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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

An Interview

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My friend Bonnie at Original Art Studio is an artist, thinker, questioner and writer. Out of her generous spirit, she is unveiling a series of interviews of a few of her blog friends, and I'm the first! I'm so excited. Please visit Bonnie's blog, not just to see how I answered her interesting questions (I really felt like I was on the stage of Inside the Actors Studio), but also to browse her beautiful images and be challenged by her thought-provoking posts, examining how we live. Her aesthetics and sensitivities are really very lovely.


And she even creates word puzzles, like this one:

Bonnie will be interviewing other bloggers in this series, some of whom I already know well, some I know a little, and others I don't know at all. I look forward to getting to know my friends better, and to make new friends.

Thank you so much, Bonnie!

57 comments:

Rosaria Williams said...

I came from Bonnie's. Glad to meet you!

Friko said...

Hi, I've just been to read your fine answers to Bonnie's questionnaire; they made me come straight here.

I too love poetry although I don't consider myself a poet, I'm not altogether hopeless at prose.

I have seen you around, we have a number of blogs in common, I can't understand why I haven't come here before. That'll certainly change now.
Do read my answers at Bonnie's place next week and let me know what you think.

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

Thanks for the link Ruth. I see a couple of my blogging pals have dropped by already! Thank you for the kind words. Me? A writer? How generous you are.

J.G. said...

Interviews go best when the two people obviously like each other. This is one of them! Such a pleasure to read.

Natalie~Coffee and a Book Chick said...

Hopping over to the site!!

C.M. Jackson said...

how exciting!

Nancy said...

I've been a "lurker" for some time now, enchanted by your words and photographs. The interview gives me another view of you...how lovely. Ironically, I have the William Ellery Channing poem on my board in my university office, where I also advise students, among other tasks. Lovely to learn more about you. Thank you for sharing.

George said...

I read your interview, Ruth, and you did a great job. You should definitely make an appearance on Inside the Actor's Studio. If fact, I could replace James Tipton and conduct the interview myself. Now that would be interesting!

Vagabonde said...

That was a cool interview, Ruth. I enjoyed your answers – you speech is as lovely as your written words. Since I have been following your blog for well over a year now I guessed at many of the answers you gave – you are a kind person, sensitive, without affectation or artifice, but very considerate and creative. I hope you can maintain your blog for many years to come; it is always a joy to read your new posts and look at your pretty pictures.

Pat said...

I'll click right on over to Bonnie. I follow her, too!

GailO said...

Loved your interview:) One thing that I hadn't known about was Jane Austen...you truly are a kindred spirit.

Unknown said...

Fab interview Ruth thansk for introducing me to Original Art Studio

Ruth said...

Hi, and welcome to my blog, Lakeviewer. I have seen you around the blogosphere, and now that we've met, I see that you are in Oregon, one of my favorite parts of the world. I'm happy to meet you.

Ruth said...

Hello, and welcome, Friko. I agree, because I've seen you around too and wonder now why I never went to your places. Your lines and photos are beautiful, and so is your sense of nature. I also like your sense of humor.

I will definitely check out your interview with Bonnie next week. It's such a good thing she's doing.

Ruth said...

Hi there, Bonnie! Yes, so I've just met Lakeviewer and Friko, and how nice they are too. I see that some of my friends have joined your blog too. This is a nice exchange, and again, I enjoyed answering your questions, not that it was easy to know what to say for some of them, and to be succinct! I could have given you much longer answers. And then I'm afraid you might have lost followers!

Ruth said...

J.G., thank you for reading the interview very much. Bonnie did such a lovely job setting it up, and she was quite kind.

Ruth said...

Hi, and thank you, Coffee and a Book Chick! I see that you have joined Bonnie's blog, and that's wonderful. You will find sweet offerings on a regular basis from Bonnie.

Ruth said...

Yes, C.M.!

Ruth said...

Nancy, thank you for coming out of the shadows to introduce yourself. Also, thank you for reading Bonnie's interview. How interesting that you and I both advise students, love that Channing quote, and also love Mary Oliver, as I see at your blog post. I'm so happy to meet you.

Ruth said...

Hi, George, thanks so much, I enjoyed Bonnie's interview a lot. It was good to reflect on those questions and be forced to say only a little, something that's not easy for me.

OK, so that could be our plan whenever we meet up. We could have Lipton's list (or Proust's longer list) of questions and start there. It might take all day! And wouldn't that be fun.

Ruth said...

Thank you, Vagabonde. So you listened to a podcast? I don't like my voice, or I should say I haven't liked it. Mom always said it was too breathy for singing, and Don makes me repeat everything I say because he doesn't hear me. But the podcasts are making me work on that, and use my diaphragm more, which is good. And I'm getting used to hearing my voice too, not that I I like it yet.

