I have been tagged by a DUCK!!!

1) As a child, I always LOVED PLAYING TAG and HIDE AND GO SEEK. 2) I was VERY SKINNY so, while TAG was fun, I was often IT. I was much more successful at playing HIDE AND GO SEEK because I was able to squeeze into small spaces and often did.

HOWEVER, when you grow up, think twice about squeezing into small spaces. At age 19 or 20, I had my first panic attack and it was BECAUSE I had squeezed into a small space. My then husband and I were playful and silly. 3) I HID under the kitchen sink when he was in the bathroom. He couldn't find me ANYWHERE and I chuckled under my breath because it brought me back to my childhood. THEN, he pleaded with me to SHOW MYSELF, so, I TRIED. HOWEVER, I couldn't back out as easily and began to PANIC and then cry. By the time it was over, I was in hysterics and needless to say, I haven't been under the kitchen sink since.

4) Years later, while living in Baltimore, I was shot in the back by SOMEONE "playing" with a bebe gun. The pain was stunning; I continued walking and never looked back.
5) I walked EVERYWHERE in Baltimore and had the best physique of my lifetime. Unfortunately, that attracts unwanted attention so I purchased second-hand khaki slacks and some bulky shirts TO covered my curves so I would be left alone. IT WORKED.

6) Ocassionally we made the journey NORTH to the BERKSHIRES and THE UPPER CATSKILLS near ALTAMONT, NY, to visit FAMILY. On one such trip we were in the HELDEBERGS, near ALBANY, and decided to explore a CAVE. Unprepared for such an adventure, we started in at 7pm. Crawling on our hands and knees, the floor and ceiling of the cave got closer and closer and it became darker and darker. Finally, we were on our BELLIES, sliding through narrow passages. I WAS UNHAPPY and PANIC hit just as if I was "UNDER THE KITCHEN SINK", AGAIN! I BACKED out, crying all the way and thanking God that one of us had the good sense to get out and wondering why I EVER PUT MYSELF IN SUCH RISK.

7) I'M FAST FORWARDING NOW; approximately 17 years to 1990. FIRENZE, ITALIA. Let's climb to the TOP OF THE DUOMO, the Cathedral! It's dome was created by Brunelleshi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Maria_del_Fiore) and is a marvel of engineering as well as VERY HIGH. The stair passages wound around the interior of the CHURCH and into the DOME ; NARROW, NARROWER, NARROWEST. I didn't panic but my heart was beating out of my chest. We approached the roof top and I stepped out onto a narrow, not very well fenced-in, LEDGE and GAZED over the city of FLORENCE. NO PANIC, just awe AND it was worth crawling through the closed in space BECAUSE while I HATE CLOSED IN, TIGHT PLACES, I LOVE HEIGHTS AND OPEN SPACES.

That's it. 7 random facts about me that others didn't know, until now. Thanks, kd, for getting me onto the blog, again.

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FROM THE DUCK:YOU've been TAGGED!

Here's the scoopidy-doopidy: When you are "tagged" please give 7 random facts about your sweet self on your blog.
Please write things that are a habit, unusual, or that no-one else knows, as well as the rules of the game.
You then need to tag seven others and list their names on your blog.
Please leave a post on the blogs of those you tag so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog...and tag 7 more and so on.
No worries. No pressure. No time constraints - just enjoy ~ xo ~