Yes, if paying a caricaturist at the local fair counts.
Have you ever adopted a stray animal??
Heh. Many times.
Have you ever broken the law and gotten away with it?
Yes. Who hasn’t jaywalked, spit in public, or crossed the street on a red light? Major laws, no.
HYE not celebrated a holiday in December?
There was a Christmas back when I was a kid where my father put me on restriction and literally banned me from celebrating Christmas at all.
HYE dressed up as either Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny?
Yes, and it’s one of my favorite stories: I went to a costume party dressed as Santa and wearing a flesh colored body stocking underneath the jacket. Every once in a while I would “flash” someone. I won first prize for my “flashing Santa.”
HYE read “A Visit from St. Nicholas” to a child?
Yes, I read it to my kids when they were little
Have you had a picture taken with Santa when you were an adult?
Yes, the lil’wrekker wouldn’t sit on Santa’s knee without me holding her hand. So there I am looking a bit overwhelmed and stressed out. And her smiling like a goof.
HYE found a hidden gift you forgot, oh, say about February?
Well, in September. I hid it too well, and forgot about it/lost it. I bought another gift for the recipient, and found the original gift months later.
Have you ever won a sports bet?
Yes, I have. A small bet on the outcome of a baseball game. It was all in fun. Still, I was right.
Have you ever lost a wad on a bet?
Lost a hundred bucks on a single spin of a roulette wheel once.
HYE won a bet but then had the other person fail to pay up (welch) on the wager?
No, but then I haven’t made that many wagers.
HYE attended a church service where you were not a member of that church?
Sure. I’ve been a guest at Roman Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran and Moravian services. They were mostly interesting. (I’m Presbyterian.)
Have You Ever gone Christmas Caroling door-to-door?
Yes. My kids were involved in 4-H and they did it every year. Being the helicopter mom I was, I attended. I was also a 4-H leader, for an excuse!
HYE visited nursing homes even if you had no one in your family living there?
I worked as an orderly for a couple of years, and would visit friends who lived there.
HYE discovered a dear friend was dead long after the fact?
Yes. My buddy Craig.
Craig was part of my circle of friends during my undergrad. And he was a dear friend–somebody you could trust, but also somebody you could joke with, somebody you could laugh with and commiserate with. Excellent at spotting pretty girls from our usual table in the college cafeteria. Great guy, and he and the rest of us could also hit the bars for beer. Did I mention that he was great at spotting pretty girls?
Graduation occurred, and we all went our separate ways. No Facebook (or indeed, internet) in those days, so keeping in touch was difficult. So you can imagine our surprise six or seven years later, when we learned through various channels, that Craig had contracted AIDS through homosexual sex, and had subsequently died a few years before. It took some doing, but Craig’s death brought us all back in touch.
If there was a silver lining, it was that Craig’s death brought our old circle of friends back together. It wasn’t so easy back then, but we made the effort; and today, we are all in touch on Facebook. And we all still miss Craig.
Something happier: have you ever won a prize playing a carnival game?
You know I don’t think I ever have. At least not that I can recall.
HYE driven a car made before 1950?
No. I haven’t driven many cars at all.
Have you ever hung out laundry on a line to dry?
Yep, during my childhood in Spirit Lake, Idaho.
HYE jumped off a tire swing into a lake or river?
I’ve been on a tire swing, but not into water.
HYE skated on traditional roller skates (not inline)?
Yes, I have fallen down many times! I was never good at them.
Have You Ever made a gingerbread house?