Mike Kelley: What was your favorite toy when you were a child?
a teddy seal [my mom donated it to a charity during one of my “but i’m a grown-up now” spells when i was ten but years later, i came across a spotted and bigger teddy seal in ikea & i couldn’t resist buying it lmao]. also harry potter lego.
Whitfield Lovell: Do you have any interesting stories about your ancestors?
are you even european if you don’t have a dozen “that time grandpa fought in wwii” stories? my favourites, however, are the surreal everyday life anecdotes.
here’s one about my great-grandfather and a funeral he once attended: one of his acquaintances died, so he accompanied the deceased guy’s sister to the funeral. it all went normal - as far as funerals can be normal - but after the reception, the dead guy’s sister decided to go back to the grave with some more flowers and my great-grandfather went with her [bc yknow, what’s worse than a *gasp* woman walking alone at night?]. except there were strange, soft sounds in the distance, and when they came closer, they saw dirt being thrown from inside one of the fresh graves, like someone was trying to dig themselves out of their grave - then there emerged a dirty hand. and a figure. the dead guy’s sister shrieked and, like in a novel, [i didn’t believe it the first time, it’s so dramatic] clutched her heart and fainted!! my great-grandfather was a tad more rational, crossing himself vehemently in the eastern catholic manner, promising himself to confront whatever’s coming, eyes wide open in shock. the guy starts walking towards them, covered in dirt… now, of course it was the gravedigger preparing a grave for the next day’s funeral, but god, the drama!
here’s one about my grandpa’s brother [referred to as K.]: he was so spoiled as a child that he threw tantrums if he couldn’t get what he wanted, so when my grandpa’s family went on a vacation to a spa town and K. ‘wasn’t hungry’ at dinner but around midnight started demanding that he be served “yellow soup” (basically broth), K.’s mother knew hell would break loose if he wasn’t. so she had the kitchen staff and the chef woken up and summoned to produce “yellow soup,” even if it cost her a fortune. to this day, we only refer to broth as “yellow soup” and parsnip as “white vegetable”.
Artemisia Gentileschi: What is your greatest achievement?
i’d hate to be as emo as to say “staying alive, duh” but honestly, coming to terms with life, maintaining my integrity, and creating a sense of calm for myself means to me more than any acceptance letter / test score / financial gain.
