In Full Bloom
Jun 13, 2012 15:17:51 GMT -5
Post by Chuck Miller on Jun 13, 2012 15:17:51 GMT -5
Chuck Miller
Staff Writer
Today we're interviewing Ms. Patricia Reed. Ms. Reed is one of Hammel's maintanence workers. Is it true you took up that job because of your power?
It’s true. I had always liked plants, who doesn’t though? But I didn’t know all that much about them. When I discovered my power, I used it as my reasoning to learn more about different plants and it’s lead to something I really love doing.
Can you explain a little about what your power does?
Simply put, I make plants grow. I can make them bloom faster, longer, and enhance it, such as make the color brighter and open a flower wider. But I have to be touching the plant to do so. It’s more difficult for big things, like a tree, or when there’s a lot of something, like grass. Now a tree… I can only do a little bit over time and it’s almost unnoticeable.
You weren't the only member of your family who was meta, is that right? You had a cousin who also attended Hammel. Were the two of you close?
No, we weren’t. Our families didn’t spend much time together. I’d only met her once or twice. And by the time I began attending Hammel, she’d already graduated. I would’ve liked to have known her. But I’m not even sure of where she lives.
Weren't you originally from Manhattan? How did you find out you had control over plants in the big City?
-I used to walk through Central Park all the time. One day, I was walking through an area called Shakespeare Garden with my brother and sister. And, back then, maintenance for the park was near completely ignored. Most of the plants were dead and had grown widely out of control. Well, as a thirteen year old girl, I thought there should at least be a little color among the garden. So I bought some seeds with money I’d earned from doing odd jobs and planted them. I made sure to go back every day to ]water and care for them, with my father accompanying me. And eventually it started to sprout. But growing and blooming was taking forever. I put my hand under the petals that had just begun to develop to get a better look. Like any kid, I thought if I just willed it enough to bloom, it would. And sure enough it did. Only a very little. But… It was enough. Flowers don’t just change that much that quickly. The petals grew larger and the color became more noticeable
Was Pilot Ridge an adjustment after living in a city?
Not as big as an adjustment as you might think. I’d never really felt at home in Manhattan. It was too large. And, aside from Central Park, it’s mostly brick and stone and cement. Coming to Pilot Ridge gave me a kind of… ‘Oh, so this is what I want’ sense. From then on, I’ve known I wanted to live in a smaller town with a sense of community.
You didn't stay here after graduation, though. What made you decide to come back?
There wasn’t keeping me where I was. When I first graduated and left, I knew I would always want to come back. I just wasn’t sure when I would. And when I saw a chance that I could, I did.
Taking opportunities is always wise. Was that chance just knowing there was a job opening, or was there something else that inspired you to come back when you did?
It was chance. I had enough money saved up that I could afford to move back and find an apartment, which I did. But it was also appealing to be back in an area I was familiar with and… idolized a bit.
Can you tell us a little about the woman you left behind?
My parents were wealthy and were very much concerned with what others thought of us. Growing up, certain things were expected from my family, girls, and life in general. I knew that I would go to all private schools, which I did. Eventually, I would go to a college or university, find a husband, get married, and have children. I knew that’s what I was going to do and I didn’t question it. But I wasn’t unhappy. I had friends and I still had fun. There was something missing, something wrong, and I knew it. But I wasn’t raised to question things, but instead to just go along with it.
You had a girlfriend at the time, didn't you? What was the reason for ending things? Was it just your desire to move bck to Pilot Ridge?
With Joanne you mean? When I was thirty-four, I brought her home to meet my parents. It wasn’t a good idea. At all. It was actually rather childish. Because I still hadn’t told them about me. Their reaction wasn’t what you would call pleasant. Which, in my opinion, is understandable. Almost immediately, she and I returned home. For obvious reasons, I was upset. And she became upset that I was upset. It ended up putting a large strain on our relationship. We tried to workout. And for a while we did. But there were issues that we simply just couldn’t get move past.
Ending relationships can be messy. That's been over a decade, though. Have you had any romantic entanglements since?
Haha um… I’ve had some. Nothing of significance. I have the occasional date. And once I dated a woman for a handful of months. But nothing that I would’ve put money on lasting long.
What's something you look for in a partner?
