Interview of Tawana "true" Grimes with follow up questions

Question 1:
I read over your introduction to your blog, and I'm wondering about your nick
name? does it have any special meaning?

Answer:
My first & middle name is Tawana Rue. “true” came about as a nickname from the first letter of my first name ‘t’ with ‘rue,’ which equals “true.” Since a lot of people have trouble pronouncing “tawana,” true is a lot easier to remember and say.

Question 2:
I noticed you are a Beatles fan! Me too! What are some of the reasons why
you love the Beatles and what is your favorite song?

Answer:
I remember seeing the Beatles for the very first time when they appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. I was in the sixth grade living in Austin, Texas, and I think the year was 1963. I just love the beat and uniqueness of their music, that its overall fairly easy to listen to. Most of all, their music has been timeless and no other music group has really come close to it.

Question 3:
In regards to hobbies, with four kids did any start with their inspiration?

Answer:
Although I was fortunate to travel and hike a little when I was a kid, I have traveled & hiked more with my kids. Since I raised them to be global in their thinking, they also got a love of travel from me. Two kids have actually lived in Latin America for six months or one year. And, three have spent time in Europe. We all would definitely travel more if funds were available. Regardless, we love being with family and spending time outdoors, though we’re not the best Minnesota winter people!!

Question 4:
Tell me a little about your hobbies?

Answer:
Aside from travel, hiking and being with family at get-together's, I like to read, listen to music, cook and inexpensively decorate the house, go to movies. It just seems there’s not always enough time to enjoy hobbies while in school. No matter what, we’re all busy people.

Question 5:
What's it like going back to school in your experience?

Answer:
Although it’s been very hard, it’s also been quite the adventure. While I’ve publicly embarrassed myself on too many occasions, I’ve been continually amazed at the variety of terrific learning experiences that have come my way. I’ve had some academic disappointments but I learned from them, too. Returning to school has also been humbling because the more I learn, the more I realize I don’t know. There have been plenty of times when I felt like a complete imbecile and wondered what the heck I was thinking about when I returned to college. On the other hand, there are days when I know I’m in a good place. I’ve learned to celebrate the smaller things, too. Although I have gotten quite a bit of negative feedback from family about going back to college, my four kids have been the best supporters! I’ve been happy to meet wonderful students and make good friends and equally blessed to have excellent, wonderful teachers who really care. Although life & a lot of stressful events got in the way, I think it will all work out and I’ll be a better person as a result. I have so much to be thankful for.

1. I was wondering if you could elaborate of your travels, where have you
gone and did anything interesting happen on your journey?

I wish I could say the destinations have been exotic and far away. But, Mexico has been the most frequented place so far – Cancun, Guadalajara, Mazatlan, Monterrey, Puerto Vallarta, Once, my son’s professor at Tech de Monterrey recommended this quiet little remote village on a lagoon that only the natives frequented.
2. Is there anywhere you want to travel to that you have never been to?
why?

I really want to go to Europe some day. And, I want to see it like those young college graduates who buy a Euro pass, backpack across the continent and stay in inexpensive, quaint little inns.

3. What kind of books do you read in your spare time? Any favorites?

When I was a young kid, “A Wrinkle in Time” was unlike anything I’d ever read. Plus, I was really into the Nancy Drew mysteries then, ha! I still like non-fiction books about real people best. I also like John Grisham novels (and the movies based from them).
I wish I had more time to read for pleasure. Before my oldest son graduated from U of M, Twin Cities, his CLA professors always encouraged students to read the most interesting, well-written books. Therefore, Justin always carried a good book around with him at all times.
However, I did take a lot of time out to read while going through some medical treatments at Mayo Clinic five years ago. Since the treatments caused weird complications and serious brain fog that affected concentration, I was unable to do much more than live in a recliner and rest. That’s when I spent an entire summer to read every one of the books Nicolas Sparks had written. Since those novels didn’t require too much thinking, I could read one in a couple days. However, it didn’t take long to recognize a distinct pattern that I didn’t care for, that Sparks usually killed off one of the main characters. I didn’t care for that at all.

4. You mentioned decorating your house, is this for holidays or do you have
an overall theme to how you decorate?

My decorating is very eclectic. I’m partial to cheerful, easygoing yellows and soothing blues, with a touch of green. Since the winters are not my best times, I try to achieve spring/summer all year around. The last two winters, my bedroom was in a tropical motif. Now, it’s yellow with royal & true blues and blue toile accents. Since I’ve been a student, my humble home is always a disaster and there’s been no time for decorating. But, if I had a personal assistant and housekeeper, it could be a sweet place.

