Interview Questions from N8an..(somewhat overdue, I'm afraid)
1. You have to give up being able to see one colour, or feeling one sensation, or smelling one odour, or tasting one flavour, or hearing one sound - but in return, you'd gain the ability to share that one same sense of another person, whenever you'd like (ie: see out of a stranger's eyes, listen to what a baby is hearing on the other side of the globe, taste what Jamie Oliver is sampling on a live show, etc). What would you give up (it has to be something you at least like - no fair giving up the sense of pain) and what would you 'share' first, and with whom?
This is a complicated question and I'm not sure I have the parameters correct, but, here goes. I'm not sure I know what I would have to give up-- but having recently nursed two children.. The feeling I would want to share is the sense of nurturing one gets/gives when nursing-- that total bond comfort and tactile love that requires no words. I would have to give up HAVING had that experience-- but I would like to be able to experience it again through my daughter(s) when they are new mothers. A sort of second dimensional love. I can't imagine knowing that amazing purity of feeling and having it transcend to a grandchild. That would be a bittersweet trade off-- but as I age and head into more generative years-- it would be a sense of connection I would treasure.
2. You gain a temporal message in a bottle. What would you write, and to when would you send the bottle? You have no control over who finds it, only where you leave it and what is inside.
Wow, ... I could be entirely selfish and send the bottle to myself with the gained wisdom of my years -- but-- I wouldn't have know what to do with it, I'm afraid. I would prefer to send it to someone who could make a world of difference, if only it were for a bit of knowledge. But, who? When/where in history could a message have made the most difference? I would want to try and avert the most suffering. Perhaps send a message to indigenous Africans or Native American Indians--"Don't trust the White Man they will destroy you and your native ways??" That's one idea. Then the possibility of averting World Wars... with a few words?? I'm not that good, I'm afraid. I imagine sending a message to ancient times and trying to thwart the beginnings of strife and conflict in the Middle East. That seems to have been a country with enduring suffering. I would try to impart wisdom not unlike the U.S. constitutional rights and set the tone by stating that with respect and equality--for ALL peace can/must be found.
3. If you could attend a lecture given by any one person - who would it be, and what would it be about?
I would like to attend a lecture given by Gandhi. It would be about strength of character and finding the inner resources to remain true to your most challenging principles. About leading others by being your ideals... not imposing them.
4. What one skill do you wish you had learned?
I would LOVE to have mastered the Piano. I was given violin lessons as a child and I would have liked to play piano instead. I tinker and dabble-- but not able to read music (I was taught Suzuki Method which stresses HEARING rather than reading music for beginners. I read some wonderful passages in "Limbo" by A. Manette Ansay (author of Vinegar Hill- which I have not read) which told a story of her struggle to play despite a physical handicap. The feeling she described reminded me of the feelings I have-- yearning to meld with the music-- wanting desperately the mastery-- the being being so good it would allow a symbiotic creative process. For the playing and the music to merge in a powerfully internal way.
5. On Halloween night, any one person who has died can come to a dinner you're throwing. Who would you have visit, and would it be a table for two?
The only really unresolved questions I would have for anyone deceased I know would be for my biological father. I could choose someone brilliant or famous-- but what would we have to talk about that I could rise to the level of?? On the other hand... I never knew my father when he was alive... what would I have to gain by meeting him posthumously? Nothing, really. I would chose then, to be entertained, Maybe Harry Houdini... since he was so intent on coming back to communicate. See what HE had to say. No... to what end. The other possibilities would likely be to impart compassion. I think it would be very interesting to meet John Merrick. (The Elephant Man) He preceded so much of medicine (surgical) that could have helped him (breathe even) I would like to have heard what was in his heart. He has been portrayed as kind and intelligent. Don't know why his name popped up??? Why not Jesus?? I'm not really a religious person. Most of what he had to say is being passed on, and on , and on... I would want to meet/speak to the "silenced" ones. Merrick just came to mind. Odd choice, though, I admit.
This is a complicated question and I'm not sure I have the parameters correct, but, here goes. I'm not sure I know what I would have to give up-- but having recently nursed two children.. The feeling I would want to share is the sense of nurturing one gets/gives when nursing-- that total bond comfort and tactile love that requires no words. I would have to give up HAVING had that experience-- but I would like to be able to experience it again through my daughter(s) when they are new mothers. A sort of second dimensional love. I can't imagine knowing that amazing purity of feeling and having it transcend to a grandchild. That would be a bittersweet trade off-- but as I age and head into more generative years-- it would be a sense of connection I would treasure.
2. You gain a temporal message in a bottle. What would you write, and to when would you send the bottle? You have no control over who finds it, only where you leave it and what is inside.
Wow, ... I could be entirely selfish and send the bottle to myself with the gained wisdom of my years -- but-- I wouldn't have know what to do with it, I'm afraid. I would prefer to send it to someone who could make a world of difference, if only it were for a bit of knowledge. But, who? When/where in history could a message have made the most difference? I would want to try and avert the most suffering. Perhaps send a message to indigenous Africans or Native American Indians--"Don't trust the White Man they will destroy you and your native ways??" That's one idea. Then the possibility of averting World Wars... with a few words?? I'm not that good, I'm afraid. I imagine sending a message to ancient times and trying to thwart the beginnings of strife and conflict in the Middle East. That seems to have been a country with enduring suffering. I would try to impart wisdom not unlike the U.S. constitutional rights and set the tone by stating that with respect and equality--for ALL peace can/must be found.
3. If you could attend a lecture given by any one person - who would it be, and what would it be about?
I would like to attend a lecture given by Gandhi. It would be about strength of character and finding the inner resources to remain true to your most challenging principles. About leading others by being your ideals... not imposing them.
4. What one skill do you wish you had learned?
I would LOVE to have mastered the Piano. I was given violin lessons as a child and I would have liked to play piano instead. I tinker and dabble-- but not able to read music (I was taught Suzuki Method which stresses HEARING rather than reading music for beginners. I read some wonderful passages in "Limbo" by A. Manette Ansay (author of Vinegar Hill- which I have not read) which told a story of her struggle to play despite a physical handicap. The feeling she described reminded me of the feelings I have-- yearning to meld with the music-- wanting desperately the mastery-- the being being so good it would allow a symbiotic creative process. For the playing and the music to merge in a powerfully internal way.
5. On Halloween night, any one person who has died can come to a dinner you're throwing. Who would you have visit, and would it be a table for two?
The only really unresolved questions I would have for anyone deceased I know would be for my biological father. I could choose someone brilliant or famous-- but what would we have to talk about that I could rise to the level of?? On the other hand... I never knew my father when he was alive... what would I have to gain by meeting him posthumously? Nothing, really. I would chose then, to be entertained, Maybe Harry Houdini... since he was so intent on coming back to communicate. See what HE had to say. No... to what end. The other possibilities would likely be to impart compassion. I think it would be very interesting to meet John Merrick. (The Elephant Man) He preceded so much of medicine (surgical) that could have helped him (breathe even) I would like to have heard what was in his heart. He has been portrayed as kind and intelligent. Don't know why his name popped up??? Why not Jesus?? I'm not really a religious person. Most of what he had to say is being passed on, and on , and on... I would want to meet/speak to the "silenced" ones. Merrick just came to mind. Odd choice, though, I admit.