I look for… A kind of balance between myself and a partner. To have some things in common, but not too much. If there’s nothing different, your partner won’t challenge you. But you don’t want a person who challenges you over everything either.
Pilot Ridge is a fairly accepting place not only for metas, but also for the LGBT community. Do you find it's better or worse here than other places?
I’ve been lucky enough to have that where I’ve lived, being gay or lesbian or bi or anything else hasn’t really been an issue. Even Meta. Of course, no matter where you are, you can always find a few who have different beliefs than your own. The key is to remember that everybody is entitled to their own opinion. And as long as they don’t bring harm to others.
Did you face a lot of discrimination when you first came out?
It’s not something I feel the need to tell people. I know. My family knows. If people ask, I’ll tell them. I think that’s kept quite a bit of the discrimination most experience away from me. But yes, I have experienced some discrimination. It’s difficult to know people think differently of you over something you can’t help. And I wish I could say it gets easier with time. But it doesn’t. It does, however, become easier to tune those people out.
Vermont is closer to your place of birth, too. Do you visit your parents often?
Unfortunately, no, I don’t get to see them as much as I wish I did.
I hear you're really good at making S'Mores. Do you mind sharing your secret?
Haha well… I won’t give you all my secrets, but I’ll give you one. I catch the marshmallow on fire, let it stay for a few seconds, only a few though, then blow it out. With the right amount of time, the outside is a nice dark brown and the inside completely melted.
Do you have any other special skills? Not counting your meta abilities, of course.
And outside of s’more making? Cooking. I enjoy it very much and I like using fresh and natural ingredients. As you might guess, I have a fantastic herb garden.
And when did you first become interested in cooking?
Well, there was a time, long ago, when I was engaged. And it was expected of me to be able to cook. So I would say… About when I was twenty and I first started to learn
What did you do before moving to Pilot Ridge?
Much the same that I’m doing now. I worked with a lawn maintenance company. My other maintenance abilities came from years of living on my own.
Did you ever consider a different career path?
The way I was raised, it was expected of me to be a stay at home wife and mother. So I didn’t much ever consider what I wanted to do or be when I grew up. I had thought I would be those things for quite some time.
You didn't finish college, is that right? Was there a reason or was it just not the right fit for you?
That’s right, I didn’t. There are… So very many reasons. The biggest reason being that I became pregnant in my years at college. I thought that by becoming pregnant that I was doing what I was supposed to do. My boyfriend and I became engaged. And finishing college was no longer necessary, because I’d gained everything I had intended to while there.
Would you do anything differently if you could go back in time?
-I wouldn’t change a single thing. I made the right choice by me, by the man I didn’t love, and the baby I surely wouldn’t have been able to raise. The three of us have all gone our separate ways and I’m positive it was all the best.
Do you regret not finishing college?
Not particularly. College hadn’t been in the cards for me when I was younger. Which I accept. I believe college is a great experience. But not everybody has the mindset for it. That’s not to question a person’s intelligence. But more… their motivation.
Have you thought about going back and finishing your education or are you satisfied where you are?
I’ve thought about it, yes. Many times actually. But, I’m happy where I am and I don’t believe that will change anytime soon. At this point, I would only be doing it for the experience. Haha and I’m much too old for the typical college experience.
So you're pretty happy with your life at present. Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
In ten years. Hmmmm. Well, I could see myself still doing the same as I am now. I do love the work I do. But what I would like in the years to come… I would like to reconcile with my family. I would like to meet somebody to share my life with. If, for whatever reason, I can’t work at Hammel any longer, I would love to have something to do with Central Park. Whether it be maintaining the grounds or being the one who gets to be creative with the flowers in certain parts of the park.
Thanks for letting me borrow Patricia, Cuppy. Now I have a few questions for you!
Thanks for asking! I really enjoyed doing this!
Addie is an original concept, right? How did you come up with her?
Yes, Addie, while technically the oldest of mine, is the youngest having been born into Hammel. Set wasn’t really like how I made my other characters. With others, I’ve had a distinct idea of how I wanted them to be and to behave and what they’d be like. But Addie was more based on a feeling. Most importantly, her connection with nature and how it made her feel.
Does she have any relationships you love to thread out?
