Showing early gregarious tendencies, our guest was one of a dozen or more babies born on the same day in the same hospital. This "baby party" did present some challenges for his/her mother who had to recover in the hall until a room was available. Affiliations with the University also started early: born just a stone's throw away from campus and tested by the U at age four to determine if s/he was of age to begin kindergarden. The judgment was that age five would be better intellectually and socially—and our guest concurs.

"Mooshie" dreamed of being an astronaut, but fear of heights put paid to that idea. Actor, singer, or archaeologist seemed better choices. Reading was his/her favorite activity, but playing outside with neighborhood kids (tag football, four-square, "horse" basketball, tag) were also high on the list. Though normally a "righty," our guest disovered that s/he was able to switch-hit in softball and play pool left handed. Growing up in a small town, moving out of state (to the South) at a young age, and attending an inner-city junior high school were formative influences. Favorite food then, as now, was "chocolate, now!" Our guest loved school: anthropology, psychology, astonomy, theater, music, and the list goes on.

As a teen, our guest was shy and studious. We can't be sure if s/he was the smartest kid in class, but we do know that s/he hung out with the smarties and nerds. Our guest was active in Video Tape Club, Modern Dance Club, and Theater; had a future dream of living on the moon or a space station; was studious, nerdy, funny, and dramatic; and strongly influenced by suburban high school. Fondly-remembered travel includes time in "beautiful and remote" western North Dakota. Books from this period include Dune and Atlas Shrugged, movies include Billy Jack and Gone with the Wind, and favorite food was (you'll never guess): chocolate!—especially Mom's fudge. First job (age 12) was working with inner-city kids in the park near his/her house.

In college, our guest didn't merely consider possible majors or academic interests, s/he pursued a passion: "Theater!"

Post-college, a not-to-be repeated job was working in a holistic health club as a glorified janitor (helping patients get up to receive chelation therapy).  Adventures included clambering around a medieval English ruin with a six-year old and taking the steering wheel of a Cessna 150 on takeoff.

Favorite places include western North Dakota and the Pacific Ocean along the Oregon Coast. Favorite books include almost anything by C.J. Cherryh. Renaissance music is a favorite as is a cappella music, Sting, and Allison Krause.

Our guest's parting word? "Chocolate!"