My family name was “Kapocius” when my great-grandparents came to America from Lithuania. Our name got changed to “Kophs” upon entering the country (I suppose the new name was slightly easier than the old name, but why not “Smith” or something?) My dad changed all our names back to the original name in the 70’s, but research was not as easy then as it is now, and we got it misspelled (we end it in -as instead of -us), but I love it. We pronounce it Ka-POI-tchus, but I met an actual Lithuanian who said it’s pronounced Ka-POE-shus and it means “cutter” or “butcher.”

I fixed my microwave. I’m as shocked as you. I’ve also fixed my dryer (it was eating my underwear), built two swinging 7x3’ barn doors for my shed, and rewired my shop. I went to my parents’ house and hung up pictures and towel bars for them. I refer to myself as their “handydaughter.”

I’ve listened critically to roughly 10,000 speeches in my adult life. That’s about 1400 work weeks of doing nothing but listening. The best part of my job as a communication professor is that I get learn and be entertained by my students.

I worked my way through high school and college. I lasted three days cleaning motel rooms, and I worked two summers pumping gas. Most of my work was waiting and bussing tables.

I drove 8 hours to take my then 12-year-old son to a sex education seminar (ask me and I’ll be happy to tell you about it!). He didn’t want to go, but he ended up being impressed by it. The lecture hall filled with pre-teens and their parents (I was the only mom in a sea of dads) yelling “PENIS PENIS PENIS” was an experience I couldn’t predict I’d have when I was a new mom, and that seminar helped to shape the great relationship we have.

I’ve made up my favorite holidays. “Plant the Flower Baskets Day” and “Smell the First Sweet Peas Day” are better than any other holiday for me. I have a photo album called “flowers.” The day we “fall back” and get another hour in the day doesn’t hurt my feelings, either.

I’ve seen Dizzie Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, and Woody Harrelson perform music in person. I asked Woody for a hug after his performance, and he hugged me.

I have flown a plane. My boyfriend pilots small airplanes, and he sometimes has me take the controls. It’s thrilling, but I prefer being a passenger.

I might not be an artist if my friend Josie had not said these four words to me: “You might be a painter!” I had taken painting classes from her and brought one painting back that didn’t feel finished to me. When she learned I wanted to adjust the painting, she told me I might be a painter. Isn’t it amazing the influence that people we respect have on us? I finished that painting that night and it’s still hanging on my wall.

I almost got to read the “Four Disclaimers” during a taping of NPR’s “Wha’d Ya Know” show. Someone hip-checked me as I was reaching for the script. BUT I was on Car Talk, which was a thrill.