The Quirk Project (No. 1)

For the first list of quirks I thought it would be appropriate to publish my dad's. I think it's fairly obvious to anyone who knows me that I admire and adore my dad with a love that is so unbelievably strong. He has such a positive influence in my life and always gives me sound advice that I can really listen to. If I'm having a bad day, I know I can call him and tell him whatever it is that's wrong and he'll truly listen. And I think that's pretty special because some people don't really have the listening skills that he does. I think some of the weird habits that I've acquired have come from him, and although most people would assume that I'm a lot like my mom (I am!), I think it's also fair to say that I'm very similar to my dad.

Dad's Quirks
{Us after canoeing the Hillsborough River on Father's Day.}

1. English music. I was born and raised in the good old U. S. of A., but all of my favorite music is English. If I believed in reincarnation, I would be tempted to think some past life was calling me back home to the British Isles...my love of English music is that strong. Of course, I do love plenty of music from my homeland, from the songs of Gershwin and Johnny Mercer to The Band, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Wilco. But I consider England to be my musical “home,” and the songs of The Beatles and The Kinks on through to Blur and Radiohead are the ones that are in heaviest rotation on my iPod.

2. Buttons. I don’t like them. It’s irrational and, therefore, I can’t explain it. They bother me and I want them to leave me alone.

3. Eyebrows. I like eyebrows—strong, thick, shapely, interesting ones. Some great famous eyebrows? How about Jennifer Connelly, Mark Twain, Donald Sutherland, Brooke Shields, Paul McCartney, Frida Kahlo...you get the eye-dea.

4. Saxophones. The sound of a saxophone solo has always reminded me of black bananas for some reason (no, I’m not kidding). I don’t love black bananas. I prefer them, however, to the sound of a saxophone.

5. Boats. I love kayaks and canoes, but I don’t like powerboats. I suppose if you want to go deep-sea fishing, a powerboat is the way to go. But I’m all about enjoying the trip...I love canoeing down a lazy florida river or kayaing through the mangroves.

6. Beets and Lima Beans. I am famously omnivorous and unpicky at mealtime -- I’ll usually go along with anyone’s whim and enjoy it. Beets and Lima Beans, though, are on my “uh-uh” list.

7. Baseball. Although millions also love it, I know there’s a certain faction that thinks of baseball as slow and boring. It lacks the “warfare” metaphor (as in football) that so many seem to find so exciting. For some reason I love baseball’s measured pace, the easygoing picnic environment of sitting in the stands with a hot dog and a coke, the wind-up, the pitch, the sudden explosion of a hit, a great diving catch or a towering home run. Call me boring if you want; baseball was my favorite sport to play as a kid, and it’s my favorite sport to watch now as an adult.

8. Birds. I love birds of every size, shape and species. I admire plumage, be it dazzling or drab; I love birdsong, from the virtuosic warblings of the Mockingbird to the primeval croak of the Great Blue Heron. I recently spent a morning birdwatching with my daughter, Roxanne, on Honeymoon Island off the coast of Dunedin, Florida, and it was sheer joy.

read more about submitting your own list of quirks here.