Ladies and Gentlemen, Debbie Annen

When I was looking for supplies for this event, the first person who leapt in to offer things was Bowie’s Debbie Annen, who describes herself as “a dabbler in music, writing, and visual arts.”

Q. When did you start writing poetry?

A. I started writing poetry in elementary school. The usual epic stories in rhyme.  Had creative writing in high school and wrote the soul searching, “who am I?” poems.  Just started writing again at retirement and am looking to grow into who I will become as an adult retiree.

Q.  How do you define poetry?

A. Poetry is something different for every person.  I think of my poetry of an abbreviated and/or beautiful way of saying what I want to say. But not always.

Q. What would you choose as your last meal?

A. My last meal would have to include mac and cheese, with lots of cheese, ice cream with chocolate sauce, steak, rare with mushrooms and onions and NO BROCCOLI. In that order.

Q. Where are you from, and what is your spiritual homeland?

A. I was an army brat, we moved every 3-5 years. I am drawn to the Native Americans, the respect for the earth and environment as well as the Asian cultures for the same reasons.

Q. If a boardwalk caricaturist made your picture, what would it look like? That is, what physical features, hobbies, etc., would be included?

A. The picture would be a of a heavy bottomed gypsy, wielding a large ukulele, mouth open and beads, earrings and hair flying. OR a mouse in the corner, shivering, hunched and quietly strumming the ukulele.

Q. If they made a movie of your life, what would be the title, what would be the theme song, and who would play you?

A. The title would be Years in the Making because I didn?t come into my own confident self until I hit my 50?s. I?m still working on that. Theme song would be “The Garden Song” (“Inch by inch, row by row, I’m gonna make this garden grow”). I think either Bette Midler or Kathy Bates, when I’m feeling bold and brassy or quiet and self-conscious.