Self-description (excerpts from letters)
In 1993, Stephen introduced himself to me as follows:
It seems to me at times that I'm more verbose on paper than in person. Which is frustrating in that I can at times come across as a blithering bore stumbling along with inane comments.
I've a BA in biology/English with several years of graduate work in zoology, a French minor. Grew up in northern Minnesota, out among the pine trees by a lake, am sort of an educated jackpine savage so to speak. Politically am somewhere left of liberal, but not an activist in anything other than my own life at this time. I indulge in writing free verse and haikus from time to time, for personal rather than public consumption.
Religion-wise am a Quaker (Society of Friends), but am not presently active in any meeting. I enjoy hiking along beaches or up wooded trails, beach combing,, exploring new parts of the city (I really don't know Seattle that well, have been out here in western Washington since 1976, but most of that time has been spent in Skagit County).
Past experiences have included teaching university biology classes, guiding fishermen in the north woods of Minnesota, serving in the medical corps in Vietnam (courtesy of the U.S. Army), driving a taxi, working as a bureaucrat for the federal government in Washington, D.C., assistant-managing a book store.
I enjoy almost any form of music. I enjoy art; don't do any myself other than quite refined freelance doodling. I don't take myself overly seriously, humor one of the more essential ingredients to life. I've a fairly strong personality, as to who I am, am in a general way easy going and have a positive attitude as far as my own life goes. Am less optimistic as to whither the human race is wandering. Am of Norwegian ancestry and tend to be a touch reserved when first meeting someone, but things such as humor and a keen wit quickly cut the ice with me.
I read avidly, frequenting the local library several times a week, everything from mysteries and SF to contemporary novels, news and opinion magazines, am a crossword puzzle addict, and live by myself in a small space that is packed with plants, orchids, palms, cacti, etc., two budgies, a tarantula named Charlotte, and a frog. Am employed and have been for a number of years, as an interior plant specialist. My income is modest, but then my life-style is likewise frugal.
I enjoy eating out, but also cook Indian curries and such. I rarely drink. Prefer to keep a clear head, there being too many things to experience to waste time in a daze. I can't stand the taste of coffee, although the ground beans smell great, but do like most teas.
I find life a very interesting and strange trip. I am somewhat of an idealist and a dreamer. Am also somewhat of a realist and cynic. I enjoy helping others learn, but have no desire to force anything on anyone else.
I enjoy urban environments; Washington, D.C. was a fascinating place to live, and dwelling in suburbia I find fairly nauseating.
I make a good friend, can be on the intense side. Am not into game playing, other than being absurd/inane/ridiculous, and the like from time to time. I find pretensions in others amusing, sometimes tiring. For some people I'm not serious enough, particularly in person, the use of humor and silliness to deal with nervousness or uncertainty can be to some annoying.
I can be very quiet, am sort of a quiet person, and the lack of verbal communication on differing levels can cause problems. My feeling is that this is to some extent cultural (U.S. male/macho garbage and Norwegian dark brooding) as well as influences in my own life. I feel that people have differing needs to communicate in various ways, the amounts varying. I rarely set certain kinds of goals, but merely flounder along, discovering along the way golden slivers of life worth savoring.
As a result of Vietnam (perhaps) and other influences, a lot of things simply are of little import to me. Am not particularly concerned with the window-dressings of life. How I appear to most people I could care less and have no desire to impress them in any manner. I'm rather selective in who I wish to excel to/with. In undergraduate school some of my closest friends and roommates were Russian Jews from Canada. I found the cultural bantering and put-downs between friends amusing and suited to my personality.
I play chess, collect Chinese stamps, and enjoy nature programs on PBS. Also enjoy some movies, eating at ethnic restaurants, cool mists, and talking into the wee hours of the morning.
(In another letter): As far as changes in the future, it would be ghastly if there were none, all we can do is attempt to keep on learning and remain positive about our lives and those of others that we touch. If I can put a smile on your face as you drift off to sleep, I feel a letter has been of good use.
(From letters sent to Katie Kauffman, June and July, 1993)