Jacquie K.--Otherwise Known as Andarta Wildhearth
1. Name:
Andarta Wildhearth, andarta_w, Jacquie K., Mrs. K. (The Mrs. since I teach) I go by a lot of different names, but I’m known best by 'Jacquie'. I like my name although I haven’t always. My full name is 'Jacqueline Olivia Blah-blah-blah'. I went by 'Jackie' in my younger days, then changed the spelling about five years ago because I was feeling special. My last name is Hawaiian and starts with the letter K. I took my husband’s surname when we married in 1991. I love my initials: JOK...just one letter away from making a joke. Andarta Wildhearth...well, Andarta is a Germanic goddess of nature and the hunt, kind of like Artemis. It is a derivation of the name 'Arthur'. 'Wildhearth' is a symbolic combination of the things I value, my wild spiritual freedom and my hearth and home. It’s a magical name...yes it is.
2. Age:
39 (Oh God! I’m getting OLD!) I feel too young to be this old. I am a mid-life drama queen.
3. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose?
I would live in a country cottage near the mountains and woods by a stream with a waterfall. Maybe somewhere in Great Britain or the Smokey Mountains in the United States. Yeah, one of those places...or maybe the Shire, Middle Earth... But you know, there would have to be at least a small town close by. One with a rocking pub, a fantastic bookstore, and a soothing coffee house.
4. What would your Room of Requirement look like?
It would contain overstuffed couches and chairs with lots of pillows and a roaring fireplace with a large hearth. The walls would be lined with shelves full of books. But I can’t forget the coffee and good food and my husband and my Boxer dogs. Lots of rugs and blankets too...with good jazz (not that modern junk, I’m talking Coltrane) or classical music and arias playing in the background.
5. Who is your least favorite Harry Potter character?
I probably dislike Vernon Dursley the most. He disgusts me with his anger and closed-minded attitude. I feel he perpetuates hatred and intolerance born of ignorance...the flip side of the coin that reflects the bigoted attitude of the elitist Purebloods in the magical community. Most of my hate comes from his poor parenting skills. As a father he was in a position of influence and he completely failed both Dudley and Harry. Plus, he and his family had the beauty and liberation of magic right there in front of them, and they still rejected it. I would love to possess the power of magic, or have a friend or loved-one make that discovery about himself/herself. I resent him for rejecting the magical community.
6. Is the glass half empty or half full?
You know sometimes it’s both or neither, in fact, most of the time it’s that way. It’s difficult to see the bright side when the worst of all possible things happen (death of a loved-one, loss of one’s home, the Hurricane Katrina disaster on the Gulf Coast) but yet you could be branded a pessimist if you don’t. Emptiness can’t be defined without the existence of fullness, nor can evil exist without good. Stick me on the halfway point and I’ll lean to whichever side keeps me sane at any given point in my life. (Ok, no more mental masturbation for me...)
7. Give us a quotation (Can be from a famous person, a song, or even a poem-whatever you want) you feel represents your life or personality.
“Well, you know what they say: if you don't have anything nice to say about anybody, come sit by me!”--Clairee Belcher, Steel Magnolias
8. In your life, who comes first: family or friends?
Family, definitely family. My mother sacrificed so much to make sure her children were happy and grew up to be good people. She did without so that we could have what we needed and wanted. My brothers and sisters have been there for me and helped me so much, even when they had to go out of their way or sacrifice to help me. We may not always be super close, but we’re there for each other when it matters. Most friends come and go...
9. What is your favorite childhood memory?
Going over to my friend, Janice’s house on Saturdays and play pretending all day long that we were characters from The Chronicles of Narnia. She lived in this huge historic home with bricks and woodwork and all sorts of hidden places and surprises. Her yard went on forever and backed up to a bayou...lots of old oak trees and hidden paths. I was always Susan.
10. What would you say is your biggest flaw?
Laziness. I think I would be happier and feel better and more accomplished if I was not so lazy. Oh, and goodness gracious, I am the worst procrastinator in the world.
11. If you had been at Hogwarts during Harry’s fifth year, do you think that you would have joined the D.A.?
Yes, but I would not have been one of the first. I probably would have joined after the first meeting, after it was safer to do so. I would probably have to have some friend convince me to join. The whole time I would be petrified of being caught. (Yeah, I sympathize with Cho and Marietta.) But learning how to defend myself would be worth taking that chance.
12. Describe how you react to difficult or stressful situations.
I get angry or upset. I cry or panic. But if it is a life or death situation or serious life-altering circumstances I will go into tunnel-vision mode until the problem is solved or everyone is safe, then I’ll break down.
13. Which do you value more: compassion or justice?
Compassion, and I need to learn how to be a more compassionate person, especially when I am not fond of or feel I am wronged by another.
14. Would you say that you’re a child at heart, or that you have an old soul?
Inside I am a very old soul, but on the outside I am often childish and immature. I use humor a lot so I think people think of me as naïve and childlike; but on the inside I’m hundreds of years old.
15. Which Hogwarts House do you think that the Sorting Hat would place you in?
Ravenclaw, although I’m not as smart as I should be. I’m not willing to be consistently ruthless enough to be Slytherin. I’m too chicken to be in Gryffindor. I’m too lazy and just not nice enough to be a Hufflepuff.
16. If you have a picture of yourself and feel comfortable posting it, please do so! Pictures are fun!
