1) This song was originally offered to Aretha Franklin, who turned it down. What's the most recent thing that you said "no" to?

We were invited to join Ned's in-laws for Thanksgiving dinner. Because it would be too confusing for my mother and because she's 98 so I never know when her "last" holiday is going to be, I said that I would be cooking dinner for my mother instead, so we would not be able to come.
 

2) Two years later, Aretha recorded "Son of a Preacher Man." What's something you changed your mind about? 

When I graduated from high school, my plan was to become a nun.  I had my trunk packed and my plane ticket in hand to fly to St. Louis, where the motherhouse was. The nuns weren't sure I was ready, so encouraged me to wait six months and then decide.  After six months I decided I didn't really want to do that after all.  I often wonder what I would be doing now if I had gone ahead with my original plans.
 

4) If you ordered a "Son of a Preacher Man" in a bar, you'd get a cocktail made with peppermint schnapps, gin and lemonade. When did you last have lemonade? Was it just lemonade, or was it spiked with alcohol?

Whew.  I don't remember.  But whenever it was, it was just plain lemonade without alcohol.

5) Dusty had a thing for maps. She admired them artistically and enjoyed using them to take long car trips. Do you use printed maps? Or do you rely on technology, like GPS or Google Maps?

I used to be very good at reading maps.  Now I'm hopeless.  I use our GPS to get me somewhere I have never been before.

6) As a girl, she attended convent school. There, one of the nuns discouraged Dusty from performing, telling her that if she would do better to be a mother or a librarian. When you were growing up, did the adults in your world encourage your dreams?

Well, I didn't really have dreams but my father decided my life course (which included becoming a teacher, which I knew I did not want to be).  I just wanted to be a secretary, which I eventually became--and loved it.
  
7) That nun inspired Dusty's first major act of rebellion. In an attempt to make herself look less like a future librarian or housewife, she bleached her hair platinum blonde. In school, were you much of a rebel? Or did you conform to the expectations adults had of you?

Oh lord, I was so NOT a rebel!!!  I think that's the 11th commandment of Catholic girls' schools -- thou shall not become a rebel!

8) Early in her career, Dusty provided the entertainment at a family summer camp. She appeared on the bill with a clown, a fire-eater and a hypnotist. Have you ever been hypnotized?

No.  I've often wondered if I would be susceptible, but the fear of losing control would keep me from volunteering, if I ever had the opportunity.

9) Random question: Have you ever played matchmaker to your friends? If yes, did your efforts lead to romance?

Just once.  They are married now and their children are adults.  It wasn't so much "matchmaker" as "facilitator," as they had broken up and had not seen each other for a few years.  I made it possible for them to see each other again and the rest is history.