January 1st - Paul and Jen

Throughout their world travels, my mom and dad have had the good fortune of landing next to some pretty wonderful people, and their new neighbors in Alexandria, VA. are no exception.  To kick off my month long, conversational voyage, I had to look no further than one door down from my parents.

Paul and Jen were incredibly gracious to let me crash their New Years Day morning for a little bit to ask them some questions and get to know them a little more (they checked out, my parents have nothing to worry about).

Paul

I started with Paul.  He is originally from Minnesota (his Vikings-leopard print pajamas were a clear indication of this), and had attended St. Olaf College, a small school in Minnesota with a strong Scandinavian heritage.  After some time spent in Atlanta, he moved to the D.C. area to work for HUD (Housing and Urban Development).  As he works for an agency that looks to see some potential changes in the future, I decided to start the conversation there.

L: Without getting too political, are you optimistic about your organization for the next four years?

P: There's good work to do with any administration, no matter who gets elected.  I think there's important operational changes that can be made now, so yes, I'm optimistic.

Paul is a new father (his son is 10 months old) so naturally we had things to talk about there as well.  

L: What's it like being a dad? How have things changed?

P: There's obviously a lot more responsibility.  The biggest thing though is realizing that everyone around you is now a potential role model.

What's the meal that reminds you most of home?

P: Steak and potatoes (though we did eventually talk about lutefisk and all those Scandinavian delicacies that are based on a dare).

What is your favorite joke?

P: Well...who reads your blog...

An excellent way to start to answer this question.  I told him that it's open to everyone, but that my Grandma has been known to read a post or two.

P: Ok, well, Eddie Murphy tells this joke about a bear and a rabbit in the woods...

I stop him there, because it's the joke from Delirious.  For those that don't know it, here it goes...

"A bear and a rabbit were taking a crap in the woods.  The bear turns to the rabbit and says, 'Excuse me, do you have a problem with crap sticking to your fur?' The rabbit says, 'No.'  So the bear wiped his ass with the rabbit."

Paul went on...

P: Ok, now that I'm a dad, this is one I like to tell.  Why is 6 afraid of 7?  Because 7 is a 6 offender...

Dad jokes are the best.

If you could bring back one musician, who would it be and why?

P: Gershwin.

L: Ira or George?

P: George Gershwin.  He died at his peak, and he had so much potential.  And, if he saw what was going on with music today he'd do amazing things with it.

Will the world be better or worse in 20 years?

P: Good question.  I often have a similar existential question about technology.  We've advanced so far but has it really been worth it?  Has technology made things better or worse for us? 20 years down the line we will likely be further along technologically.  Life will be easier.  But it will be up to our generation and others to find adaptive ways to make sure we are not letting technology consume our lives.

Jen

It was Jen's turn next.  She had been in the kitchen cooking and cleaning as they were host to family members (again, many thanks for letting me crash your morning!). When she came in, Paul went to get their 10 month old who had just woken up (and was ridiculously cute!)

Jen's path was a little more circuitous than Paul's.  She was raised in Colorado and Washington, and talked openly about her time in foster care. Both she and her sister were raised at times by foster parents, and Jen and Paul's son has met her foster parents and calls them Nana and Papa.  It's a family dynamic that is very unlike my own on the surface, but at its core is rooted in love like any other family. 

Jen had wanted to be an actress, and had found and auditioned for a small program in Minnesota. That program was St. Olaf, and on the first day there she met Paul.  They lived in the same dorm, and became fast friends.  The friendship led to dating, which led to me sitting in their living room many years later.

Jen was originally teaching ESL, but now works for a charter school in the D.C. area that specializes in Chinese immersion.  She is a data manager for the school, which she says actually helps students improve in math ability over students in traditional schools (the way that the Chinese language is set up helps with math skills).

We started our conversation with the obvious...being a parent.

L: What has all of this meant to you?  How much of a force for change has he been?

J: Nothing could ever prepare you to be a parent, nothing could ever get you ready for it. But you learn to love something in a totally different way and it's all worth it.

What's the meal that reminds you most of home?

J: Nothing comes to mind because I grew up a bunch of different places.  Maybe homemade chicken noodle soup?

If you could bring back one musician, who would it be and why?

J: I like music, but I'm not super passionate about it.  I couldn't tell you who sings what song or what artists are my favorite.  Maybe Bob Marley just because he would be interesting to talk to.

Oddly enough, that's who I would have picked too!

Will the world be better or worse in 20 years?

J: Better, definitely.  Not to get too political, but there are people that say we have not moved very far in terms of racial issues.  I disagree with that. In my opinion there have been big shifts in race relations and racial opportunities.  I'm married to a white man, but that couldn't have happened 50 years ago.  I wouldn't be able to exist right now.  My son wouldn't exist right now.  Barriers of race are breaking down, and if they continue breaking down then things will only continue to get better.

What's your favorite joke?

J:  Well, Paul tells this joke about a bear and a rabbit...

Paul and Jen come from different places and have different experiences and may have different ways of looking at things than I do.  Our lives would probably not have intersected had my parents not moved next door to them. It was interesting to begin this month by talking to complete strangers.  I must admit that it was a little nerve wracking at first for me.  Here they are, two people trying to enjoy a quiet morning, and in walks some stranger talking about a blog and asking them to tell him jokes.

But both Paul and Jen were great sports and were eager participants, and I can't thank them enough for that.  They were also quick to ask about Elliot, as he had been sick throughout the week we had visited my parents.  Good people indeed, and I wish that I gotten to spend more time talking with them. I'll be looking forward to Elliot meeting up with their son the next time we are in town!

I'll be getting better as an interviewer for future posts, but for better or worse, the Interview Month is off and running.  Check back throughout the month for more conversations, more jokes, and more ways to look at the world!