The words you used to describe me really touch me. I feel that they would be good framed on the wall, something to live up to. I also like how closely you "read" not only my posts, but all things you encounter, and that is reflected in your good comment, that you could guess my answers. I love that.

Ruth said...

Thank you, Pat! You're a dear, supportive friend.

Ruth said...

Oliag, I guess I haven't talked about my love for Jane Austen much. It just sits there quietly on my profile page. That will be changing very soon, since I already have something in the works. It's fun to know you love her too. Yay. :D

Ruth said...

Oh thank you, Gwei Mui, for reading about me at Bonnie's. It's a very nice thing she's doing. It makes me feel important! I'm glad you found Bonnie's beautiful blog.

rauf said...

i think i understood all of it
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

You should have learned Farsi Ruth i mean Persian. You have an eastern understanding anyway. is that a right sentence ? i mean nothing eastern is new to you or surprises you. i mean you have a western head and eastern heart.
is that any good ? i am not referring to your visits to Indian restaurants over there. Spicy food is not good. did you talk about food ? i think you missed it or Bonnie never asked. i have to read it again.

what am i talking ? what ever i said you can convey it in just a couple of words.

The pearly gate answer is terrific Ruth.

word verification says HEG RANT

oh deeah even google says it. sorry google ! this is the way i talk and write

George said...

I just want you to know that I re-read your interview this morning with fresh eyes and enjoyed it just as much - perhaps more, since I was quite exhausted when I read it the first time. You have a wonderful family, a passionate love for life, and a heart that wants to — indeed, needs to — sing. I also love your spontaneous honesty, which is a rare but admirable quality. Keep singing your truth!

ellen abbott said...

It was a good interview and I enjoyed reading more about you.

Ruth said...

rauf EEEEEEEEEE yippee hehehe.

Yes yes, I like very much, I very much like, I much very like, how you said that. An eastern understanding, an eastern heart and a western head. Can we learn to think with our heart and feel with our head too? I think this was always there, even when I was a kid. But no one was around who could help me let it out. It took a while, and thankfully, very thankfully, I can express this part of myself without worrying that I am hurting someone.

EEEEEEE I'm glad you like the pearly gates. I think you know that I don't mean I think I am creating heaven. It is my goal, and if God would say that I had helped do that when I pass, then I would have accomplished something worthwhile.

You know that I love how you talk and write and rant, and I feel that I have succeeded at something when you do. Even if we disagree!

Astrid said...

Coffee please, a little milk, no sugar.
I read your interview, wonderful and I am happy too that you got this great opportunity.
How 'synchronizing' your life is with that of Ginnie.
Ginnie was interviewed by somebody of the paper, who happens to be a news-photographer too and is writing for our local magazine of the Lindenborg, the senior apartment building we live in.
I happen to be at home to read the preview, his way of writing is a delight and I know Ginnie will be able to read the Dutch written.
No need to say I am proud of her, as I am proud of you, my dear sister, by all of what you do and have done.

Char said...

somehow i knew you would admire thoreau as much as i do and in reading this i am inspired to check out mary oliver.

anger over leaving religion - i too have had that about one of my former churches. though i didn't start my blog over that - it was started as a way of venting emotions, some anger.

these little connections in the blogging world - that peace/piece of knowing one is never really alone and a kindred could be as close as reaching out.

Ginnie Hart said...

I see that Astrid has already told you about my own interview just yesterday, sister. Isn't it weird that both have happened at the same time! Bravo to you for putting yourself out there and for being the ever-growing person you are. I don't know how to use the manual settings either, if that means anything to you. A photographer friend once told me that all you ever need to use is the AP setting and that's it! So that's what I've done...besides always shooting in RAW. :)

Julie said...

Hello, Ruth. It's very nice to meet you. I just read the interview, and I love the questions and your answers. You are a very positive person, and that is beautiful.

I also enjoyed the pictures. I used to live in rural Ohio, and I loved visiting Michigan, especially in the fall. I'm not from the area, but it will always have a special place in my heart. Your farm sounds amazing!

I'm also wildly intrigued by your visit to the tattoo parlor and would love to hear more. I met a woman who worked at a tattoo parlor, and she was a talented artist and wonderful person.

Thanks for the introduction to you! It is lovely. I'll stick around to read more.

Ruth said...

George, it means a lot to me that you went back with a fresh head and reread the interview at Bonnie's. You are a true friend to do that. As for what you admire about my spontaneous honesty, I thank you for that. You know, a certain confidence comes with age, and sadly our culture does not sing that truth on the thoroughfare. I really appreciate your continual encouragement and cheerful (and cheering!) friendship.

Ruth said...

