Jessie: In Northern New England where the bulbs are beginning to poke up through the still cold earth.
Historically, artists of all sorts have often been considered unconventional. Writers are no exception. Wickeds, do you have any eccentricities that might look a bit strange to others?
Julie: Likely. I worked with performing artists for a number of years, and their joy of expression wore off on me. I wear expressive earrings, red lipstick, and quote show tune lyrics on a dime. I also think about how to kill people all the time, which I suspect is only normal for crime writers and sociopaths, so there’s that. PS, bring on the eccentrics. I hope I am thought of as slightly eccentric long after I’m gone.
Edith/Maddie: Like Julie, I love talking poison and unusual murder methods over dinner! Unusual for many women, I’ve never died my hair – until recent years, when I started adding a turquoise streak to my natural silver on one side. When I take my daily walk, I tend to talk out loud about my plot, and I no longer worry if locals are watching me and worrying. I also hope I’m remembered for my eccentricities.
Barb: “I am a perfectly normal person,” I always say of myself. I have no idea why friends and family members find this amusing.
Sherry: What? Me? No! Like Barb, I’m perfectly normal. It’s the rest of you who are eccentric. Okay, so my family may be afraid to sit in “my spot” on the couch or at the dining room table, but it’s all right — really, as long as I’m not home.
Liz: LOL this is the best question ever. Pretty much everyone thinks I’m weird, so there’s that. Many people raise their eyebrows when I talk about my crystals or how attached I am to my dogs (I have more separation anxiety than they do). And there is the talking about murder all the time. I accidentally told a new friend about the true crime podcast Park Predators when she told me she likes camping and she was mortified…
Jessie: Liz, I can totally imagine giving a podcast recommendation like that myself! There are a couple of things others may find a bit eccentric about me. I am completely convinced that I’ve heard a voice in my ear telling me what to do in times of crisis that has saved either my life or my lifestyle on several occasions. On a lighter note, I eat popcorn with chopsticks. It keeps my fingers from becoming greasy and it makes each morsel a thing to savor. I still cannot understand why people who visit are shocked when I offer them a pair of chopsticks to use with their bowl of popcorn!
Readers, do you have any eccentricities?
The Wickeds 
I have a thing about labels. I don’t want to see them, especially towels.
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I don’t like those either!
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Think everyone has some eccentricities whether they will admit to them or not. As for me, I’m proud of mine. Folks think hubby and I as slightly strange in our we felt about our precious furbaby. He was not a dog, but a family member that desired to be treated that way. That’s why he is so terribly missed now that he’s crossed the rainbow bridge. Folks say just get another one. How do you just get someone to replace your son or cousin? That’s how we feel about our little boy in a fur suit.
Nowadays I think we are looked at as strange for using and requesting manners and things that use to be called common courtesy. Let them consider us eccentric if they wish, I refuse to change.
As I’ve gotten older, it may seen eccentric not to be willing to cut my hair (maybe it’s the way too short of haircuts I got as a child after my first real haircut when the doctor said my heavy hair was causing me to pass out), not willing to rush into a purchase (especially if it means going into debt), and I’m not afraid of saying “Yes that is MY chair!” (as it’s a need more so than a want). I am eccentric when it comes to bells. Well, there really is not ever too many bells is there! The bigger the better the tone (and naturally more costly) and to display them means hiring someone to make a tower for them. Hubby may have more to mow around, but don’t they look gorgeous and sound magnificent!
I could go on, but just say I’m odd to some, strange to others, but I’m comfortable within my own skin. Isn’t that what we all strive to achieve? It’s only taken me 70+ years to get there. It’s also had me seeing the beauty in others eccentricities and to admire what makes them be who they are. Call them strange, odd or different – aren’t we all!
2clowns at arkansas dot net
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I heartily agree! Aren’t we all!
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Eccentric? Me? What ever do you mean?
Now that it’s Easter and jelly bean season, I realized I must eat them in pairs and they must match in color. Weird.
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Now that is a fun quirk!