5. My last question is what do you do in the winter, since you said you are
not the best Minnesota Winter family?

For our family’s first winter, I bought and burned 2 ½ cords of firewood. I kept a fire going in the fireplace EVERY day that winter. Most people I met really made fun of that. I didn’t care, though, because those comforting fires, although unnecessary for warming the house, helped us get through what we first believed to be a frozen hell. When the winters got to us, we found it helpful to go to local places that resemble indoor parks. My kids ski & snowboard a little. What’s even better is heading off to a warm & sunny getaway, although a lack of funds has kept us from doing that the last few years. Even now, when it gets down to subzero temperatures, I unfortunately spend too much time complaining and asking myself, “Why do we live here?”
On the upside, I think the winters help us slow down our hectic lives and spend more time together as a family. I love walking outside after a fresh now and listening to the quietness. I also enjoy hugging my mug when it’s filled with hot apple cider, cocoa or tea. It helps to step up visits to a health club during this time. Our family down south finds it hard to believe that we continue to live in Minnesota and go through terrible winters. They think we stay because our brains cells have been frozen so many times that we aren’t smart enough to leave and move back down south, ha!

Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2009, 7:34 PM
Hello Again True! I have just a few more questions I'm hoping you can answer
for me, just to make sure I have covered all my bases here!

1. You mentioned that you like to read, cook, and be with family. Is there
any particular hobby that you hold above the rest?
I love being with family and get-togethers with family & friends the best.

2. Why is this hobby so important to you? Do you have any specific examples
of how it has enriched your life?
Other than my faith, there’s nothing more important in my life than family, which includes four children and family down south. We might not be perfect but we can always count on each other for help, love and support. That’s what families are for.

3. If you were not interested in this particular hobby, do you think it
would have made your life different?
I cannot imagine my life without my kids and extended family. It would be so empty and sad. My heart goes out to people who have no children or family. I don’t see how they get through the tough times in their life.

4. Being a mom is such a huge part of your life, and it sounds like your
kids are so supportive! Can you elaborate a little more on their ages and
how they are supporting you going back to school?
Since three of my kids have gotten through their college experience, they know how hard it is and understand the challenges. They’ve been very appreciative of how I helped them get through college. On the other hand, even though I attended college over thirty five years ago in Texas, I am now much more aware of what my college kids dealt with. Also, I was diagnosed with ADHD and a couple learning disabilities seven years ago. So, my trials at college have helped me better understand what my youngest son has gone through in secondary school.

5. What are your kids names and what do they do?
Justin, 30, works at Children’s Hospital in the business office where he uses his bachelor’s degree in Spanish-Portuguese and minor in Latin American studies and economics. He’s an awesome chess player and also writes music and sings. He’s plays the acoustic guitar, bass guitar, mandolin and piano. He’s played with several bands. Happily, Justin’s getting married Dec. 5 at the Weisman Art Museum at U of M. Both families are so excited!! Justin is the first kid in the family to get married, so it’s a big deal. We absolutely adore Kassie, 23, who he met at a funeral!
I just helped Summer, 27, get ready to move. It was bittersweet to see her head off to Vermont Sept. 27. Since she started a new career selling life insurance in February, Summer has a job with that same company in Burlington. Prior to this, she was a hair stylist after graduating from Aveda Institute (2002). She also earned an AA degree from Normandale (2001). Since she’s fluent in French, Summer plans to attend a university in Montreal or Toronto in the near future to get a bachelor’s in English. Summer used to draw a lot as a kid and played the clarinet. She plays the guitar and piano and has also written a little music.
Holland, 23, graduated from Normandale in 2007 as a registered nurse. She worked at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, for two years, until moving to Nicaragua in January this year to serve as a volunteer missionary. Currently, Holland is on a three-month traveling nursing assignment in Burlington, Vermont, before she heads back to Nicaragua in January 2010. Her hobby is painting that she began in a painting class at NCC. Holland learned how to unicycle in the fourth grade and took two years of dance in high school. She plays the violin and drums and used to play in a small band.
Benjamin, 22, is the assistant manager at National Camera on Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis. He’s really an awesome photographer, too, and does a few weddings a year. Interestingly, he began collecting vintage cameras when he was in middle school. Then, in high school, he took up photography before setting up a dark room at our home. Currently, he lives in Minneapolis with four roommates in an older two-story home that has a soundproof music room in the basement. Ben plays the piano and bass guitar in a band and records specialty sounds for music.