It must be shared that I was somewhat obsessively looking forward to getting back Becca's answers to the interview below. She's that good. Her choice of words, her wit, her freaking fabulous sense of humor, they all make for a fantastic read. Any time she posts a story, say, on Facebook or whathaveyou I make sure I've got a full cup of tea or coffee. That way, the reading of such deliciousness as "25 Random Dudes I've Dated" and "Drawing on the Overhead-- Sixth Period" will make for the most necessary experience. You'll not want it to end... ever. Becca has yet to publish a book of these greats (but, mark my words right here and now, you wait... she will.). In the meantime I'll settle for spurts of posts on FB and her blog, The Helgaphile. For now, you can get a sense of her wonderfulness below. Grab your tea, coffee, or- I suppose- popcorn. This is fun stuff...♥ Did you play dress up as a kid? If so, what was your most memorable ensemble?
My parents were theater actors, and I was an only child for the first nine years of my life. These two factors offered ripe opportunities to lose myself in the infinite possibility of make-believe dress-up land. Mama had a golden afro wig that she let me wear when I played house in the garage. Apparently, she wore the wig for a fancy Hollywood Halloween party back in 1973. Dad was Shaft and Mama was “Shaft’s Big Score”. Both wore brown makeup (I’m cringing while I write this) and afro wigs and big sunglasses. Mama had a mini-skirt that had the words “Big Score” hand-embroidered on the ass (homemade, of course). Why my parents thought it a good idea to go to a big Hollywood party in black-face is beyond me, but the costume did not make much of stir – mostly because no one realized that they were in costume in the first place. I guess they just looked like another hip African American couple hobnobbing with the stars. They made a quiet exit out the backdoor of the kitchen after about a half-hour of feeling like total unassuming racist idiots. Nevertheless, I love my parents. And that golden afro wig made me feel like a beautiful, African queen. In addition to the wig, there was an old hoopskirt in the garage that I used to put on over my Garanimals pants and roll up the waist until it was a giant donut around my belly. I remember thinking, “Some day, so help me God, I will be big enough and old enough to fit into this beautiful hoop skirt for real.” And I fancied that on that day, I’d finally feel like a real woman – wearing a hoop skirt. It was my right and my duty. The biggest influence on my sense of style was my Grandma Anne, who understood how important it is for a little girl to have her own drawer of play-clothes at the bottom of a frosted white dresser in the guest room. Grandma Anne wasn’t a famous movie star, but she lived like one, and she subsequently looked like one. Her lips were permanently stained red from her Max Factor lipstick. Very classy. And she always wore high heels. Even her sneakers had wedges. Grandma Anne didn’t mess around. The play-clothes consisted of all of Grandma’s old fancy nightgowns and negligees, complete with high-heels that had clip-on bows on the toes. These nighties were always washed and neatly folded in the bottom drawer, prepared for my arrival. As soon as I got out of the car, I’d give Gram a quick kiss and then head to the bedroom to put on all of the nighties – ALL of them, at the same time, like a bag lady – and wouldn’t take them off until it was time to go home. Every day, for like weeks, I wore those nighties, including the red polyester pantaloons with the black lace. In fact, I think everything was polyester and cheap lace, which can give even a little kid a bad case of BO. Trust. I blame these people for my eclectic sense of style. Or perhaps lack thereof.
♥ What's your profession/day job/night job/way of making a living?
I’m a seventh grade English teacher, but I’m also a self-appointed marriage-family counselor, drill sergeant, party-clown and surrogate mom. Like most other teachers, I wear many hats. On the side, I make “art”… mostly just crafts.
♥ What's your most treasured possession?
While packing a bag for a possible evacuation during a fire we had in the hills of Santa Barbara, I took my passport, my mortgage papers and my computer. But I also grabbed this little framed photo that I have sitting with my plants above the kitchen sink. It’s a photo of me at age three, wearing my favorite blue bathing suit and a pair of Kmart sneakers. I’m standing on the back patio of my parents’ house, pushing a bright yellow shopping cart. I don’t know why someone would make a plastic shopping cart for kids but I obviously had one, and for some reason, this picture is mildly important to me. I think it’s because I look like me – even when I was three. Same arms, same belly, same solid legs, and the look on my face. It’s a Becca-look – like I’m prepared for something big to happen. I don’t really have treasured possessions. My people are my treasured possessions… and the cat. As long as my people and the cat are safe, I’m good.
