Daily writing prompt

Which aspects do you think makes a person unique?

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Some people can roll their tongues, others can sing on key, and others can’t do those and other things. Beyond those sorts of traits, even identical twins aren’t completely identical, and other factors come into play that contribute to a person’s uniqueness– environment, differences in upbringing and perceptions, brain development, dietary choices, chemical imbalances, and so on.

The twins I know are fraternal, so physical, facial likeness doesn’t exist. They differ in personal habits and preferences and points of view as well, but they appear to be each other’s best friend and confidante.

Apart from twins or triplets, etc. and differences in physical appearance and even vocal inflections and tone, each of us is our own collection of behaviors and perceptions, products of our upbringing, of parental guidance and socializaton or lack thereof. It’s like we each arrive with our own specialized software, slightly or greatly varied, that informs how we receive external stimuli, how we see and hear things, and how we respond and react and make decisions.

Daily writing prompt

If you could have something named after you, what would it be?

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Some sort of educational facility– medical research or music.

Daily writing prompt

What makes you laugh?

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A laughing baby, certain SNL skits and Weekend Update, some animal videos, certain comedians, passages in books, jokes, my siblings, my wife, other members of the family, certain situations or turns of phrase that show up in dreams.

Every now and then, I’ll see something online that makes me crack up. The eyes water, the nose runs– it’s a great release. On occasion, I’ll think of something from a long time ago that made me laugh, and it’s like I’m hearing it for the first time.

Daily writing prompt

When you were five, what did you want to be when you grew up?

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Hazarding a guess, I’d say a fireman or police officer. The astronomer and meteorologist phase came later. In truth, I don’t think I ever really knew, with any level of resolve, what I wanted to be.

Daily writing prompt

What’s something most people don’t understand?

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Music, love, grace, quantum mechanics, string theory, any language other than the one they’ve been immersed in. That list is long.

In a macro sense, maybe it’s the lack of understanding of how interconnected everything is, how magnificent this planet is, and, at the same time, how impersonal and disinterested it is. The natural forces at work in the world have no regard for us and our needs and wants and lack of attention and care and understanding. We as human beings are always trying to figure things out, trying to make it through the day, trying to domesticate and tailor our surroundings, ignoring the warning signs, or just taking things for granted, while the earth and the forces and systems at work simply… are.

Perhaps most damning of all is, through ignorance or self-serving motivations, the willingness of enough of us to carry on as if our sheer numbers and what we’ve loosed in the way of imbalance and despoiling are having no effect on the planetary systems that keep us alive.

We certainly have filled the earth and seemingly subdued it. But we really haven’t subdued anything. Maybe what many still don’t understand is that we’re paving the way for our own demise. The earth isn’t too big to fail us, and it might be wounded. But it’s resilient enough to still be here, to still be turning long after we’ve sealed our own fate, and this in no small part because we chose not to understand.

Daily writing prompt

How has technology changed your job?

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I retired from full-time clergy duties in the Fall of 2021, but by then technology had long found its way into the life of the congregations I served– from basic word processing for bulletins and newsletters, to improved processing and copying capabilities, to microphones and various audio-visual tools, like projectors and drop-down screens, sound systems and televisions, to mass communication tools like email and Zoom and call lists.

Zoom was the tool of choice and necessity during Covid, and a pre-recorded service uploaded to YouTube became a regular feature during those days. Nowadays, more congregations can broadcast their services live, since the cost of equipment to do so, along with the means to upload, is within reach of more than just the larger worshiping communities.

And there’s the utility of digital cameras and smartphones.

Daily writing prompt

How often do you say “no” to things that would interfere with your goals?

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Not very often, but that’s mostly because I don’t have nor have ever had many goals. I’m more tempted to say “no” to things that interfere with certain routines. In a macro sense, I’ve been more a creature of habit than a goal-oriented person. I’ve learned to respond in certain situations rather than always trying to steer the ship.

In short, I’m not a good person to talk to about goal setting, guess I haven’t looked at life that way– much to certain peoples’ disappointment and frustration.

Daily writing prompt

What’s a secret skill or ability you have or wish you had?

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I play the piano by ear– I hear tunes and chords in my head and can sometimes work them out on the keyboard. But I’d much rather have the ability to sight read music. I can make sense of the right hand, but the left hand takes me a while to decipher. And note value and time signature still mystify me.

I know it’s always been a matter of practice, but I’ve never taken the time nor made the effort. Guess there’s no time like the present.

Daily writing prompt

What is your favorite type of weather?

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Sunny and mild, just a touch of breeze. The kind of day we get every now and then in the Spring, when temps in the mid-60s feel comfortable, and when the sun isn’t directly overhead doing its midsummer best to torch everything.

Sometimes, I like a rainy day, too. For some reason, it feels cozy, and it takes the guesswork out of having to plan some activity or project outdoors.

OK, last one. I like a good thunderstorm– minus the damaging wind and hail. It’s a sensory experience, kind of awesome.

Daily writing prompt

Who was your most influential teacher? Why?

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My high school Spanish teacher, Mr. McGregor. He was funny, intense (he was also the football coach), he took his job seriously yet also had a sense of humor. He made it very clear that he cared about the subject matter, and us. He spent a year in Guadalajara, Mexico, immersed in the culture and language. He wanted us to learn and would walk out of the room to cool down when it seemed clear we hadn’t done our homework.

He drove an MG Midget. I never had another teacher who came close to his passion for his work.

Looking back, it was an interesting dynamic: he was demanding, but no one seemed to mind. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that he burned out and left the profession prematurely.