When I was a kid, I wanted to ... be an astronaut. I watched the early space program on TV and thought that would be the best job in the world. Even though there were no women in the space program at that time, my dad assured me it could happen one day. He was not so encouraging about women in the ministry, though.

What would you rather be doing right now? Lying on a beach in Hawaii, reading my book.

Shhhhhh! Don't tell anyone that ... I've lived in seven states and 21 different cities from California to Maine.

What was your proudest moment? Soloing in a Cessna 150 (that's a small airplane for those who are not aeronautically inclined). Unfortunately, that's as close as I got to space travel, but it was pretty cool.

It really stinks when ... people think money is more important than people.

What word in the dictionary would your face be next to? Loud.

I always laugh when ... my grandchildren laugh. No matter how I feel, it's contagious.

Invite any three people, living or dead, to dinner. Who are they? Jesus, Buddha and Mohammad. Now, let's talk religion.

At the end of a really long day at work, I like to ... sit in my comfy chair and either read a book or do a puzzle.

People who knew me in high school thought I was ... dramatic. I was voted "most talented," but it was a pretty small high school.

My most unforgettable brush with greatness was ... in junior high school when I sat in front of David Cassidy in Spanish class. He copied off me.

I would drop all my plans tonight if I had the chance to ... take a ride on the space shuttle.

If someone gave me a million dollars, there is still no way ... I would ever live in the state of Maine again.

America should be more concerned about ... caring for children. If we could just spend one generation making sure all children are well cared for and educated, we could solve the majority of the world's problems.

I'm OK if there's ever a national shortage of ... books. They seem to multiply, or maybe I just can't pass up a good book sale. I've got enough books to keep me reading for a few years. Don't know what I'll do after that, though. Probably better hit the next book sale, just to be on the safe side.

What place in the world would you most like to visit? Outer Mongolia. I've been reading a book about it, and the people there are incredibly gracious. I don't know anyone who's been there, so it would be a new adventure.

What is the most useful piece of advice you have ever received? When I was a kid, I once spent a week learning all the verses for a hymn the children's choir was singing -- then they changed it to another song. My dad assured me that nothing learned is ever wasted. He was right.

When I'm cruising down the road, I'm likely listening to ... audiobooks.

I always get sentimental when ... I'm singing the hymns from my childhood. I even know all the verses to some of them. And when I'm not listening to audiobooks in the car, I'm probably singing an old hymn.

The older I get, the more I realize ... my body is older than my mind. I may be 59, but I still think like a teenager.

If I had one "do-over," I would ... have started the ministry process much, much sooner. God called me when I was just a little kid, but it took 40 years for me to do anything about it.

My favorite item of clothing is ... a pair of blue flip-flops. They're about 20 years old and pretty worn out, and everyone tells me I should throw them away. Over my dead body, I say! (Actually that's probably what will happen as they're not too safe. I was wearing them when I broke my leg a few years ago. Who knows what the next accident will bring?)

If I've learned anything at all ... it's that there will always be enough money, so stop worrying about it.

Pat Caley, 59, says it's easy to remember her age since she was born in 1950. She is the director of Christian education and outreach at Luther Memorial Church. She says she's rostered in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America as an associate in ministry, but she says the sign over the door to her office says "Director of Optimism." Before going to the seminary, she spent 25 years working for the Social Security Administration. She's also a grandmother.