Seven Little Known Things About Morgan

1. I am afraid of heights and I have a pilot’s license. I understand Bernoulli’s principle and the way lift happens so flying doesn’t frighten me. I took my first flight in a yellow Piper Cub at age 13 and got my license when I was 21. Now, put me on a ferris wheel or in a tall building and my knees will buckle and my hands and feet will sweat. If you are ever in the Swiss Family Robinson’s tree house (At Disney) or on an observation platform at the Empire State Building, please do not tickle me or touch me in any way that puts me close to the edge. I might accidentally knock your teeth out.

2. How might I knock your teeth out? I took Shotokan karate in college and many people don’t know this about me. Our instructor, Bob, had a thick Chinese accent and often asked us: “Do you want kill your attacker?” Mostly, we said no, we’d just like to get away. Either way, he taught us how to kick someone in the solar plexus or throat so we could get away, or kill someone. I almost broke LJ’s nose using techniques learned in this class but in all fairness, it was accidental.

3. I have only owned Hondas in my lifetime. First, a 1987 CRX in silver. Then, a 2000 Civic in Gold. Next, a 2006 Accord in Silver. Finally, I have my Odyssey.

4. I have a very large torus palatinus. Yes, that's right. I've checked LMJ's torus palatinus but it appears to be of a normal size. Before you conclude that I am some kind of genetic freak, I should tell you that the torus palatinus is that bump on the roof of your mouth. My dentist says this is not a bad thing. In fact, I thought everyone's was as large as mine but my dentist told me otherwise just a few years ago. Since my wisdom teeth never arrived, my theory is that they are stored in this bony cavity. Still wondering what I'm talking about? I won't post a picture of the roof of my mouth but there is a nice shot here of someone else's torus palatinus.

5. My favorite movie is Shakespeare in Love. I’ve watched it over 100 times, I’m sure. It’s an English major’s ideal movie. I often quote lines from it but most people don’t notice. “I think I’ve seen it. I didn’t like it.” “How you mind darts about…” “love and a bit with a dog…”

6. I’ve known LJ for twenty years. His best friend liked one of my friends and so we spent more quality time together than either of us planned. We’ve both changed so much since then but our sense of history together keeps us from taking ourselves too seriously. I remember driving my mom’s brown Toyota station wagon to his job when I got my driver’s license. He stopped vacuuming the department store carpet long enough to say “So?” As he matured, he became much more considerate. These days, he'll make my coffee in the morning, he's changed diapers at all hours with no complaint, he's the chief bedtime story reader and laundry-doer. Yeah, he’s changed a lot.

7. In my first 9 years of teaching, I only took one sick day prior to the thirteen days of maternity leave. It’s just easier to be there.