She doesn’t have many relationships yet, she’s still in the process of making her way into the site. As for pre-established relationships (from her past), I would love to see somebody app a Reed family member or even her ex, Joanne. There are also a few people I would like to build possible old friendships with from her days at Hammel. Currently though… I love the threads she has with Caroline, Odion, and Greg. I think they each offer a future thread possibilities.
What has been your favorite Addie moment or thread? (links are helpful, please)
My favorite moment thus far with Addie… I can’t decide between two. One being her entire thread with Caroline Mason in Spring has sprung! Addie adores her and thinks she’s cute as a button, not that she’d ever use that phrase. But I’m excited for them to spend more time together.
The second, and this is a very precise moment, is a moment in a thread with Odion Martin. He calls her ‘love’. Which, especially nowadays, most wouldn’t bat an eyelash at. But Addie’s only ever been called a term of endearment by a significant other or family member and even then only on very rare occasions. And being called such, and by somebody so much younger, well it’s thrown her off so much she’s yet to reply haha. I’m still trying to figure out how exactly she’ll react.
Do you have any goals or plans for her that you would like to share?
As far as future plans go, I try not make any plans for my characters. If I do, I make sure they’re not set in stone. Simply because I never know with my characters. And Addie likes to take things slow before she makes any kind of decision. Think it over for a few weeks, which is usually more like months to be honest.
How is Addie the same or different from the sorts of characters you usually play?
I’ve never played somebody so down to earth before. Or even as old as Addie is. I tend to keep the characters I play younger. Simply because I hardly think I have the emotional maturity to play somebody significantly older haha. I’ve always believed though, when somebody makes a character they put a bit of themselves into it. When I’m around people I don’t know, I’m very much like Angie. I’m very shy, hardly talk, when I do I tend to not look directly at anybody, and I blush. A lot. But with friends, I’m more like Brendan, not in all ways mind you. But I become much less reserved and really just focus on having a good time and making others laugh. But Addie… Is more like what I hope to be like when I’m older. She’s not timid or scared. And she knows how to have fun, but remain reserved. And she’s tough. I could see her putting up a fight if it came down to it and not stopping until she won. Whereas Angie wouldn’t fight at all and Brendan would quickly grow bored and walk away.
Thank you again! Everyone, don't forget to read Addie's profile and then hit up Cuppy's plot page to plot with her!
Staff Writer
Today we're interviewing Ms. Patricia Reed. Ms. Reed is one of Hammel's maintanence workers. Is it true you took up that job because of your power?
It’s true. I had always liked plants, who doesn’t though? But I didn’t know all that much about them. When I discovered my power, I used it as my reasoning to learn more about different plants and it’s lead to something I really love doing.
Can you explain a little about what your power does?
Simply put, I make plants grow. I can make them bloom faster, longer, and enhance it, such as make the color brighter and open a flower wider. But I have to be touching the plant to do so. It’s more difficult for big things, like a tree, or when there’s a lot of something, like grass. Now a tree… I can only do a little bit over time and it’s almost unnoticeable.
You weren't the only member of your family who was meta, is that right? You had a cousin who also attended Hammel. Were the two of you close?
No, we weren’t. Our families didn’t spend much time together. I’d only met her once or twice. And by the time I began attending Hammel, she’d already graduated. I would’ve liked to have known her. But I’m not even sure of where she lives.
Weren't you originally from Manhattan? How did you find out you had control over plants in the big City?
-I used to walk through Central Park all the time. One day, I was walking through an area called Shakespeare Garden with my brother and sister. And, back then, maintenance for the park was near completely ignored. Most of the plants were dead and had grown widely out of control. Well, as a thirteen year old girl, I thought there should at least be a little color among the garden. So I bought some seeds with money I’d earned from doing odd jobs and planted them. I made sure to go back every day to ]water and care for them, with my father accompanying me. And eventually it started to sprout. But growing and blooming was taking forever. I put my hand under the petals that had just begun to develop to get a better look. Like any kid, I thought if I just willed it enough to bloom, it would. And sure enough it did. Only a very little. But… It was enough. Flowers don’t just change that much that quickly. The petals grew larger and the color became more noticeable
Was Pilot Ridge an adjustment after living in a city?
Not as big as an adjustment as you might think. I’d never really felt at home in Manhattan. It was too large. And, aside from Central Park, it’s mostly brick and stone and cement. Coming to Pilot Ridge gave me a kind of… ‘Oh, so this is what I want’ sense. From then on, I’ve known I wanted to live in a smaller town with a sense of community.
