Monday, January 12, 2009

I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille!



Willow has come up with my very favorite meme of all time, because it's so personal, invites creativity and helps us all get to know each other better. Blog interviews! Oh Yeah. Following is my interview.

1. Besides the increase in visitors to your blog, how has being chosen as a "Blog of Note" changed your experience as a blogger?

It’s been a wonderful, overwhelming experience! First the good stuff – I’ve “met” literally dozens of bloggers I knew nothing about previously. That part has been great. I wish I had the time/space to catch up with all the wonderful commenters. I love blogging and love seeing the world through the eyes of my blogfellows. My blogroll is now so long that there’s no way I can keep up with everyone. It’s an embarrassment of riches.

I had to turn on comment moderation as well as switch off the anonymous comments in order to catch some spam and a small handful of malicious comments. With so much extra traffic, I’ve been impressed by how generous and positive the response has been.

My friend Hammer threatened to kick my butt if I tried to please all the new readers by changing the tone or content of The Gold Puppy. Hammer is always true to his word; I know he is not kidding. Also I’ve seen his boots. Ouch! But seriously, I wouldn’t know how to change it even if I wanted to. Stream of consciousness it has been, stream of consciousness it will be.

2. Are you a native of the D.C. area? If not, what brought you to the city?

I was born in Denver, Colorado, grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, spent my early adulthood in Portland, Oregon, San Leandro, California, Lake Tahoe, California and San Francisco, California. Lord I was born a ramblin’ man [sic]. I’ve been in DC for ten years. The short version of what brought me to our nation’s capital is simple: destiny. The somewhat longer version is that my partner was offered a great job here during the hideous dot-com boom in the SF Bay area. I came along for the ride, and the rest is history. As often occurs when destiny intervenes, my ex and I split up a couple of years after moving here. She left Washington a few years ago. I stayed. Like I said: destiny.

3. Besides your wonderful photography, what other forms of artistic creativity do you enjoy?

Thank you for saying my photography is wonderful! It’s so fun. I believe that therapeutic massage, the way I practice it, is definitely an art. I think of my work as a combination of a very technical kind of sculpture combined with dance and prayer. Other arts I enjoy include writing and drawing. My box of colored pencils is always close at hand. I also love to cook, dance around and sing – sometimes all at the same time. I’m a good cook, but dancing and singing? Not my best thing in terms of skill, though, as the dancer and/or singer, I have lots of fun.

My mother was a big believer in artistic expression. She always encouraged us to be fearlessly creative, bless her heart. One of my great teachers used to say that creative expression is the perfect tonic for depression (something she described as too much energy coming in, not enough energy going out.) She would say, “Are you spiraling down? Get up, dance around, shake your ass, make an apple pie, draw a picture. DO SOMETHING! You’ll feel better almost immediately.” How true!

4. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

This is a great question, the one I had to think hardest about. The transformational process of healing myself to the degree where I was able, finally, to discover and develop my calling as bodyworker/healer is by far my greatest accomplishment. I am very grateful to psychotherapists, massage therapists, homeopaths, osteopaths, and great teachers of the spirit as well as ancestors, spirit guides, animal guides, my dog, my family and of course the great wisdom I call “God” for guiding me through that process. It literally took decades and was worth every dollar spent, not to mention every bit of excruciating self-examination and the inevitable thrashing that always accompanies transformation.

I’m not saying that the transformation is complete or that I am totally healed. Oh no! It’s ongoing through life, to be sure! I was so wounded as a young woman that I could never have taken on the responsibilities of being a healer without all that personal work. Thank you for asking!

5. Which living person do you most admire?

This one is very tough because I admire so many people. I’m an Aquarian who detests things like the Nobel Prize because it’s never just one person who comes up with the brilliant ideas and theories. There are always hundreds of hard working, brilliant people behind every Nobel Prize winner. Singling out “the best” always seems so unfair.

If you’re going to insist, though, I would most likely pick one of the great Buddhists. The Dalai Lama and Pema Chodron come to mind immediately. Give me a first term and I could switch to Barack Obama. Time will tell.

Many thanks to the amazing Willow for making me think! Bravo!!

Below are the rules. I'll interview the first five people who ask.

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me." Please include your email address if I don't have it. I'll delete it before publishing your comment.
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

34 comments:

The bloggah said...

You sure this nail salon is in DC, and not Slapout, Alabama? I can totally see one of my aunties wearing these.

Tess Kincaid said...

This was wonderful, Reya! Thanks for letting me be nosey. I thoroughly enjoyed this. I lived in KCMO from 1977 to 1983 in a wonderful bungalow in a charming little neighborhood called Brookside, just south of the Plaza area. I adored it.

I agree with your friend. Don't dare change one thing about your charming blog!!! It's absolutely perfect.

Hammer said...

I ain't scared of you. Bring it on.

Hammer said...

Actually, I lied. I'm totally scared of you. Point that interview hoodoo somewhere else.

Maria said...

This was very interesting, to learn of your journey, your work as a healer, and viewpoints on creative expression. I've followed you for just a short time, oddly attracted to your photography, I say oddly because I'm a country girl & am surprised at how beautiful I find your cityscapes. You have an amazing way of seeing things that most people probably just pass right by. My favorite is the reflection in the puddle on the cobblestone walk/road. You find the beauty in the everyday. Wishing you continued joy along your journey.

A Concerned Citizen said...

I can totally vouch for the part about your therapeutic massages being an art form. Man am I lucky!

Lynne said...

