So, here's milk maid -- without skimming any cream off the top. Oh, and ask her someday why her Dad calls her Sam. I could never understand it either...
Question: What's the story behind your handle?
milk maid: I chose my handle mainly to make you laugh!! I thought your name showed
great ingenuity, and also told something about who you really were. While
thinking of what I should call myself, my husband offered the suggestion of
"Dairy Bar". He made me laugh, but I chose the name "milk maid" as a
reflection of this. When I chose the name, I was still nursing my youngest
child, Sam. It seemed that was how I spent most of my day, and often
defined who I was. I was a mother..first and foremost! I have also been
able to help several friends, and encouraging their breast-feeding. It is
a challenging, and natural part of life, yet, in our culture, it has become
a lost art, and I am proud to pass on any knowledge and tips that I have
gained.
Question: We've been friends a very long time, in real life. And now we meet in
Hotel Chat. Why do you visit the Hotel so much, and do you visit other chat rooms?
milk maid: I started visiting the Hotel Chat after you gave me the address and told me
how much fun it was. Bless your heart for introducing me to these chat
lines..! I then had to switch servers to obtain more internet access time!
I began visiting the hotel to search for you..and because my name caught
the eyes of others..I began to chat. It is a fascinating sub-culture all
it's own. I began to learn the terms..and the language. I then tried
Hawaii Chat, and then PowWow, which you also recommended. While looking
for you, I made 2 remarkable friends in PowWow who have become integral
parts of my life, and who are people that I hope with all my heart I can
meet in real life. I still return to the Hotel to find you, and I think I
prefer the anonymity of it best of all. It is the most protected medium to
chat in..and I am able to control who learns my true identity. It is fun
to be able to chat regularly with you, and give you tidbits of news from
home. I like the friends I have made there. I have also tried Parents
Place, and chatted with other parents, who had similar life experiences to
mine. Finally, I have tried FreeTel, which was recommended by another
friend. It was amazing to hear his voice over the internet, but I am
reluctant to try to use it to talk to other strangers. Overall, I am
thrilled with the contact with others, and I am often amazed at the
personal details that people will share with others under the guise of
anonymity. It is wondeful to find other grown-ups to talk to, and the
friends I have made and maintained have given a deeper quality to my life.
Question: What one song seems to be your personal theme? Explain.
milk maid: I have always loved music. I spent nearly all of the money I made during
high school on music. I loved to listen to the favourites of others
because I thought it told so much about them. It is hard to limit my
choice to only one song, but to choose one song for a personal theme, I
think it would be "With or Without You" by U2. I began listening to the
song, as an old flame was far away..and continued listening as the flame
died out, and subsequently I gained strength from the song as I learned to
stand on my own again. Through that song, I rediscovered my self-worth,
and then U2 music became a very large part of my life.
Question: What's your view on cyber relationships, and the hot topic, cyber-sex?
milk maid: Cyber relationships still fascinate me. There are so many extraordinary
people who are willing to share parts of their lives. I prefer the people
who are genuine and honest about themselves, and not pretending to be
something they aren't. The internet allows people to become anyone they
want to be..but those who are comfortable and stable enough to be
themselves are the most appealing to me. It is almost a backwards way of
meeting people, because I meet them from the inside first..and the outside
appearances become incidental.
The cyber-sex that goes on is amusing to watch, and often makes me laugh..
but I am not comfortable with the setting. I don't play the game very
well, so I choose to avoid the situation. I have learned to quickly tell
others that I am mom to 3, and that ruins the mood instantly. I find it
far more stimulating to touch the mind and heart of another. Cyber-sex to
me seems empty and lonely.
Question: If you had the chance to go back in time and change the outcome of a
single event, what would it be, what would you do differently to change it,
and what impact would it have on your life today?
milk maid: There are things that I regret doing, and situations I regret being in, but
given the chance to do things right..I'm not sure that I would. I have
learned from all of these things, and some lessons were necessary to learn
the hard way. All events have shaped my life, and have made me who I am
today. I only hope I can use the knowlege I have aquired, and any inner
strength I have developed, and share it with the other people in my life.
I want to help my friends, loved ones, and family to be the best that they
can be, and I want them all to be happy. I will be careful to pass on as
much as I can to my children, and I will always try to protect them from
the same kinds of lessons.. but realistically, I know I can't protect them
from everything. I hope to pass on to them the right skills to deal with
the situation, and be the kind of parent that they can comfortably discuss
issues with.
Question: What would you rather be doing right now?
milk maid: I would rather be swimming.. :-) Care to join me??
Question: What was your single most embarrassing moment of your life?
milk maid: The most embarrassing moment was when I told my parents that I was pregnant
with my first child,and because I fell from grace in their eyes. I allowed
my wedding to happen as planned, and only told them one month afterwards.
Pre-marital sex was not an issue that was easy for them to accept.
Question: What's it like to be a parent?
milk maid: It has been the wildest roller-coaster ride I have ever been on. At first,
I lost many friends as a result of our parenthood. It was as if we had a
horrible disease that no one else wanted to catch. Then, we became models
fro friends who were catching up..and they learned from our mistakes. It
has been incredibly rewarding, and has offered so many cherished
experiences. I value the time with my children, and wouldn't trade them
for anything. They have shown me new ways to look at life.. and the
unconditional love is incredibly satifsying!
Question: What's the single most most powerful force that exists? Why is it the
most powerful?
milk maid: I think the most powerful force that exists is love. My life is defined by
the love that I give and receive from others, and by the love of God, as
well. With love comes fulfillment..and satisfaction of spirit.
Question: Got any good ideas for supper? Explain.
milk maid: Hmm.. best suggestion is always pasta. Spaghetti sauce is my only way to
sneak veggies past the kids, without someone picking them out. I like to
make a tomato sauce with pepperoni.. cheap, yet spicy.. and served with
garlic bread. Nothing like fresh garlic to keep germs at bay!