You didn't stay here after graduation, though. What made you decide to come back?
There wasn’t keeping me where I was. When I first graduated and left, I knew I would always want to come back. I just wasn’t sure when I would. And when I saw a chance that I could, I did.
Taking opportunities is always wise. Was that chance just knowing there was a job opening, or was there something else that inspired you to come back when you did?
It was chance. I had enough money saved up that I could afford to move back and find an apartment, which I did. But it was also appealing to be back in an area I was familiar with and… idolized a bit.
Can you tell us a little about the woman you left behind?
My parents were wealthy and were very much concerned with what others thought of us. Growing up, certain things were expected from my family, girls, and life in general. I knew that I would go to all private schools, which I did. Eventually, I would go to a college or university, find a husband, get married, and have children. I knew that’s what I was going to do and I didn’t question it. But I wasn’t unhappy. I had friends and I still had fun. There was something missing, something wrong, and I knew it. But I wasn’t raised to question things, but instead to just go along with it.
You had a girlfriend at the time, didn't you? What was the reason for ending things? Was it just your desire to move bck to Pilot Ridge?
With Joanne you mean? When I was thirty-four, I brought her home to meet my parents. It wasn’t a good idea. At all. It was actually rather childish. Because I still hadn’t told them about me. Their reaction wasn’t what you would call pleasant. Which, in my opinion, is understandable. Almost immediately, she and I returned home. For obvious reasons, I was upset. And she became upset that I was upset. It ended up putting a large strain on our relationship. We tried to workout. And for a while we did. But there were issues that we simply just couldn’t get move past.
Ending relationships can be messy. That's been over a decade, though. Have you had any romantic entanglements since?
Haha um… I’ve had some. Nothing of significance. I have the occasional date. And once I dated a woman for a handful of months. But nothing that I would’ve put money on lasting long.
What's something you look for in a partner?
I look for… A kind of balance between myself and a partner. To have some things in common, but not too much. If there’s nothing different, your partner won’t challenge you. But you don’t want a person who challenges you over everything either.
Pilot Ridge is a fairly accepting place not only for metas, but also for the LGBT community. Do you find it's better or worse here than other places?
I’ve been lucky enough to have that where I’ve lived, being gay or lesbian or bi or anything else hasn’t really been an issue. Even Meta. Of course, no matter where you are, you can always find a few who have different beliefs than your own. The key is to remember that everybody is entitled to their own opinion. And as long as they don’t bring harm to others.
Did you face a lot of discrimination when you first came out?
It’s not something I feel the need to tell people. I know. My family knows. If people ask, I’ll tell them. I think that’s kept quite a bit of the discrimination most experience away from me. But yes, I have experienced some discrimination. It’s difficult to know people think differently of you over something you can’t help. And I wish I could say it gets easier with time. But it doesn’t. It does, however, become easier to tune those people out.
Vermont is closer to your place of birth, too. Do you visit your parents often?
Unfortunately, no, I don’t get to see them as much as I wish I did.
I hear you're really good at making S'Mores. Do you mind sharing your secret?
Haha well… I won’t give you all my secrets, but I’ll give you one. I catch the marshmallow on fire, let it stay for a few seconds, only a few though, then blow it out. With the right amount of time, the outside is a nice dark brown and the inside completely melted.
Do you have any other special skills? Not counting your meta abilities, of course.
And outside of s’more making? Cooking. I enjoy it very much and I like using fresh and natural ingredients. As you might guess, I have a fantastic herb garden.
And when did you first become interested in cooking?
Well, there was a time, long ago, when I was engaged. And it was expected of me to be able to cook. So I would say… About when I was twenty and I first started to learn
What did you do before moving to Pilot Ridge?
Much the same that I’m doing now. I worked with a lawn maintenance company. My other maintenance abilities came from years of living on my own.
Did you ever consider a different career path?
The way I was raised, it was expected of me to be a stay at home wife and mother. So I didn’t much ever consider what I wanted to do or be when I grew up. I had thought I would be those things for quite some time.
You didn't finish college, is that right? Was there a reason or was it just not the right fit for you?