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Jessie, chopsticks for popcorn is brilliant! I’m perfectly normal unless someone sits in my couch spot.
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I am delighted to hear that you think so!
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For Julie’s answer: I don’t quote show tune lyrics but I love when I get to use quotes from the TV show Firefly in regular life. One time I got to use one and I was so excited that it was possible and perfectly fitting, that I had to contact a fellow Firefly fan and tell them that I got to use the line.
Also, I wouldn’t say I think about killing people all the time but I think all of us think that when someone really ticks us off.
For Sherry’s answer: Guess we know which Big Bang Theory character she would be now.
For Edith’s answer: I don’t talk about poisons and such over dinner but growing up my brother and I could do whole bits from George Carlin routines and we’d do them at the dinner table. My mother hated it and didn’t want us to do it but she undercut herself by laughing as we did it.
For Barb’s answer: I don’t think I’m normal but I am pretty boring. I find I don’t typically care about the “regular” things that everyone else seems to obsess over. When everyone else was freaking out over the 10 week lockdown at the start of the pandemic, it was like Christmas every day for me. Essentially given permission to tell people to stay the hell away from me? Big Government was like Santa Claus in my eyes.
For Liz’s answer: Well, honestly, she has me stumped. While I do love dogs, I don’t own one anymore and don’t want to get another and I can’t think of anything that I’m so attached to that I would suggest I am anxious when I’m away from it.
For Jessie’s answer: Popcorn with chopsticks? Okay, that’s definitely the most eccentric thing on today’s list. What kind of crazy is that? You say you want to avoid greasy fingers. Does that mean you are one of those barbarians that puts butter on their popcorn? 😀
As for me, I have no idea what might be considered my eccentric qualities. I’m sure I have them to say the least but nothing pops up in my mind. I’m way more in tune with just being cranky and grumpy beyond my years.
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Jay, I love that you had an opportunity to wheel out the perfect quote! What a delicious memory that must be! As to my barbarianism, I will admit that butter is entirely the point of popcorn:)
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Eccentric people make life interesting! It pretty boring, but I do spend the warmer months getting around town on my electric scooter. It’s fun and I love the money I save on gas!
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My mother had a scooter! I loved taking it out for a spin so I can absolutely understand why you would enjoy yours! The sights, the sounds, the savings!
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Oh, love the chopsticks thing. I’ll have to get some American ones though – mine are Japanese and lacquered. Could be a problem with sliding. Of course, I could stab them little kernels.
Don’t know why anyone would think I’m eccentric. I talk to my critters and I’m an empath who sees auras. Doesn’t everyone? I also have a significant crystal collection. It’s all good.
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Auras are such a fascinating topic! As to the chopsticks, I find that any in our collection can be used, from cheap unfinished ones to plastic to beautifully lacquered, they all seem to work well.
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I’ve said for many, many years that someday I wanted to be an eccentric old lady. I have succeeded! Mainly I don’t care what people think of me (because I doubt if they do anyway). And if they laugh at me, that’s OK because it be the only time they laugh all day.
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What a fun attitude!
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I’m a Disney loving, murder mystery reading accountant who also enjoys mud runs, playing ultimate Frisbee, and paddle boarding. Nope, I’m not eccentric at all. I’m completely normal.
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You sound normal to me, Mark!
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I have a spot and so does my Pug Max it is completely normal. Thank you it was fun.
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My do and I have our own spots too!
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I completely relate to Kay’s feelings about her dog. I love almost all dogs but couldn’t replace my girl who has been gone almost 10 years.
However, I do tend to have full blown conversations with my friend’s dog and she barks back her responses. At least that’s what I tell my friend. aprilbluetx at yahoo dot com
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I am sure that is exactly what is happening!
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Well, I have always said that I am weird and that is okay. But if you are strange that is a whole different area. Our dog is our dogter (daughter) and our life. Life would not be good nor would the house without a wonderful dog in it. Ours is so smart that she understands complete sentences and instructions and does so many tricks. Amazing!
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