Monday Q&A

1. If you could hire any actor in the world to play your character, Barry O’Shea, who might you choose and why?
I'd like to think about this one for some time.

2. What is the most fun thing you have ever done in your life?
There isn't any one thing. I testified before a US Senate Committee, as a youngster I played the President of the Oregon Senate for a day, I used to love rafting down fast moving rivers and I have some great memories of some of them, many of my trials were unforgettable experiences. I've served as a judge for a number of moot court trial by law students in interesting places, such as San Diego and Houston, I have arbitrated some very interesting disputes: These among the fun things that come to mind.


3. Are you more likely to spend your time thinking about the past, present or future?
I don't know the answer to this one. Dwelling on the past is often unproductive as you can't change it, but you can learn things. The present isn't something that interests me at my age, and the future is somewhat limited.

4. Do you have siblings? Are you the youngest, oldest, middle, only child, etc.? How did this affect your upbringing?
Yes, I have a son and two daughters. I'm an only child, which was not that unusual during the depression years. It certainly affected my upbringing, but it was offset by three of my cousins because my mother''s sister lived on the same street where we lived, and I sort of grew up as much at her house as mine. We all took summer vacations together at a beach house owned by my uncle, so I spent a lot of time with their children - two boys about my age and a younger girl.

5. Other than writing or law, what is something that you think you’re good at?
I was good at leading civic organizations. I was President of a number of them. I was good at golf, having a single digit handicap for most of my golfing life.