museum lectures feed me, but I also seek out Appalachian ballads and the National Storytelling Festival in Tennessee every October; I love live theater (Quantum is exceptional), but I also consider charades to be a performance art (rhymes with heart); laughing with friends/family or hosting a great party juices me, but more and more I love staying home with a good book or a foreign film (hooray for Netflix). Fortunately, holding all these things in tension seems to give me energy and a zest for life.
People say I’m very smart and an active listener. I know I’m curious about almost everything. My three adult kids say I'm creative, openhearted, patient, and welcoming. I enjoy meeting people and learning about the good that moves them. I feel really strongly about a lot of things (liberal politics, education, social justice, creativity, human rights, healthy lifestyles, peace making) and I love a meaty discussion...but walking with a gentle spirit is more important to me than proving a point. (Intolerance is a nasty thing, and with the help of friends I'm chipping away at my own.) I’m particularly drawn to inquisitive people with an open mind and a passion for something outside of themselves. Do you care about the world beyond our borders? Maybe you’ve volunteered with an organization like Amnesty International, Habitat for Humanity, the Animal Rescue League, or the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.
One thing you can be sure of…I don’t expect to be expensively wooed. Many of the best things in life are simple, and often free. I’ll take an afternoon exploration of a new neighborhood over dinner at an expensive restaurant most days. Like to cook? I'm happy to share my kitchen. Enjoy singing? I'd love it if we could harmonize.
