Photograph, San Francisco and moon on July 27 by Frederic Larson. See more of his outstanding work here and participate in his photo challenges.
You can also buy Larson's book Mystical San Francisco, which makes me homesick every time I glance at it. I also own two of Larson's mystical moon photographs.
I was tagged for an "eight random things" meme by Robyn at Garden Rooms. While I'm sure I've done similar memes at least twice, here are some more things you may not know about me.
Because I have a soft voice and good manners, people sometimes peg me as fragile. But like so many Southern women, I am a steel magnolia. Thanks to this core of inner strength - and a lot of prayer - I have persevered through tough times. I have little patience for those who once victimized, play that card endlessly. We all have our troubles, but we deal with them, then move on; we don't make the "poor pitiful me" act our life's work.
I am a backgammon wizard. But nine times out of ten, my husband beats me at Scrabble.
I appreciate the sounds of other languages being spoken all around me, even if I don't understand the languages. I find diversity reassuring and sameness worrying.
I love riding my bicycle, yet for ages, I've been too busy writing to take it off the balcony.
In recent years, I've developed vertigo; watching a moving carousel makes me dizzy.
My favourite cities all start with S and have a Spanish connection - San Francisco, Santa Fe and Sevilla. But I have no idea where my husband and I will live after Paris. If money were no object, we'd probably spend part of the year in San Francisco, part in Sevilla and the remainder in rural England - but not too far from London.
I am impatient, as well as a perfectionist - an impossible paradox.
You may have gathered by my political pieces and poetry that I don't suffer fools gladly. While I am polite and considerate of others, sometimes people don't deserve such grace. Before moving to Paris from London, my husband and I had dinner with a British colleague and his German girlfriend. She started the evening saying that in the 18 months she'd lived in Paris, the French were always rude to her. I quickly discovered why: she was one of the most aggressive and intolerant women I ever met. By mid-meal, I simply stopped talking to her, leaving my poor husband and his colleague to carry on the conversation. She was the only one oblivious to the tense atmosphere.
For SARK fans, here is an interesting piece in the San Francisco Chronicle.
If you want to play, post "eight things" on your own blog, or write eight things in the comments section here. Merci!
8 lovely things that you share with us, you are a darling my friend!
XOX
Kristen
Posted by: kristen robinson | 02 August 2007 at 06:02
oh - Tara - you are such an inspiration - blowing pink kisses to the lovely steel magnolia - I LOVE magnolias btw...
xox - eb.
Posted by: eb | 01 August 2007 at 16:52
I'm impatient and a perfectionist too. Leads to all sorts of frustrations.
Posted by: Linda | 01 August 2007 at 07:02
Even your meme's are so interesting! I love hearing different lanquages, too. Icelandic is one of my favorites!
We just watched Escape from Alcatraz tonight- we loved San Fran when we've been to visit- even Alcatraz was interesting although I wouldn't want to live there!
Thanks for sharing, Tara!
xo
Posted by: Regina Clare Jane | 01 August 2007 at 05:52
I like your Eight, funny but while you were writing to me I was posting my eight, with the same rules.
;-)
Posted by: rochambeau | 01 August 2007 at 00:52
I also am not one to suffer fools gladly, although it generally takes me longer than half way through a meal to realise who those people I. I often waste countless time giving people the benefit of the doubt before realising I'd have been better off saving my energy!
Posted by: Kamsin | 31 July 2007 at 22:02
your eight things could very well be talking about me. See my recent post about Lindsey Lohan. I always appreciate your frankness. I too love San Francisco.
Posted by: yolanda | 31 July 2007 at 18:26
No need for me to post eight things.... you pretty much covered it!!
xoxo
Posted by: Colette | 31 July 2007 at 18:07
I love that you're a "Steel Magnolia." I don't think there is anything that compares to southern style, dignity and grace.
I would have done the same thing to that woman, but I'm thinking that she would have been aware.
Posted by: holli | 31 July 2007 at 07:08
Ok ms. ~Steel Magnolia~ perhaps I'll ride that bike of yours when I come to Paris!hugs NG
Posted by: naturegirl | 31 July 2007 at 06:12
o Im such a perfectionist myself!
Keshi.
Posted by: Keshi | 31 July 2007 at 06:10
Anyone who doesn't realise you are a steel magnolia hasn't been reading this blog. I like these posts too, it's a real treat.
