20 Questions, and Their Answers

As Paula suggested, I copied and pasted the twenty questions that she posted, and I answered all of them, right here! 

Begin the Paste:

what’s the most dangerous situation you have ever been in?

Probably involved driving, whether I was aware of it or not. Too many to catalog. I can think of a handful of incidents where I lived through them only because of my own reflexive actions--dangerous because in these situations, things unfolded so fast that I felt like big doses of luck were necessary, which is always dangerous since luck comes and goes as it will.

• what’s your favorite culture?

California Hippy c. 1968.  Based only on how I always felt comfortable around its adherents, even though I never felt like I really fit in.

• what do you dislike about your own culture?

Ridiculous technological bullshit that actually makes things more difficult instead of easier, or that seems to rub the wrong way against normal human nature. Specifically, the "call-tree" such as the ones you encounter when calling almost any large company or utility, nowadays, and all attempts by corporations to replace human beings with computers.

• your favorite type of travel?

Driving.  Road trips.

• do you feel understood?

Generally, with the exception of a few people and dogs/cats. Once, I was pretty sure this squirrel had my number.

• how do you feel about your body?

As I age, I realize why humanity has chosen to fantasize about an afterlife without bodies.

• what is your favorite film?

That's just too difficult to answer.

• are you adventurous with food?

No, except when making French toast, where I sometimes throw in extra nutmeg and vanilla.

• have you ever hated a place and wanted to come home?

Yes. I lived in Oklahoma City for two years.

• are you bothered about others seeing you naked?

I don't remember. Kidding!  Not much, unless, you know, I wake up walking down Main Street.

• Are you a good loser?

I don't remember. Again!  Kidding!  I'd say, yes, because I've had so much practice. OK, no. But I'm getting better at it as I came to realize that it happens much more often than I fool myself into thinking.

• what was the favorite time of your life?

When I was in college and brain was wide awake and I had lots of comrades, and then the years I was married, raising my kid when things were busy, yet simple at the same time so that I was always pretty sure I was doing what I was supposed to be doing and, in both cases, was very happy!

• Do you have a close family connection?

Not really.

• can you speak another language?

– No.

• will Trump be in for another term?

Good question.

• what are your thoughts on English people?

They don't always write proper English, but I can usually tell what they mean. (Do you know how many times I had to delete the "u" in "favourite" so far, while fixing this paste??)  Seriously I only actually knew one English person really well, and she was a beautiful, kind, empathetic, and strong person, so I'll go with that angle.

• was life better without mobile phones?

There are so many things about the cell phone culture that are annoying, it's tempting to say, yes. But we are now more connected-- so we are safer? More efficient?  Happier? -- though it seems like life was a little better when we weren't so damned connected all the time.

• what has been the biggest change in your life?

Lately, it has been the death of my wife and my becoming suddenly alone for the first time since the 80s. Before that, it was retirement, which is taking a remarkably long time for me to process as well.

• is climate change real?

Duh, is the correct response. Why is this a question?

• why do you like answering questions?

Usually no one cares what I think, and here, there is no one to interrupt me.