She is also one of the people who inspired me to get off my butt and start writing for fun, and I am very grateful to her for that. I think she has an excellent story to tell. And there's a Barry Manilow reference in here, which is awesome. Take it away, Piper.
Hi Piper! Let’s start with some basics. Tell me a little bit about your life. Where do you live and what do you do?
Well I lived the last 20 years in the D.C. metro area and have been on a nomadic adventure for the past year. My current “perch pad” is southwestern Oregon in a town called North Bend. I am a self-employed contractor/consultant involved with project management, software implementations/configurations, technical writing, data analysis and process mapping.
I also have been blogging for the past year about my travels to share my lessons learned, about the amazing people I’ve met and the discovery of insights into my own humanity (shameless blog plug https://pipesadventure.wordpress.com). Wow….this is hard defining “what you do." It’s easier to define what I don’t do. I don’t do BORING. Oh, and I have one daughter who is a grown adult, I’m happily divorced and on good terms with my ex, I’m happy in my single-ness and would consider a committed relationship if the right human is revealed.
Now tell me a little bit about your background. What is your heritage? Where does your family come from? Do you have roots outside of the United States?
I was born in Portland Oregon, but my birth mother’s family heritage is from Norway. I still have many relatives living there and have a family reunion that my aunt attends. It’s on my list of places to visit! I say “birth mother” because I’m adopted and the family who raised me are not my blood relations.
Now tell me a little bit about your background. What is your heritage? Where does your family come from? Do you have roots outside of the United States?
I was born in Portland Oregon, but my birth mother’s family heritage is from Norway. I still have many relatives living there and have a family reunion that my aunt attends. It’s on my list of places to visit! I say “birth mother” because I’m adopted and the family who raised me are not my blood relations.
I met my birth mother about 10 years ago. I was only five days old at the time of my adoption, so I have no memory of her. I have not met my birth father yet. My parents (my adopted family) raised me in southwestern Oregon, a wonderful little town called Coquille, about 20 miles from where I am staying now. Their heritage is from England/Ireland/Scotland, and according to my cousin it was during the colonization of the Americas.
Is there something about you – a physical characteristic, a personality trait, an aspect of your job or any part of your life – that is frequently misunderstood by people? If so, please tell me about it and what you would say to dispel that misunderstanding.
One of the aspects of my personality I need to explain often is my INTROVERSION. I’m an introvert! Being an introvert doesn’t mean you don’t like people, you can, sometimes you even do! However, it takes energy to be around people and I need times of solitude to restore those reserves. Some people think that I’m lonely or that it’s sad to be alone. Believe me, it is NOT! I need it just as much as I need oxygen.
Let’s flip that around now. Tell me about a time you learned more about somebody – or something – after looking a little deeper, beyond the superficial.
Oh yes! I am constantly amazed at people! I meet these beautiful creatures wherever I go. One of the many that comes to mind is a woman I stayed with as my Airbnb host during a 4-month cross-country trip. She shared her story of being sent into the wild when she was just a teenager with a pot and two blankets. A pot and two blankets!!! Talk about putting some of my troubled past in perspective. And here was this amazing, brilliant, loving human who went through survival in the wild. I fell in love with her. I fall in love a lot while I’m on travel, hearing endless incredible stories.
What really drives you? What’s your reason for getting out of bed every day?
Is there something about you – a physical characteristic, a personality trait, an aspect of your job or any part of your life – that is frequently misunderstood by people? If so, please tell me about it and what you would say to dispel that misunderstanding.
One of the aspects of my personality I need to explain often is my INTROVERSION. I’m an introvert! Being an introvert doesn’t mean you don’t like people, you can, sometimes you even do! However, it takes energy to be around people and I need times of solitude to restore those reserves. Some people think that I’m lonely or that it’s sad to be alone. Believe me, it is NOT! I need it just as much as I need oxygen.
Let’s flip that around now. Tell me about a time you learned more about somebody – or something – after looking a little deeper, beyond the superficial.
Oh yes! I am constantly amazed at people! I meet these beautiful creatures wherever I go. One of the many that comes to mind is a woman I stayed with as my Airbnb host during a 4-month cross-country trip. She shared her story of being sent into the wild when she was just a teenager with a pot and two blankets. A pot and two blankets!!! Talk about putting some of my troubled past in perspective. And here was this amazing, brilliant, loving human who went through survival in the wild. I fell in love with her. I fall in love a lot while I’m on travel, hearing endless incredible stories.
What really drives you? What’s your reason for getting out of bed every day?
Haha! That’s easy….LIFE!!! Okay, life AND ice cream! I find life totally fascinating. I love seeing what there is OUT THERE, and appreciating what is RIGHT HERE. Last week I went to my first city council meeting. I had an absolute blast. I took three pages of notes and talked with people both before and after the meeting. Public meetings are a great way to get a pulse on your community issues and desires. I don’t know why more people don’t attend. Maybe I’ll start my own movement!
Tell me about a difficult period in your life, how you coped with it and how it made you stronger.
This is another area where I’m misunderstood by people. I’m a positive person. And people often misunderstand and think that I’ve always been positive and that things have always been easy. It hasn’t. I feel like I’ve lived multiple lifetimes in the skin I’m in - including many years of deep depression and a point of seriously considering suicide. I was at the top of a long, steep stairwell and was deciding to throw myself over. One good crack on my head and it would be done. I can feel myself there as I talk about it now.
Tell me about a difficult period in your life, how you coped with it and how it made you stronger.
This is another area where I’m misunderstood by people. I’m a positive person. And people often misunderstand and think that I’ve always been positive and that things have always been easy. It hasn’t. I feel like I’ve lived multiple lifetimes in the skin I’m in - including many years of deep depression and a point of seriously considering suicide. I was at the top of a long, steep stairwell and was deciding to throw myself over. One good crack on my head and it would be done. I can feel myself there as I talk about it now.