That’s right, I didn’t. There are… So very many reasons. The biggest reason being that I became pregnant in my years at college. I thought that by becoming pregnant that I was doing what I was supposed to do. My boyfriend and I became engaged. And finishing college was no longer necessary, because I’d gained everything I had intended to while there.
Would you do anything differently if you could go back in time?
-I wouldn’t change a single thing. I made the right choice by me, by the man I didn’t love, and the baby I surely wouldn’t have been able to raise. The three of us have all gone our separate ways and I’m positive it was all the best.
Do you regret not finishing college?
Not particularly. College hadn’t been in the cards for me when I was younger. Which I accept. I believe college is a great experience. But not everybody has the mindset for it. That’s not to question a person’s intelligence. But more… their motivation.
Have you thought about going back and finishing your education or are you satisfied where you are?
I’ve thought about it, yes. Many times actually. But, I’m happy where I am and I don’t believe that will change anytime soon. At this point, I would only be doing it for the experience. Haha and I’m much too old for the typical college experience.
So you're pretty happy with your life at present. Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
In ten years. Hmmmm. Well, I could see myself still doing the same as I am now. I do love the work I do. But what I would like in the years to come… I would like to reconcile with my family. I would like to meet somebody to share my life with. If, for whatever reason, I can’t work at Hammel any longer, I would love to have something to do with Central Park. Whether it be maintaining the grounds or being the one who gets to be creative with the flowers in certain parts of the park.
Thanks for letting me borrow Patricia, Cuppy. Now I have a few questions for you!
Thanks for asking! I really enjoyed doing this!
Addie is an original concept, right? How did you come up with her?
Yes, Addie, while technically the oldest of mine, is the youngest having been born into Hammel. Set wasn’t really like how I made my other characters. With others, I’ve had a distinct idea of how I wanted them to be and to behave and what they’d be like. But Addie was more based on a feeling. Most importantly, her connection with nature and how it made her feel.
Does she have any relationships you love to thread out?
She doesn’t have many relationships yet, she’s still in the process of making her way into the site. As for pre-established relationships (from her past), I would love to see somebody app a Reed family member or even her ex, Joanne. There are also a few people I would like to build possible old friendships with from her days at Hammel. Currently though… I love the threads she has with Caroline, Odion, and Greg. I think they each offer a future thread possibilities.
What has been your favorite Addie moment or thread? (links are helpful, please)
My favorite moment thus far with Addie… I can’t decide between two. One being her entire thread with Caroline Mason in Spring has sprung! Addie adores her and thinks she’s cute as a button, not that she’d ever use that phrase. But I’m excited for them to spend more time together.
The second, and this is a very precise moment, is a moment in a thread with Odion Martin. He calls her ‘love’. Which, especially nowadays, most wouldn’t bat an eyelash at. But Addie’s only ever been called a term of endearment by a significant other or family member and even then only on very rare occasions. And being called such, and by somebody so much younger, well it’s thrown her off so much she’s yet to reply haha. I’m still trying to figure out how exactly she’ll react.
Do you have any goals or plans for her that you would like to share?
As far as future plans go, I try not make any plans for my characters. If I do, I make sure they’re not set in stone. Simply because I never know with my characters. And Addie likes to take things slow before she makes any kind of decision. Think it over for a few weeks, which is usually more like months to be honest.
How is Addie the same or different from the sorts of characters you usually play?
I’ve never played somebody so down to earth before. Or even as old as Addie is. I tend to keep the characters I play younger. Simply because I hardly think I have the emotional maturity to play somebody significantly older haha. I’ve always believed though, when somebody makes a character they put a bit of themselves into it. When I’m around people I don’t know, I’m very much like Angie. I’m very shy, hardly talk, when I do I tend to not look directly at anybody, and I blush. A lot. But with friends, I’m more like Brendan, not in all ways mind you. But I become much less reserved and really just focus on having a good time and making others laugh. But Addie… Is more like what I hope to be like when I’m older. She’s not timid or scared. And she knows how to have fun, but remain reserved. And she’s tough. I could see her putting up a fight if it came down to it and not stopping until she won. Whereas Angie wouldn’t fight at all and Brendan would quickly grow bored and walk away.
Thank you again! Everyone, don't forget to read Addie's profile and then hit up Cuppy's plot page to plot with her!
