Aliens!

I thought I’d try the “silly questions” challenge I read on Dabi’s blog. The first question is about aliens, hence the pic above.

Do you believe in aliens?

Yes, yes I do, and I always have. It feels like the hight of hubris to believe that we could possibly be the only so-called intelligent species in the galaxy, let alone any other galaxy and the whole shebang. I’d go so far as to say that I believe that we are alien to Earth, and that we came from Mars originally. (Stop laughing in the back there. I’m not the only person to think that.) However, I am terrified that we will find life elsewhere. Oh not because I believe all of those stupid shoot-first-and-ask-questions-afterwards movies that Hollywood churns out. It’s just that I worry that we’ll try to convert them. Religion is a personal thing, I have always believed. But I can see how easily some people would think that all those god-forsaken aliens need is a good dose of come to Jesus. Goddess, I hope I’m wrong.

If you have to dress in just one colour for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Blue, probably. With some grey. I learned at an early age that pretty clothes were not for someone as large as me. My mother believed in covering up everything. If she could have made me go around in ankle length skirts, she would have. (Oddly, when I wanted to buy a midi length skirt in the 70’s, she refused on the grounds that it was fashionable.) I took that lesson and swallowed it whole, so I have always dressed in drab colours. Yes, at my age I could indulge my love of colour as much as I want. Except that clothes manufacturers also teach us that bright, pretty things are not for large old crones.

Favourite random fact that you know.

If your second toe is considerably longer than your big toe, chances are you have Neanderthal genes. I mean, most of us have some as they never really disappeared, they just merged into Modern People. My second toes are so much longer that I have broken the one on my right foot, three times. Now the poor curves inwards a little as though it’s trying to protect itself.

Childhood dream.

I wanted to be a writer. It was the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do. But gradually, over the decades, I’ve had my dream kicked to ribbons. Not least because I insist on writing about strange things. I don’t even write for myself, because an audience of one is worthless. For example, the last thing I wrote was a story in which a man was murdered and the whole village was responsible. The story was narrated by the village. I showed it to just one person, who asked, and her reaction was that it wasn’t a conventional murder mystery, so she didn’t understand it, so it must be rubbish.

If you have to be a teacher, which subject would you teach?

I would teach creative writing. I would give my pupils the tools with which to create; grammar, spelling etc. The rules. But I would also teach them to be confident. To not care what other people think. To write from the heart. I would also teach them to learn to approach other people’s writing with respect and try to understand what they are saying. None of my pupils would end up like me.

If you were an astronaut going to the space, which items would you bring with you?

My teddy bear, William. He’s 63 years old and has gone around the world, and back, with me. I’d also have my kindle packed with lots of books. And I’d have to take my glasses along with me. With incipient macular degeneration and hearing problems, I don’t think I’d be much cop as an astronaut.

Only being able to run, or only being able to walk?

Oh that one did make me laugh! I can’t run as my knees are damaged, and I need to use a stick to walk. So only being able to walk it is.

Favourite letter?

I’ve always rather liked the letter “S”. The way it curves around and around. And the association with snakes is nice. I like snakes!

A memorable song that had impacted you in any way?

Ella Fitzgerald’s “Someone to watch over me”. I think it’s, what’s the word, informed my approach to religion. Not an all-powerful, all-seeing meddling deity, but one that watches, notes, and understands without sticking it’s noble nose in. Does that make any sense?

Favourite celestial body.

We’re back to the first question: Mars, humanity’s old home. I even find myself feeling a little hiraeth about it. (IYKYK)