Heroine Interview from Illinois Weddings by Becky Melby

» Posted on Sep 14, 2011 in Blog | Comments Off on Heroine Interview from Illinois Weddings by Becky Melby

This week I’m hosting Sandra Orchard with Deep Cover, Becky Melby with Illinois Weddings, Mary Moore with The Aristocrat’s Lady and Staci Stallings with Coming Undone. If you want to enter the drawings for the books, please leave a comment on one of the post during the week 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 (September 18th) evening.

Interview with the heroine from Illinois Weddings by Becky Melby:

1. Ruby, tell us about yourself.

Ruby Cholewinski. I’m 63 and I still own the bakery in Galena, IL my husband and I started four decades ago. My only daughter just got married—finally! This is the first time in 47 years I haven’t had to worry about taking care of someone else. Now it’s just me . . . and Jesus. I think this calls for a celebration, don’t you?

2.  What do you do for fun?

I’ve never really allowed myself to ask this question until now. But knowing how little time I have left, I intend to change that. Think I’ll start by brushing the dust off my ice skates and taking a spin on the river—just me and Jesus. But wait . . . what’s that man doing here and how did he get my keys? 

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

Going to the doctor. I know what’s wrong, but hearing him say it will make it all too real.

4.  What are you afraid of most in life?

At my age, and after all I’ve lived through, I’m not afraid of much. God has a way of working things out. He did it when my daughter disappeared and again when my husband died. I know he’s got a plan for this thing I don’t want to go to the doctor about, too. I guess I’m afraid my daughter Jeanie and Angel, my granddaughter, won’t figure that out soon enough.

5.  What do you want out of life?

More of it. But if I can’t have that, I’ll be happy with filling it with loving my family and experiencing things that make me feel more alive than ever.

6.  What is the most important thing to you?

My Lord—and knowing that Jeanie and Angel are walking closely with him.

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

I know it’s corny to say the Bible’s my favorite book, but when you grow up in a country where you’re not allowed to own one, you realize just how precious it is. I will admit, however, that I relish a good wholesome romance once in awhile. Funny that a woman my age still enjoys love stories, but then, you’re really never too old to fall in love. Speaking of that, do you think I’m crazy for getting in that pickup with my new son-in-law’s best man? I’ve never seen eyes quite that shade of blue . . . .

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

I wish it hadn’t taken something like this to make me start savoring every moment and purposefully trying to fill each day with as much joy as I can.

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

I guess you could say Sunny, my granddaughter’s golden retriever, belongs to all three generations of Cholewinski women. I love it when he’s at my house. There’s something so secure and relaxing about a big dog sleeping in a patch of sunshine. Sunny’s good for business, too. When he takes his post by Angel Wing’s front door, the kids come running and then their mamas come in and buy chocolate covered donuts and chruscik.

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

I would love to experience Poland the way my parents did before the war. As a little girl I was fascinated by their stories of dressing up for the opera, or going to concerts or the museum. I was a teenager when I came to America with my new husband. What a joy it would be to visit my homeland the way it was before I knew it–without fear . . . or hunger.