♥ Hobbies and artistic endeavors?
I write, take ridiculous photos of Barbie in public places, draw little cartoons on the insides of matchbooks, paint and repaint the walls of my house, read graphic novels, obsess over films, play Rock Band like I’m some sort of professional singer (embarrassing myself), perform improv theater in front of kids 5-days-a-week-180-days-a-year, and make calavera boxes for my friends and family. The boxes are my latest endeavor, mostly for couples that I admire. Each box is unique and custom-made to fit its recipients. It is my little gift of positive prayers for the incredible people I have in my life.
♥ The one band that you can listen to in any mood, any time of day, any place?
I can’t just give one answer here; when it comes to music, I’m all over the place. When I was a kid, I could do a song and dance routine to the entire album of Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and the Beatles “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”. Don’t make me do it – I might still remember some of the moves. I also have to agree with my friend Amy that if Cat Stevens is playing on the radio somewhere within earshot I have to stop what I’m doing and sing along until it’s over. My car stereo is permanently dialed to the 80’s New Wave station, and I know every song but none of the words, so it’s horrible comedy Karaoke when I drive to work in the morning. When I work on art projects at home, I listen to Radiohead “In/Rainbows” over and over for hours, like a mantra to get me through to the end. And as for new music, I’m stuck on the New Pornographers and Andrew Bird, respectively. Can’t get enough of their latest albums. For this question, no matter how I answer, I just sound like a pompous ass. Really. I’m uncomfortable, now.
♥ Imagine a single room all to yourself, all for you. What's inside?
I already have this: it’s my whole house. And I’ve filled it with my artwork and the artwork of my friends and family, lots of color, a really good bed, fresh healthy food in the fridge, a neurotic cat and music. Lots and lots of music. I feel selfish with this space… I’d like to share it with someone else, but it has to be just the right person, and I’m in no hurry to make that happen.
♥ Cotton candy or candy apple?
Candy apple. I don’t understand cotton candy. Why, really, with the cotton candy? WHY? It just seems wrong.
♥ Your ideal day, from morning to night, as it occurs to you in this very moment?
I like to go for a good run early in the morning, then have coffee and breakfast with great friends, accomplish at least one task that makes me feel like I deserve to relax, then relax in the evening over dinner and a bottle of wine. I love to make meals for my friends. I love to have good people in my home – that’s my family-time. Being outside is important to me, too. If we can sit outside and drink the wine and look at a view, with the good people and all that other stuff I mentioned, well… that’s my heaven.
♥ The best part of living is...
Saying yes to the opportunities that come my way. Then taking a step off the ledge and allowing myself to fall into a new experience. Growth: that’s the best and worst part of living, but so necessary. Imperative, really. Yes.
♥ Roller skates or ice skates?
Roller skates… with pom-poms. And a boardwalk. And the high sun.
♥ Share a quote.
“Let’s do it for Johnny, man. We’ll do it for Johnny!” – Dally from The Outsiders
♥ South of France or Tokyo?
Tokyo. I’ve never been there. I imagine I would dig it for a short time until the lights make me anxious and my money runs out, but that sounds interesting enough. I’ve been to the South of France and it’s a lot like Santa Barbara. I want to go somewhere other than the paradise where I live.
♥ What's the one thing that sustains you in your job?
Autonomy and the ability to be creative – I’m my own boss when I close that classroom door. In addition, the kids I work with are intriguing human beings – it’s my honor to know them and help guide them to the next level. I have a great deal of faith in the future because I work with the kids who will be the next generation of adults. They get a bad rap from the current adults of our society, much like we did when we were kids. I laugh and feel proud of my students every day. That’s cool.
♥ If not the profession that you are currently in, then what?
I would write, but I’m not sure I have the stamina to be a professional writer. I have trouble being creative on purpose. It comes in waves. I have an old fantasy of opening a writing-workshop tutorial center much like 826 Valencia in San Francisco. That would merge two passions: kids and writing, but in a way where I’d still have to get up in the morning and go to work. I need that.
♥ What piece of jewelry or hair adornment do you own by Ciara Obscura?
I have a beautiful white gardenia for my hair and a custom-made Lucky Birds necklace in sterling. Gorgeous.