Oh, this was great Reya. I loved reading your responses. Would you interview me? I'm not sure I am all that interesting, but .... :) I can't imagine what kind of questions you'd come up with!

LOVE the photo of the hands!!

I love your blog because you always make me think.

Reya Mellicker said...

I think the nail hands are leftover from 1958.

Lynne, you are on.

Hammer? Yes or no??

Reya Mellicker said...

Thank you, Maria! DC is an extraordinarily beautiful city, unlike most urban areas I've lived in. So glad you appreciate the images!

tam said...

me, me, choose me, please choose me!

Reya Mellicker said...

Yay! Tam - I was hoping you would ask.

Maria said...

One question if I may ask, I'm also attracted to reflections, what do think draws you to them & also to the long shadows? What do they feel like to you? I'd also like to add I love the pic on Jan 5, it's beautiful.

Butternut Squash said...

"...too much energy coming in, not enough energy going out." This makes an perfect sense to me. Lately, I have been focusing on just feeling the contour of energy. It feels like a living silk scarf being pulled across my palms. It is something that should continue to flow. We all know the inevitable conclusion of blocking a flowing river. Make, do, create, catch a smile and pass it on.

Hammer said...

I may regret this, but since you're the only blogger I know who would be able to keep it interesting while still respecting my boundaries, why not?

Rick said...

I hope I'm not too late? Please interview me?

Shorty said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Nancy said...

I love that you have lived multiple places. After living most of my life in one city, we have moved three times in five years. I wouldn't trade it for anything! We are currently living in Incline Village - Lake Tahoe, but also lived in Portland Oregon. I feel at home both places. Love Portland's open-mindedness, though.

Beautiful pictures.

Gary said...

You had fantastic answers to these well chosen questions. I quite enjoyed that. I'll toss my 'interview me' hat in the ring simply to see what you come up with. If I understood the task correctly I only need to offer to interview one other person right? (not five).

Anonymous said...

beautiful finger nails

mouse (aka kimy) said...

thoroughly delightful post for all us nosey parkers out here! thanks for such thoughtful responses to a great batch of questions!

the gold puppy is wonderful but isn't change part of existence...the gold puppy exists thus it is constantly changing - you sweet reya are always going onward and upwards with it and yourself!! keep that up girlfriend!!

I'm kind of scared of those hands!

Reya Mellicker said...

Shorty, YES!

And all the rest of you up to this point yes yes yes.

This will be so fun!

Reya Mellicker said...

I included the scary nail pic because it looks to me like a metaphor for bloggers raising their hands, asking to be interviewed.

Maybe you had to be there ...

Barb Mann said...

Aha! I knew I detected a kinship with you, and this post has confirmed it. Enjoyed it. Interesting concept, this interview thing, though as a really new blogger, I'm not ready to do one yet (besides, you're full!). I also love your photos-if people get back to the ability to spend lots of money on non-necesseties, you could publish a glossy coffeetable book and do an article in National Geographic. Or something!

Ralph said...

I don't understand why the puppy is golden.

Bee said...

Your last comment about the "scary nail pic" sidetracked me, Reya! I'm SURE that all of your readers have tastefully short, clean nails. Now really!

What did that teacher teach? Her wonderful expression about energy should be the defining mantra of our new educational system. Can you imagine how schools would be transformed?

Lovely, lovely answers . . . I keep thinking that I already have enough blogging friends to keep up with, but then I meet someone like you!

Mrs. E said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Krystal Pistol said...

Well, that's what I get for waiting til nighttime to do my blog-reading. I woulda liked to do an interview, but hey, I'll read the ones ya do instead.

Miranda said...

haha! I'm too late to raise my lovely 1958 nail-hands to be picked? Never mind, I'll enjoy reading the answers. And your questions. Yay!

Mrsupole said...

Hi,
I was just signing in, then saw that "Blogger of Note". I went through some and saw yours. I found it interesting and totally different than mine. I seem to not be personal with mine and you are so personal in what you print. I did enjoy reading your posts and the pictures. I was born in Denver and we moved to California when I was a baby, so do not remember anything...just thought it was funny to settle on checking out your post and you were born where I was.

Anyway...great posts.

Ronda Laveen said...

Great interview propelled by Willow. Sorry I missed the invitation, west coast time you know. However, I do look forward to reading the project.

Reya Mellicker said...

To all interviewees - I'm busy thinking about your interviews. It might take me awhile to get questions to you - especially those of you whose blogs I'm not yet familiar with.

I'm having a lot of fun thinking about this, so indulge me please if it takes me awhile. OK? Thanks.

KCSherri said...

Hello - I saw you grew up in Kansas City. That is where I live (well, Lee's Summit, actually). I love your photographs. I've been trying to improve my own photography, and your pics have inspired me. Keep up the good work!

marc aurel said...

"too much energy coming in, not enough energy going out" perfect, simple stating of what I have often wanted say to depressed friends. Creativity of any sort has always been my way out. Adding you to my bloglist.

Margaret Powell - happy out at sea... said...

Hi Reya
Greetings from Oban, on the Scottish West Coast. Discovered your blog thanks to the "blog of note" thing and would have loved to be interviewed by you - but am far too late for that.
So I'll simply say that I find most of your photos amazing and your posts thoughtful, thought provoking, whimsical, amusing...
A pleasure to read and to know people like you are out there in the blogosphere.
Keep 'em coming, and enjoy Inauguration Day -- I hope it will a day full of joyous inhaling and exhaling, one that will bring healing and re-set the balance between "energy coming in and energy going out"!
Peace!