What people don’t understand is the feeling of complete and suffocating hopelessness that comes with depression. It is very physical and there is no way of getting out. The only thing that stopped me that night was the thought that “with my luck, I’d survive”. If it had been a guaranteed out, we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now.
Everyone’s pain and joy is unique to them. Even if you’ve come from similar experiences, you haven’t walked in THOSE shoes. I think understanding that is key to who I am. I can’t really talk about how I coped with or even overcame that dark time because it is still part of me. I don’t even think it is something that needs fixed. Sometimes I’ve had to go even deeper and darker before I could look for light.
Everyone’s pain and joy is unique to them. Even if you’ve come from similar experiences, you haven’t walked in THOSE shoes. I think understanding that is key to who I am. I can’t really talk about how I coped with or even overcame that dark time because it is still part of me. I don’t even think it is something that needs fixed. Sometimes I’ve had to go even deeper and darker before I could look for light.
I had a spouse who was supportive and helped to bring my depression into the open, I did go to therapy and counseling. I took medication. I read a lot of books. I worked on identifying my behaviors and triggers. I confronted people who were involved. I took a long time, spending time alone, and looking at my self – the starring role in our life is our self and I needed to look at my own responsibility in the role I played. I expressed myself and my emotions through art. I am not "fixed." I continue to grow and change. I take time for myself. I put myself first. Whew! I think I need a nap before I can go on. This was very heavy for me.
We all know there’s no shortage of bad news out there. Now tell me what gives you hope and what’s good about the world.
“You can always see what you focus on,” this is a philosophy I live by. So I focus on the good, the positive, the inspirational, the “succulence of life!” I see it all around me everyday - from smiles of the road workers, to the blooms of dandelions (dandelions are wonderfully edible weeds). I am very selective and surround myself with people who are positive forces and who inspire me. Last year I eliminated 90% of my possessions, removing “clutter” from my life and making sure that the possessions I choose to keep are ones that bring me joy and happiness.
Let’s have a little fun here. Tell me about your worst job. And if you haven’t had one, tell me about the most interesting one.
Let’s see, my WORST job would probably involve waiting tables. I am lucky that I’ve only had to do this type of job a couple times in my life so far. For an introvert, this is EXHAUSTING, always having to be “on” with a smile and a chipper “can do” attitude. On my days off I would lock myself in my room, sleep and not smile AT ALL. When friends saw me out they would comment about how I never smiled. Sheesh! Who has the energy?! I marvel at people who can do it, or actually THRIVE in it. My daughter is one of these incredible beings.
Now let’s talk about music. I need it every day. In the car, at the gym, in the kitchen, you name it. Tell me what you like and when you need to hear it.
We all know there’s no shortage of bad news out there. Now tell me what gives you hope and what’s good about the world.
“You can always see what you focus on,” this is a philosophy I live by. So I focus on the good, the positive, the inspirational, the “succulence of life!” I see it all around me everyday - from smiles of the road workers, to the blooms of dandelions (dandelions are wonderfully edible weeds). I am very selective and surround myself with people who are positive forces and who inspire me. Last year I eliminated 90% of my possessions, removing “clutter” from my life and making sure that the possessions I choose to keep are ones that bring me joy and happiness.
Let’s have a little fun here. Tell me about your worst job. And if you haven’t had one, tell me about the most interesting one.
Let’s see, my WORST job would probably involve waiting tables. I am lucky that I’ve only had to do this type of job a couple times in my life so far. For an introvert, this is EXHAUSTING, always having to be “on” with a smile and a chipper “can do” attitude. On my days off I would lock myself in my room, sleep and not smile AT ALL. When friends saw me out they would comment about how I never smiled. Sheesh! Who has the energy?! I marvel at people who can do it, or actually THRIVE in it. My daughter is one of these incredible beings.
Now let’s talk about music. I need it every day. In the car, at the gym, in the kitchen, you name it. Tell me what you like and when you need to hear it.
Hmmm. Music is a bit of a challenge for me. I like music, but I’m not a person who can listen to music all the time, anywhere. I love music when I’m out dancing (kind of a requirement for dancing) and then I’m a full blown 80’s hair band rocker. Or when I’m at home and relaxing or napping I love listening to blues, jazz, chanting-meditation-rainwater music.
When I’ve driving in the car I’m more of a book-on-CD person as music tends to stress me out a bit and I become an aggressive driver. It doesn’t matter what kind of music. Barry Manilow could stress me out. If someone else is driving, I can listen to any music! When I’m reading or doing computer work, I usually prefer silence as I’m easily distracted.
Thanks Piper. Did we miss anything? Anything you’d like to add?
Favorite movie – Harold and Maude. Favorite cuisine – Thai. I’m passionate about foraging for wild, edible plants and berries. And Joe, you know I could talk for days about traveling – where, when, how, why. Right now I’m concentrating on the state of Oregon and all of the little known gem locations that are out there.
Thanks Piper. Did we miss anything? Anything you’d like to add?
Favorite movie – Harold and Maude. Favorite cuisine – Thai. I’m passionate about foraging for wild, edible plants and berries. And Joe, you know I could talk for days about traveling – where, when, how, why. Right now I’m concentrating on the state of Oregon and all of the little known gem locations that are out there.
Most people think of Oregon for its green forests and rocky coastlines, but much of the state is desert at a high elevation called “high desert” (central to eastern Oregon) or there is little notice about the southwestern areas of the state. You know it’s about the same as Virginia. Each of us has the capacity to curiously explore the very place we live in, yet how many actually do?
Hey Piper. Thanks again for sharing your story. Please keep in touch!
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