LINDA SHORT -- Up Close

-- Compiled by Torus Tammer, Photo by xxxx

* FAMILY STATUS: Married to the Rev. Dennis Short for 38 years.

* AGE: 57

* EDUCATION: Attended Chapman College, now Chapman University, as a

psychology and religion major

* EXPLAIN YOUR JOB IN 15 WORDS OR FEWER: Coordinate internal and external

communication and appointment scheduling, also maintain confidentiality

and provide clerical support

* YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT: Loving my husband more today than when I

married him and raising two incredible sons, who are wonderful husbands

and fathers

* PERSONAL MOTTO: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

* MOST HUMBLING MOMENT: Being present at the birth of our grandson

* YOUR GREATEST EXTRAVAGANCE: Clothes.

* MOST INFLUENTIAL BOOK YOU’VE READ: It’s difficult to choose. There have

been many throughout my life. Anne Morrow Lindberg’s “Gift from the Sea,”

Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way” and Richard J. Foster’s “Celebration

of Discipline” are a few special ones.

* WHAT CASSETTE OR COMPACT DISC IS IN YOUR CAR RIGHT NOW? WAVE Aid Five

and Renee Bondi’s “Strength for the Journey”

* YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION: I don’t consider people possessions,

but I have to say I treasure my family and friends.

* WHICH WORDS OR PHRASE DO YOU OVERUSE? Absolutely!

* WHAT CAN YOU COOK? Just about anything. I love to cook!

* A HABIT YOU WISH YOU COULD CONTROL: Filling my life with too much

activity and too many events

* THE COLLEGE MAJOR YOU ALMOST CHOSE: Sociology

* YOUR LAST CHARITABLE ACT: Taking clothes to Women Helping Women, a

Costa Mesa center dedicated to assisting women in transition

* AS A CHILD, WHAT DID SCHOOLMATES TEASE YOU ABOUT? I don’t remember

anything in particular.

* WHAT IS IN YOUR CAR TRUNK RIGHT NOW? Emergency preparedness kit, jumper

cables, clothes for Women Helping Women and snacks for the office

* THE FIRST THING THAT ATTRACTED YOU TO YOUR SPOUSE? His beautiful blue

eyes and great smile

* THE WORST IDEA YOU EVER HAD: Demanding that a 6-foot-tall juvenile

delinquent empty his pockets when I believed he had stolen items from the

inner-city Indianapolis Settlement House, where we lived and worked while

my husband was in seminary

* WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN VOTED IN HIGH SCHOOL: I received the Rotary

Citizen of the Year Award. My friends would probably have said I would

become a leader in my church.

* WHO ARE YOUR HEROES? Nan Hatch, a woman I worked with 30 years ago, and

Renee Bondi, a remarkably courageous and gifted singer

* FAVORITE ESCAPE FROM REALITY: Going to the beach

* ONE THING YOU WOULD CHANGE ABOUT THE WORLD IF YOU COULD: I would

encourage people to be more tolerant and less judgmental of ideas, people

and cultures different than their own.

* YOUR IDEA OF EXERCISE: Walking

* WHAT DO YOU DISLIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR APPEARANCE? My weight

* I HAVE A DREAM THAT: Someday soon people will learn to celebrate their

diversity, seek to understand one another’s perspectives and work

together to make life better for all people.

* PHONE OR ADDRESS WHERE PEOPLE CAN REACH YOU: (714) 593-4403