Let's get--Animated!

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Raise your hands, how many of you have ever been interviewed? Everyone, right? Each and very single person reading this, right?

Me, too. So I thought I'd heard all the questions there could possibly be--from the "where do you get your ideas" (which as we've discussed, I actually like) to "how do you juggle your time with all you have to do" (again, a good one) to "what does your office look like" (Again, okay, interesting, and I love to hear about other people's workspace) to "what's the most dangerous thing you've ever done."

It's rare you get a completely new question. And rare to get one that just--baffles me. But the other day, Jason from the Pikes Peak Writers Conference (where I'm keynoting in a month or so) was interviewing me..and asked: which cartoon character would friends say best describes you?

So thing is, at first glance, I thought, oh, easy, it's --uh. Um. Well, wait. What cartoon character?  And it not how I would describe myself, it's how I think friends would describe me.

Very, very complicated decision.

And it stopped me in my tracks. Because in order to decide, you have to figure out who you are, and how you behave, and really characterize (!) that.

Donald Duck, because I am such a bad driver? (Or was that Goofy?)  Not Bugs, even though he's funny and likes carrots, not Mr. Peabody even though I sometimes wear glasses and like history and would love to time travel, not Wilma Flintsone, even though I am a good cook and have a great husband. (Besides, I don't like asymmetrical dresses.)

 Who??  

Finally, after WAY too much thought, I picked Roadrunner. Because he's always on the move, right? And very very persistent.

So, still curious about this, I went to Facebook (of course) to actually ASK my friends which cartoon character I reminded them of. And I was--touched and amused, frankly, and still laughing at the results.

 There was a big contingent of Brenda Starr, and of Lois Lane. Makes sense, right, and I NEVER thought of them!  A few said "Cathy," which I love, and Veronica from Archie, ditto, and Jane Jetson, brilliant!

 There were votes for BOTH Daphne and Velma from Scooby Doo, which I embrace totally. Snoopy, someone said, because he knows things and is cool and is a writer. Thank you! And, from the "you gotta be kidding but thank you" department, Wonder Woman and Jessica Rabbit.  Only a few people---all dear friends--picked who I did: Roadrunner.

And I'm still going with that, even though I love the other choices..

So shall we describe each voter? Can you select a Red and her matching cartoon character? Or--which one would you pick for yourself?  (Hallie, I bet you'll choose Lucy from Peanuts.)  Reds readers, who would you think best reflects YOU?

HALLIE EPHRON: Oh, Hank, you own Jessica Rabbit.

And for me, Yes, I am at least two parts Lucy. Bossy. Opinionated. Betty from the Archie Comics -- the "good girl." Definitely. But my true soul mate is Elly Patterson in Lynn Johnston's comic strip FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE. I used to read her strips and think, she's been spying on my family.

HANK: OH, Hallie, you are such a perfect Lucy.

RHYS BOWEN: At one stage I identified strongly with the mother in Family Circus when I had four small kids. Not sure if I feel more like Charlie Brown or Linus sometimes. Maybe Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes because I had imaginary friends when I was little and I'm living in my imagination when the world around me wants to be practical and serious.

HANK: Rhys, that is so dear of you. This is not how I see you at all. You're more--Schroeder, if we're sticking with Peanuts. You're talented, and love music, and you are very very diligent and devoted. But okay, if you wanna be Calvin.


SUSAN ELIA MACNEAL: Daria.

(I can hear Reds asking, "Who the heck is Daria?"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daria

HANK: Oh, come on.  Daria looks cool, but you might just be having a grumpy cynical day, Dear Susan. 

                                 
   You seem more like--Dora. Right? Or maybe a combo of both.

DEBORAH CROMBIE:  This is so funny. I read the topic for today's post and immediately thought, "Roadrunner. I'm the Roadrunner." And when I read Hank's comments I cracked up. Hank, I do not see you as the Roadrunner!  You are Jessica Rabbit!  


And I loved Cathy so much that when I lived in the UK in the late 70s and early 80s, my mom used to clip the strip from the newspaper and send it to me. But, like you, I think my true soul mate is Elly Patterson.

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Hmmm. Sometimes I think of myself as being akin to Rick Redfern of Doonesbury - constantly bemused by his offspring and trying to find his way in the new, online-centric world of publishing. (And Hank, he's another reporter character. They seem to abound in the comic world!) However, I have had the chance to actually survey friends and family: my college roommate, her husband, her grown sons, daughter-in-law, and of course, Ross and Youngest. After a lively debate, they settled on Blossom from the Powerpuff Girls. Blossom is tough, motherly, and loves to read books (when she's not fighting villainy.) I like that a lot!

HANK: I'd love to have heard that debate, Julia! I bet it was...revealing.

LUCY BURDETTE: I admired Veronica, but rooted for Betty--that's me too, Hallie! And Lucy from Peanuts when she's in her advice-giving box. And Mr. Magoo if I can't find my glasses:). Great question Hank!

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Mr. Magoo! Love. But you guys are killing me with Jessica Rabbit. "I'm not bad, I was just drawn that way?"  And my chest has never looked like that. Not even close. (And I'm not, you know, sexy.)  But I did look her up, and I guess she was good, and loyal, and smart, and stood by her ma--I mean rabbit.  So, thank you. I'm standing by Roadrunner though.

And I must say this is pretty much the most fun blog I've ever chosen pictures for. If I had Hallie's neat program (and her skill), I would have put our heads on the characters. But you'll just have to imagine.


So, how about you all? Did we get ourselves right? And which character is YOU?