When I went to Servilla I thought - this is a city I could live in. For certain, anytime. I don't think that very often in cities, being a country girl.
x
Posted by: Frida | 31 July 2007 at 04:14
Youhave vertigo, I have vertigo?? You are impatient, I am impatient. Aye, dios mio!!! We are twins afterall.... xoxoxo (but, you can only guess, I am loud, even when I don't realize it)....
Posted by: A Fanciful Twist | 31 July 2007 at 02:48
Nicely random. I agree about the poor pitiful Pearl act. It wears on me too.
The photo is amazing.
Posted by: ally bean | 31 July 2007 at 01:19
Even if you've done the meme a few times now, it's always fun finding out a little more about blog friends. I love all the S's in this post - San Francisco, Santa Fe, Seville, Scrabble and SARK! Fun post, Tara ~ xo
Posted by: tinker | 31 July 2007 at 01:19
I'd love to ride a bike in Paris! I do enjoy when you do a meme.
XXOO
Posted by: Tammy | 31 July 2007 at 00:35
Funny. so - is the colleague and the German gf still together. If so, some people never learn. I like the cool and silent treatment myself. Nice going.
Posted by: AnnieElf | 31 July 2007 at 00:03
I took a full moon photo near San Jose the other night; it wasn't near that perfect! Everyday I learn more and more about you.
Posted by: AscenderRisesAbove | 30 July 2007 at 23:48
I love this and I love Sark!
Blessings!
Posted by: Jeanne | 30 July 2007 at 23:13
When we meet next month don't stop talking or I'll think you don't like me:)
I totally agree with your first thing - I hate people who make their past troubles an excuse for not moving on or even worse for behaving badly. If I did that I dread to think where I would be now.
Posted by: Di Overton | 30 July 2007 at 21:50
Great list Tara. I always enjoy your strong voice. I'll have a poetry meme for Poetry Thursday this week.
Posted by: Brian | 30 July 2007 at 21:16
I loved your meme Tara. I love that you are a quiet pillar of strength that doesn't suffer fools gladly. I love that about you. If I were picking players for my team, your name would be called in first, no waiting until the end for you! I agree with your summation of the German girlfriend; usually when those who find it is "everyone else", it is they who have the personality defect. I am always suspicious of anyone who can say that the "neighbourhood" or the "people of such and such" are rude, in fact quite often it is them.
I have never, ever played backgammon. I guess it is time to try it out.
xo
Blue
Posted by: Blue | 30 July 2007 at 20:59
Wonderful to know more tidbits about you :) I am on the same page with your last item & have handled similar situations much like that. Cheers, JP
Posted by: JanePoe (aka Deborah) | 30 July 2007 at 20:40
this is a great list. and i'm sorry to hear about your neglected bike, but happy to hear that you are writing prolifically! :)
btw, that last one on the list is my favorite. you said it well.
Posted by: Jessie | 30 July 2007 at 17:59
That was great, I thank you for playing Blog Tag. It's so nice to know more about you too, I didn't realize that you were Southern. I spent most of my summers as a child visiting family in the South... :)
Posted by: robyn | 30 July 2007 at 17:38
I lived in San Francisco for 10 years. Love the way the rising sun turns all the windows on the skyscrapers gold in the morning...and the East Bay turns gold in the setting sun.
Posted by: gemma | 30 July 2007 at 16:43
It was fun finding out more about you!! It would be lovely to live in a different place for different parts of the year!!
Posted by: Sophiehoneysuckle | 30 July 2007 at 15:51
Leave Paris??/What??? ha! ..I enjoy finding out different things about my cyber friends..! I have to say ..there's not much worse than being in the company of a rude fool! AccK! I have been to dinner with a couple of folks who acted ridiculously foolish ..throughout the entire meals , I kept thinking 'What Asses!' ...Okay..your project is to get that bike on the streets of Paris! and take your camera! Life is short..you don't know what you might be missing,Missy!
Posted by: Pam Aries | 30 July 2007 at 15:07
ahhhh soul sister? good gosh what a downer to have to endure someone like that over dinner, I too would have shut down and closed her off. I believe you usually will get what you 'give out' if you are kind and gracious you will get that back tho, you have to give room for others to have a 'bad day' that can be hard to do. I can relate to all that you feel girl! xo
Posted by: mgm | 30 July 2007 at 14:39
I also love San Fran....lived near there for about 1 1/2 years and I remember fondly, exactly where that picture is.
Nice getting to know you some more. When will you leave Paris, Tara?
Tara responds: Nobody knows. Probably in another three or four years; by that time we will have been here ten years.
Posted by: My Melange | 30 July 2007 at 13:07