My answer to the newborn is a warning of the dark ride out here. Only in sign form at the end of the birth canal. I am stealing this from an old TV show with John Larraquette(sp). A show he did after Night Court and the setting was a bus or train station, I think.

I am most grateful for my suffering. I could not have raised myself, as an adult, without the suffering. I would still be an angry, hateful, miserable and utterly idiotic woman, without the suffering. My mother had taught me well. Thank God my father had instilled in me first!!!

“50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind (or Destroy it)”
by Marc Chernoff

"These questions have no right or wrong answers, because sometimes asking the right questions is the answer.

1. How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
2. Which is worse, failing or never trying?
3. If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?
4. When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?
5. What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?
6. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
7. Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?
8. If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?
9. To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?
10. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?
11. You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire. They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend. The criticism is distasteful and unjustified. What do you do?
12. If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?
13. Would you break the law to save a loved one?
14. Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?
15. What’s something you know you do differently than most people?
16. How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy?
17. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What’s holding you back?
18. Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?
19. If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?
20. Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?
21. Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?
22. Why are you, you?
23. Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?
24. Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?
25. What are you most grateful for?
26. Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?
27. Is is possible to know the truth without challenging it first?
28. Has your greatest fear ever come true?
29. Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset? Does it really matter now?
30. What is your happiest childhood memory? What makes it so special?
31. At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?
32. If not now, then when?
33. If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose?
34. Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?
35. Why do religions that support love cause so many wars?
36. Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?
37. If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job?
38. Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?
39. Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before?
40. When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in?
41. If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?
42. Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?
43. What is the difference between being alive and truly living?
44. When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right?
45. If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?
46. What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?
47. When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?
48. What do you love? Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love?
49. In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday? What about the day before that? Or the day before that?
50. Decisions are being made right now. The question is: Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?"

since NPP is taking a nap (he isn't feeling well today, his arthritis is really bad) I thought I would respond to the questions.
She Who Must Be Obeyed SWMBO


1. How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are? exactly the same age but not as worried about it
2. Which is worse, failing or never trying?Never trying is much worse.
3. If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do? Because it is had to separate the two, that is those things that must be done so we have time to do what we want, from those things that we don't need to do when we should take time to do what we want to do.
4. When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done? probably much more and most of it will be easily forgotten.
5. What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world? Eliminate permanently all those who intentionally harm children.
6. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich? Doing exactly what I do now, helping kids, loving friends and family and having lots of dogs in my life.
7. Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?
8. If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently? Not much differently, just faster.
9. To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken? Probably slightly more than half the time.
10. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?
11. You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire. They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend. The criticism is distasteful and unjustified. What do you do? Tell them to stop acting like catty bitches, and walk out.
12. If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be? A newborn cannot understand words, so I would just hug the child and rock the baby to sleep in my arms, what more could you tell the bay? That says I love you, that is all that is needed.
13. Would you break the law to save a loved one? Absolutely, as long as it did not cause major harm to someone else.
14. Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity? both are very closely connected, see one you probably see the other.
15. What’s something you know you do differently than most people? I think most people do not like to spend time alone with themselves, but that is one of my favorite things to do. Sit alone on the porch watch the wildlife and thank God for love and life .
16. How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy? Wouldn't that be boring if we all had the same likes and dislikes, and the same joy and sorrow?

17. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What’s holding you back? Can't think of anything
18. Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?Sadness for those I did not know were hurting until it was too late.

19. If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?
20. Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster? Yes, I do, and it does make the elevator SEEM to arrive sooner.
21. Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton? I am already a joyful simpleton might like to try the other for a while.
22. Why are you, you? More important, I thank God there are not two of me. NPP would never be able to cope.
23. Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend? most of the time

24. Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?loosing touch with a close to me friend because I was "too busy" to reach out when I should have.
25. What are you most grateful for? All that God has created.



26. Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones? newer be able to make new ones. 40 years ago I would have responded the other way.
27. Is is possible to know the truth without challenging it first? it is possible to think you know the truth but not to truly know it fully anytime in this life.
28. Has your greatest fear ever come true? No
29. Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset? Does it really matter now? No, but I do remember the time last October when NPP died on the operating table and had to be revived somehow I new it before being told by the doctor. that i will never forget.
30. What is your happiest childhood memory? What makes it so special? The first calf I helped my dad (a vet) pull from a cow. I had to get it breathing and that experience is one of my most joyful moments.
31. At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive? I almost always feel alive, each day, each new experience each smile from one of "our boys" The cartoon drawings that David (one of our boys) is so proud of.
32. If not now, then when?
33. If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose?
34. Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?
35. Why do religions that support love cause so many wars? The religions don't cause wars, peoples misinterpretation of God's word causes wars.
36. Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil? Not always
37. If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job? Not for one minute.
38. Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing? If I enjoy doing it, it is not work.
39. Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before? Sometimes
40. When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in?
41. If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today? Which ever one I thought was, at that time, most afraid or lonely.
42. Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous? I am attractive to NPP and the dogs, what more is needed?
43. What is the difference between being alive and truly living? JOY
44. When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right? Right now
45. If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake? Not all mistakes are learning moments, those I don't learn from are those that haunt me.
46. What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?
47. When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing? Last time I had pneumonia
48. What do you love? Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love? I don't know, you will have to ask those who remember.
49. In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday? What about the day before that? Or the day before that? not in the petty things, just in the things that bring peace to my soul.
50. Decisions are being made right now. The question is: Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?" about fifty fifty.

It was in response to QuestGirl. One of the simple pleasures in life is sitting together on the front porch, watching the deer (particular after the fawns arrive in June and July) and listening to pan flute's haunting tones mixed with the Carolina wren calls and the whisper of the leaves on the trees. When NPP needs to relax, no better way for us to do it. It does remind us that we both are at least slightly off normal, and proud of it.
Have a great day, and take a few minutes to relax with some pan flute music.

SWMBO