Sunshine Blogger Award

A huge thank you to thehappinessboxproject for nominating me for the Sunshine Blogger Award. 

The rules:

Awards are certainly flattering.  I also like having the opportunity to pass on the goodwill to those who actually take the time to read my drivel.  I will change the rules slightly for my own honorees:

1. You don't have to display anything you don't want to.
2. You don't have to pass on the award to others in order to accept it for yourself.  You are thoroughly deserving without having to jump through any hoops.
3. You also don't have to answer my questions, though I hope you will.  I am genuinely interested in your responses. 
4. Simply know that I am grateful for our blogosphere friendship.  

My nominees:

• Spacer Guy
• Andrew Leon
• angryparsnip
• Tony Laplume
• sage
• Susan Kane
• mshatch
• Birgit
• Kathy Leonia
• Tanza Erlambang
• natalia20041989 

My answers...
 
At the stage you are at in your life…what’s…your own personal definition of the word “Love?”

I've had an interesting year in the realms of love and friendship - way too interesting to dig into here.  Suffice to say, I've put a lot more thought into such questions than I have in a long time.  No scandal. Just complicated.  I'm a deeply lucky man and I've lived a very good life.

Love is commitment.  I have planned the past 21 years of my life around two women: my wife and daughter.  The rewards have been immeasurable.

Love is life narrative.  Sometimes we choose love.  Sometimes it chooses us.  I love a lot of people and have been well-loved in return.  There are people who haven't been a part of my daily life in decades who are still profoundly important to me.  It's been long enough that I know they always will be.  Sometimes it makes me sad that they live far away.  It would be easier not to miss them but I appreciate them as part of the broad tapestry that is me.  To take anything away is to deny myself.  They also encourage me to invest more in those who are a part of my daily life.

Love is devotion.  I have a cat who loves me completely and without condition.  That's a beautiful thing.


Would you entertain…you…10 years ago…now?

I'm not sure how different I was 10 years ago.  My daughter was 10 years younger which, of course, makes for a different parenting adventure.  I suppose I am more comfortable in my job, if not always exactly happier.  I worry about some things more, other things less.  Overall, I suppose I'm more content with who I am.

Entertain is an interesting choice of words.  I suppose he and I would be happy doing things together: watching a baseball game, playing cards, sitting and reading our own books.  Parallel play.  Yes, I suppose that would be entertaining.


Where’s the place…or places…you feel most at peace…at one with existence?

I am proud to say it: my own couch at home.  I suppose I could come up with sexier, more vacationy spots but Dorothy was dead on: there's no place like home.


If you could take a personal life lesson…then turn it into a quote that connected with and helped others…what would it be?

"Don't take yourself too seriously.  Nobody else does."


What’s your favourite smell?

Garlic cooking in olive oil.


What’s your favourite sound?

Honest, genuine laughter.  I have many loved ones with wonderful laughs.  My wife's is delightful.  My friend Mock's is both distinctive and infectious.  Back when we worked together, I could hear him coming from halfway down the hall, through a closed door.


At the stage you are at in your life…what’s…your own personal definition of the word “Success?”

Contentment.  I don't need much stuff.  I don't need much in the way of recognition.  I just want to be satisfied with the efforts I have made.  Life is too short to agonize over dumb things.


Sum up your blog space in 5 words?

Come geek with me.  Drink?



You’re fighting…professionally…for sport…for the championship of the world…and…you win it. Did you highlight reel your opponent in the first round…out cold…or…win on points after warring with each other the entire distance?

Interesting question as I'm reading a Muhammad Ali biography right now.  He was arguably the greatest boxer ever and undeniably the most famous.  More often than not, he had to work a lot harder than he expected, even against over-matched opponents.

There aren't a lot of KOs in life, few indeed in the early stages.  Even the most extraordinary success is only ever temporary.  I probably imagined the future differently at a younger age but now I know better: we're definitely going the full 15 rounds!


If I turned your life so far…into a blockbuster movie…what would it be called?

Love Deeply, Live Deeply


You’re writing a best selling book…fill in the blank. “10 steps to……………”

Contentment


Now, my eleven questions for each of you...

1. If you could live one year of your life over again, which year would you choose and why?
2. If you could learn to be an expert at something without putting in the work, what would it be?
3. If you could learn a new language instantly, which would you choose and why?
4. If you could give $1 million to any charity, which would you choose?
5. When was your Robert Frost moment a la "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood..."?  The poem (read it here) says you can't go back and that is true.  "Way leads on to way" and so forth.  But if you could, would you?  What is the difference you think it would have made?
6. Time travel: where would you go and when?  Why?
7. Who would you want on your fictional character bowling team?  You get to pick four.
8. What would you want for your last meal?
9. What's your favorite song?
10. Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
11. If you came over to my home and I offered you a drink, what would you want me to serve you?