High School Teacher Seeks Inner Beauty, Full of Grace

I caught up with Mark Gothard at  in Montrose while noshing on my all-time favorite Italian sub. It was a truly beautiful day in the town center and it was just about to get better. This self-proclaimed folk-rock musician and Princeton scholar (they do exist!) makes his living as a high school history teacher. And even this wandering free spirit, who has lived in, what else, a tree, has had his fair share of psycho, sometimes knife-wielding, ex-girlfriends. 

Name: Mark Gothard

Age: 39

Occupation: Teacher/Musician

Current Location: Al’s Italian American Delicatessen on Honolulu Avenue

Relationship Status: Single

Interested In: An honest angel … who doesn’t carry a knife.

What’s your deal, Mark? Talk to me.

Well, I have had quite the traveling lifestyle and have finally settled here. Once, I actually lived in a literal tree house. It was a house built on and around a redwood tree in Northern California. 

Running water?

Yes, and a small propane tank. It had a little shower you would crawl into. It was so cool. I mean, I wrote some great songs in that place. I was getting over a relationship at the time. I kind of wanted to disappear.

Was it your first ?

Basically, yes. I was all messed up after that. I didn’t know what to do so I moved into a tree house. I have lived in Boston, D.C., New York, Wyoming and now Los Angeles. I grew up here, though. I liked to travel and took some time off school.

Where did you study?

Princeton.

Fancy. 

Fancy? 

Yeah. They probably don’t use those ghetto words at Princeton, huh?

Fancy shmancy.

Thanks for making me feel better. 

I studied political science. I have my degree in politics.

Did you want to be a politician then?

No. I actually hate politics. But, I wanted to be a professor in political theory. So, it was either that or music. I chose music.

Which obviously pays more. 

Right.

That was sarcasm.

Oh, ok. Got it. 

So, you’re like really smart. Do you have an album?

I have four independent CD’s released. I have a new single called  “Perfectly Imperfect.”

Do you date a lot?

Not a lot. 

Because…?

Lazy. I haven’t actively started dating since I got out of a relationship a few years ago. 

Are you on any dating sites? 

No. I would though. I think it’s time. 

You just never know how you will meet “the one.” I met my husband by bumping into him on a street. So, I am a serious believer that when you are open to love, it will find its way to you no matter what the obstacle.

Wow!

Sorry. I totally went on a “me” tangent. What are the top three qualities you look for in a woman? 

I would say honesty and beauty. And not necessarily outward beauty, just a beautiful person. I would also choose humility.

Oh, that is a good one.

Maybe this is just me, but it seems like a lot of women don’t have a lot of grace. And this may be off, but I heard Gwyneth Paltrow once say that women have no grace. She is probably my ideal girl. Women will go right for the jugular in a fight. Men will more scoot around the issue.

So, by humility, you mean grace.

Yeah. I think that’s what I’m trying to say. It could be an L.A. thing.

Do you have a nightmare dating story?

Well, my previous relationship was pretty nightmarish. She pulled a knife on me one time.

Whoa! That’s intense. What did you do? 

Nothing. She was nuts.

You don’t strike me as the type of guy that someone would pull a knife on. Good grief, we women can be crazy. What are your favorite places to hang out in Montrose?

I like over here when it’s not too crowded and I like to eat at the . I like SideBar in Glendale, too.

What’s your ideal date? 

Going out for drinks is good. It’s an easy way to get to know someone.

Are you looking to settle down or are you still living the gypsy lifestyle?

I definitely want to settle down now. I teach high school U.S History and have a settled life.

Gosh. What are teenagers like these days?

They don’t pay attention. They just think they’re going to grow up and be rock stars.

I can’t believe you just said that. 

Me either.

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