Family Interviews: Pt. 2

On a cool evening in December, This Reporter sat down with Asher, the eldest of the McKibben children to talk about life, moving, life lessons, and good jokes. Asher is quiet and introspective, but freely shares what he knows and what the thinks if prompted. He will focus for hours on tasks that involve being creative; legos, paper airplanes, models and rockets. Asher readily admits that he gets the most pleasure from building the rockets, firing them off is Dad's job.

We relax in the upstairs office where Asher spends many hours on lego.com and doing homework.

TR: Thanks for sitting down with This Reporter and answering some deeply personal questions.

AM: OK...what reporter?

TR: This one. Anyway, so how's the 3rd grade?

AM: It's pretty advanced. We have to complete a lot of work on our own and it took a while for me to get used to it.

TR: Lets see how advanced you've become, here is a math question: A train leaves L.A. at 3:30 PM, traveling east at an average speed of 65 MPH. Another train leaves Chicago at 1:34 PM traveling west at an average speed of 45 MPH. Taking into account the time zones, what size shoe does the 1st conductor wear?

AM: What the heck..?

TR: nevermind. What advice would you give a 1st or 2nd grader?

AM: Do your best, be yourself.

TR: Sounds like great advice. I'm sure that helped you out when you were moving to Temecula and starting a new school. How do you like Temecula thus far?

AM: It's pretty good. It is a pretty place with mountains and cool buildings.

TR: Was the move hard?

AM: It wasn't hard. it feels fine here. Even though 22 hours in a car wasn't fun, it wasn't hard.

TR: You've lived in 4 cities in 8 years. Do you see that as a positive or a negative?

AM: I know what you are saying, but I have no idea. I miss my friends in Waxahachie and Waco, but I like living here near the ocean and legoland. I think that if I make it a positive it will be. I am moving back to Texas after college, probably to live in Rockwall or somewhere near there. But that is after I go to UCSD. (University of California - San Diego)

TR: Wow, UCSD? What are you going to major in?

AM: Probably Astronomy, because it is facinating. I might also dabble in Engineering.

TR: Do you have a nickname?


AM: No.

TR: Want One? Let's pick a good one for you...how about, SKIPPY?

AM: Skippy? NO!

TR: OK, how about "The Black Mamba"?

AM: seriously?

TR: Sure. Think about it. You are 30, and about to give a presentation to the National Academy of Science or somthing and the guy introducing you says "And here to present his paper on The Effects of Black Matter on Everyday Household Appliances is Doctor Asher "THE BLACK MAMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" MCKIBBEN!!! MCKIBBEN!!!" And you walk out
to the podium wearing a satin cape with "Back in Black" blaring.

AM: wow. just...wow.

TR: What's your favorite Bible Verse?

AM: "I Can do all things through Christ who gives me strength". Because it says that I can do anything that I set my mind too, as long as it is what God wants; it reminds me to do my best with God's help. When I get really confused on an assignment or stutter badly, I remember that verse.

TR: Awesome. What is the biggest life lesson you've learned in these last eight years?

AM: "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar". It means that it doesn't do any good to yell at Emery.

TR: What is your favorite book?

AM: "A to Z Mysteries: The School Skeleton".

TR: Know any good jokes?

AM: What type of weapon does the Army use for Christmas? Missle-Toe!

TR: I said good jokes...

AM: You know, that doesn't exactly build up my self esteem.


Post Script:
Asher is very good at hearing a song and being able to replicate it. It started by using his sister's toy guitar. On Christmas morning, he turned on the keyboard he and Em received, and started picking out a tune. I recognized it as the begining to a Coldplay song. A couple of days after Christmas, I was watching football, when I heard someone playing the begining to Fur Elise by Beethoven over and over and over (the keyboard plays pre programed music as well). I, as a father watching football will do, suggested that who ever was playing the song either play the whole song or turn the durn piano off. Asher replied "I haven't figured out the whole song yet". So, after apologizing, I shot this video. Please to enjoy, Asher teaching himself Beethoven....