Hero Interview from All My Belongings by Cynthia Ruchti with a Giveaway

» Posted on Jun 5, 2014 in Blog | Comments Off on Hero Interview from All My Belongings by Cynthia Ruchti with a Giveaway

This week I’m hosting Sandra Orchard with Blind Trust (no giveaway), Cynthia Ruchti with All My Belongings (US and Canada only for print, other places ebook), and Kimberly Johnson with A Romance Rekindled (US only). If you want to enter the drawings for the books, please leave a comment on your post with your email address. I will not enter you without an email address (my way to contact you if you win). If you don’t want to leave an email address, another way you can enter is to email me at margaretdaley@gmail.com. The drawings end Sunday (June 8th) evening.

AMB with PWInterview with the hero from All My Belongings by Cynthia Ruchti:

1. Isaac Hughes, tell me the most interesting thing about you.

That’s the thing. Even though I’m a relatively successful man in the world of commercial real estate, the most interesting thing about me is the one I’m wrestling with. I don’t know where I came from. I was adopted as an infant. My adoptive parents have been wonderful. Dad’s been gone for a couple of years. My mother isn’t long for this world. Heart disease and dementia are fast consuming her body and mind. She may die before I find out where I really came from. But shouldn’t I be grateful for the life I’ve had? Why can’t I shake this insatiable need to know my beginnings?

2. What do you do for fun?

I have the best bunch of guy friends. They’re all part of my Thursday night Bible study. Yes. We get together to talk about the Bible and faith and what it takes to live in a way that pleases God. I don’t know what I’d do without my friends. Most of them are married. Some have kids. We lean on each other, serve each other, and find ways to get on each other’s nerves. Perfectly normal. My dad was a golfer, and I do okay. It’s California. So just open the door and push me outside and I’m happy.

3. What do you put off doing because you dread it?

No one would accuse me of being a doting caregiver for my mother, my adoptive mother. I say I’m not gifted that way, but maybe a better word is inept. I love her, and she loves me. But seeing her like this, so weak, so confused much of the time, brings out the worst in me. I’m diligent about hiring people to take care of her. What she probably wants is more of just me.

4. What are you afraid of most in life?

Never connecting with my real roots. It’s not that I’d want to build a relationship with my birth parents, exactly. I just don’t think my soul will ever fully rest until I know who they were and the circumstances surrounding my adoption.

5. What do you want out of life?

I have most of what I want—a secure and meaningful job, a good reputation in the community, a great group of friends. I like to think I’m not impatient about it, but finding someone to share life and faith with ranks pretty high on my list right now.

6. What is the most important thing to you?

If my epitaph reads, “Here lies a godly man, a man of integrity, who didn’t always get everything right, but who knew where to find forgiveness,” then I will have considered my most important work complete.

7. Do you read books? If so, what is your favorite type of book?

My dad had an extensive library of books. I can’t bear to part with any of them. But my business keeps me pretty busy. And then with Mom…I don’t have much time for reading right now.

8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Easy question to answer. I wish I had the caregiver heart Becca has. She amazes me.

9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?

I don’t have a pet. Against my condo’s restrictions.

10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why? 

Another easy question. I’d want to observe the moment my adoptive parents accepted me from the adoption agency or hospital or whatever. I’d want to meet my birth mom and talk to her. I’d tell her I get it. I understand why sometimes it’s the only good choice. But I’d tell her I never stopped loving her anyway.