If you want to be entered in the drawing for either author’s book this week, please leave a comment with your email address or email me at margaretdaley@gmail.com. The drawing ends on Sunday evening.
Interview with Tiffany LeBoeuf from Beach Dreams by Trish Perry:
1.Tiffany LeBoeuf, tell me the most interesting thing about you.
Okay, this is going to sound weird, but it’s kind of interesting that I’m suddenly like a kid again. I mean, I’m 29 years old, and I’ve lived plenty of life already. But about six months ago I went through this spiritual experience, thanks to some friends I didn’t even recognize as friends. That happened right around the time my mom got really sick, and suddenly I got this, this feeling that God wanted me to go nurse my mom during her last days. So, like a kid I just went, “Okay!” and abruptly left everything to be with her. That caused me no end of trouble, but I know now it was the right thing to do.
So now I feel like I need to listen to what God has to say all the time, like I’m too young to know what’s right and wrong on my own. My default choice isn’t usually the right one, whether it’s what I say or where I go, whatever.
I just hope I’ll “grow up” quickly and have a better handle on what God would say to me, even if I don’t stop and listen. So yeah, being a kid again is interesting to me.
2.What do you do for fun?
See, that’s different, too. I used to spend a lot of energy chasing men. That’s honestly what I did for fun. The whole process was a thrill to me, from early flirtation to making the conquest. At least that’s how I thought things were going. Now I know I was giving myself away foolishly and taking from others selfishly.
Now I have fun spending time with the people who cared enough about me to forgive me for being so, well, mean to them. One of them is a woman I work with at American Gym. Another is her best friend. I have to admit, I never had real friends before. This is the first time I’ve truly trusted my friends and realized they trust me. And though I’ve been away with Mama for six months, I’m looking forward to shopping with them, working out, running, and playing tennis with them, going to the movies and to dinner with them, that kind of thing.
And while I’m at the San Diego beach house with my dad, I hope to do some bodysurfing and running on the beach.
3.What do you put off doing because you dread it?
I can’t say I actually dread them, but I certainly don’t look forward to my twice-daily insulin injections. I’m diabetic, and I do actually procrastinate a little sometimes in getting something to eat and then taking my shots. But there’s no avoiding it—just something that has to be done. Plenty of people have worse trials in life.
4.What are you afraid of most in life?
Death is pretty scary. I watched my mother die, and I know she suffered a lot near the end. I’m not afraid of what will happen after I die, not anymore. But the actual process of dying is still fresh in my mind.
I’m also afraid my mother didn’t “get it” about Jesus before she died. I can’t know for sure. And I can’t seem to get my father to soften about it, either. So I’m afraid for them.
5.What do you want out of life?
I want to feel I’ve contributed something good to other people’s lives, and it would be very cool to know about it. And I’d like a family of my own—a husband and children. I enjoy what I do for a living (personal trainer), so I’d like to be able to continue that. And I want to build on my friendships and never give them up, even after marrying and having kids.
6.What is the most important thing to you?
Reserving judgment. I’ve been on both sides of misguided judgment, and I’m learning how important it is to wait. Consider that everyone you meet comes from a different history than yours. They may not be what you think they should be, but looking down your nose at a person will never encourage them to be better.
7.Do you have a love interest? If so, tell us about him. If not, why not?
I haven’t been involved with anyone since Mama got sick, so no, no love interest. But the week I returned home from staying with her in South Carolina, I ran into this adorable British guy. Twice. Then I learned why he looked familiar to me. He works with one of my new friends—he’s a teacher. And I made a horrible impression on him when I met him a couple of years ago. And I didn’t do much better this time. Still, one can dream.
8.If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I’d like tighter triceps. Hey, the rest of these answers are pretty deep. Allow me one shallow one.
9.Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?
Nope. Mama’s Yorkie, Boomer, is still kicking around, but he lives with my dad—keeps him company. If I get married and have kids, I’d like to eventually get them a dog. Something big, goofy, and lovable.
10.If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?
I wouldn’t go very far back. I’d go back and undo some of the awful things I did in my past. I know I’m a new creature (like a kid again!), but in the past I hurt people who are long gone from my life. I hurt quite a few of them. I don’t want to dwell on the things I did, but I’d like to go back and fix the hurts I inflicted.