Ellen, thank you so much for your interest and trekking over to Bonnie's place (hey, we have a great hamburger joint by that name), to read the interview. I thought Bonnie's questions and format, in her aesthetically pleasing blog, were very good. I enjoyed the project!

Ruth said...

Astrid, almond milk OK?

Ginnie was posting on her blog for so long without any blog friends! It was an expression of something inside her, and it was meaningful, even in solitude. Now of course her photoblog is wildly successful (and yours too), and In Soul remains a beautiful place for her to chronicle your lives.

That is exciting news about the Lindenborg magazine interview! That really is synchronicity, in the same week. I am proud of her too, for she, more than anything, connects with people. I look forward to the interview, for I know you will share it with all of us in the family and blog family too (I hope).

Ruth said...

Char, you are right. It is so easy now to find connections with people through this cyber medium. I think I'm still not used to feeling it for what it is, I keep sort of apologizing to myself, or justifying it, that we have this social connection, and that somehow it is less than what has gone before. But sharing Thoreau, the expression of emotions, whatever links us and makes us feel the wholeness that we are, is such a very good thing, that I believe great work is happening here. I really do.

Ruth said...

Boots, it is a happy-making connection that we both had an interview at the same time. I think yours will be most interesting, as an expat who observes all things so closely. They are very fortunate to have you there, gobbling up everything around you and turning it into your flesh and blood. You are a powerful walking and breathing lesson of going after your life with gusto, at such a grand age as you. :D I look forward to the article.

Ruth said...

Welcome, Julie, it's an honor to have you visit. Lorenzo has shared at least two of your powerful poems with me, and I have seen your interactions with him and George, and finally I realized I must indeed stalk you more closely myself, so I am following your posts now. Your poetic voice is potent and poignant. Even though we have not known each other before now, you are one of the "stellar poets" I mentioned in that interview.

I've left you the link to the tattoo parlor post, and I hope your wild intrigue gets satisfied. I met several warm and wonderful people that day.

Sarah Laurence said...

I came from Bonnie's too. What lovely photos you take! It's nice to connect with you.

freefalling said...

Hey!
You have podcasts?
How did I miss that?

Sidney said...

That was a great interview!
You are an exceptional woman !

* said...

Looking forward to it, I'll check it out!

PS: Happy full moon, I'm up late enjoying it's fullness!

Ruth said...

Hi and welcome, Sarah, thank you so much. It's a pleasure to meet another of Bonnie's friends.

Ruth said...

Letty, the podcasts are new!

Ruth said...

Sidney, how good of you to read the interview, and to say that. Thank you very much, my friend.

Ruth said...

Terresa, thank you for that.

Happy full moon to you as well. She was misty and bright last night when I went out to feed Bishop. We had a moment.

Sahildeki Ev said...

Like some others I came thru Bonnie and love your photos and blog.. Result: I am your newest follower :))

RD said...

What a wonderful, warm interview, Ruth. I wish I'd "met" you and your blog while I lived in Michigan--I think we might have been friends! I like how you see your world--it is similar to my view--down to your frustration in leaving your religion.

♥ Kathy said...

Congrats Ruth...your interview was wonderful!

Ruth said...

Sevgili Turquoise Diaries, çok mutluyum! Memnun oldum. Çok güzel. Wow. I'm excited to finally have a blog to follow of such beauty and whose author is Turkish! Çok teşekkür ederim.

Ruth said...

RD, I wish we could have met too, since we share so much. Thank you for reading the interview and for your kind comment.

Margaret said...

"To be curious and go after my own answers". Just love that bit of wisdom and the interview. Pod casts are ... hearing you read your poetry via internet? Technology just amazes me.

Ruth said...

Margaret, yes, I managed to record my voice on GarageBand, then I started a little iWeb page where they are getting loaded. Cool, huh?

Marcie said...

What a wonderful interview. Great to get to know you....:-)

Susan said...

Gaaahhhh! I'm so behind! That's what I get for being sick for two days and then camping for two days.

Ruthie is a Superstahhh! May I have your autograph, miss?

Lovely interview, I must say. Bonnie did an excellent job of bringing out your best qualities, and I love how you kept pieces of yourself hidden. The perfect interview.

We need to take a photography class together so we can BOTH learn to use the manual settings.

Ruth said...

Oh, Susie, I didn't know you were sick! I'm sorry.

Thank you, I'm glad you liked the interview. Yes, I seem to have kept myself hidden in the spirit of brevity. :) I'm guessing there isn't much revealed there for you, since you know me so well. Thank you for calling it "perfect".

I would definitely take a photography class if you were here or I were there. I just never seem to get around to it on my own. Rauf tries to teach me stuff all the way from India, and he's so helpful. But there's nothing like going out with the camera together and applying lessons.

Jeanie said...

I'll look forward to clicking over!