Meme: "an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture." Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Most of us know about the blog trend called Memes. As defined above, a meme is the essence of viral community. By the way, meme is also French for "same."

If you didn't know, a Meme is an open call to others for a list or poem or story that reveals something about you. Topics vary. Likes and dislikes. Wonderful and horrible childhood moments. What makes you laugh, what makes you cry. Some Memes are about free association, like this one. 

Yes, it's a bit self-indulgent, but so is blogging. And what's wrong with a little personal marketing? Plus, it offers a glimpse inside the muse.

Here's the latest.

Ten Things About Me

1. In any public place --especially when I'm traveling-- I look at strangers and try to imagine what kind of lives they lead. Their jobs, families, customs, ideas. No matter how many people you know, it's staggering to think about how many people you don't know.

2. I'm a very good bridge player. I learned from my grandmother, who was a Life Master and taught us brilliantly. All my friends, from high school to college and beyond, learned to play killer bridge using "Granny's Rules."  This is especially strange given the next thing about me.

3. I'm totally deficient in math. It's not a 'girl thing' or a 'right brain thing.' I have an actual condition called "dyscalculia." Look it up. It's the numeric equivalent of dyslexia.

It also includes an inability to grasp spatial concepts. Or remember names. I can't solve 4th grade word problems. I transpose numbers unless I say them aloud. I misdial the telephone at least half the time. Oh yeah, and I can't play or follow chess.

4. When I hear a foreign language I can understand it. And if I learn a few key words I can speak it, not fluently, but enough to get around. I instinctively pick up cadence, pitch, emphasis, tone. So even my few words are spoken with an almost perfect accent.

Plus, when I'm with a group of people who speak differently, with Southern accents, for example, I start to speak that way, unconsciously. It amazes me, because I don't know how I do it, it's just there in my head.

5. I talk too much. (Ya think?) While I'm talking, I'll sometimes think to myself, 'You really should stop', but I keep going anyway. The upside is I usually have something to say. And people seem to like listening to me. Still, I need to learn how to STFU.

6. Except... I love speaking to crowds, of any size. Most people supposedly fear public speaking more than death. Not me. Family dinners, business presentations, weddings, even funerals ... give me an audience and stand back. I can think on my feet and come up with just the right words to grab and hold a crowd, connect with them, have them with me all the way. I'm not bragging. It's a gift and I treasure it.

7. I don't drink. No moral judgement, no turning up the nose. I simply don't like the taste of any kind of liquor. (Okay, an occasional beer, bloody mary or a light, lightly sweet German rose).

8. I have a thing about cooties. I don't want other people's anywhere near me. To be fair, I do have a disease called Lupus which compromises my immune system, so it makes practical sense. Still, I've always been this way. Honest, I'm not a clean freak or an obsessive-compulsive hand-washer. But it skeeves me out when someone sneezes or coughs near me, picks his nose, smells bad. You know what I mean.

9. I have pretty feet. Long, slender, nicely formed, high arched. People are always commenting on them. I don't have a special regimen, maybe some light toenail polish, that's it.

They've probably stayed so shapely and bunion-free because I never wear shoes that pinch or hurt, no matter how fashionable. Uh oh, that might get me kicked out of the SATC club. Oh, and here's the flip side: I can't stand even looking at, let alone touching, other people's feet. Go figure.

10. I'm incredibly superstitious. Even though I get that it's a control issue. Even though knocking on wood represents knocking on The Cross and I'm Jewish. Even though I know I can't make the Phillies win if I'm in front of the TV or lose if I'm not. I mostly keep this to myself. Sorry I brought it up here. Poo-poo-poo.

So that's 10 things about me perhaps you didn't know. And of course, you might not care. Regardless, memes are supposed to be posted on your blog. Then you tag other bloggers to do their own.

Consider yourself tagged. And Happy Birthday to everybody but Donald Birther Trump.