Wonderland Burlesque's Years, My Dears! Quiz

Wonderland Burlesque's

Years, My Dears Quiz

"Time, time, time
See what's become of me
While I looked around for my possibilities..."

Ten easy questions... well, they do require a bit of soul searching on your part, but they are straightforward, so don't worry... you've got this!

I kept it positive - I only want to hear about the good stuff (well, mostly.)

I know I didn't delve too far into history... but you? Delve away, dear ones.

Don't worry.... you'll get through these in no time. (Hee, hee...)

1/ Favorite hour of your average day?

Definitely morning... I think from 6:00 -7:00 am. I am up and working by 5:30, but don't get to really stretch into my day until about 6:00. I love my morning coffee. I like the dark. I like sitting alone in silence. I typically write during this time, getting lost in my thoughts, allowing it all to spill out onto the screen of my laptop. I lose all track of time, though I am also monitoring my work laptop at the same time for any developments or needs. 

I like the dark and the quiet. It suits me as much as the prairie, the sun, and my favorite oak tree in summer. A bit of a contrast, but then we are all something of a paradox, don't you agree?

2/ Favorite day of the week?

I enjoy Fridays year 'round. First, they are my short day at work; I'm typically done with my work week by 10:00 am. Second, it means I get to go stay at The Boyfriend's house and be surrounded by our diverse collection of cats. And, in summer, it takes on a special significance, because that is the day I get to spend, good weather provided, at my beloved prairie. 

Yes, I've already begun my annual pining/whining for all things outdoors. Seems the older I get, the less I tolerate winter, as in, I don't want to be out in it. Those who love skiing and ice skating and the like? Good for you. I will be happily seated indoors, wrapped in homemade quilts, sipping a hot beverage, waiting for the day the earth re-tilts and all this horrid snow melts away.

3/ Favorite day of the year?

This is a tough one. I love the holiday season. 

But can't say that Xmas Day or New Year's Eve are the pinnacles of that whole experience. 

I enjoy Valentine's day because, not only is it a pretty holiday, but it's also my birthday.

But I think my favorite day is actually April 1st. No, I'm not a 'fool' for April Fool's Day. Rather, its about the promise of spring. Yes, it seems my whole life is about waiting for the big thaw. I want warmth/heat and green spaces. 

Why I live in Minnesota? 

Well, family. Trust me, if I could convince them and there was such a place, I'd be living where winter lasts the month of December, with spring happening on the first of the year!

4/ Favorite month?

July. 

The heat. The sun. The lack of clothing. 

Others complain. 

Never, I. Bring it on, I say. 

5/ Favorite year you have lived?

This is a tough one. But, I am going to pick either 2008, the year I finally graduated from college with a business degree - no one saw that coming. It helped me get my current job, which all these years later continues to support me and help make my life a lot easier. 

My other choice is 2013. I met The Boyfriend. And, while it was not easy, I know, for once in my life, I absolutely made the right choice. I think the road I was on at the time was not a healthy one and I rather fear what would have transpired had I not separated from The Ex. I love them both. They put up with me, which is a lot to ask from time to time.  

6/ Favorite year in all of history?

I'm sure there are a lot more important years, but I am going to choose 2008. I know... selfish. But hear me out... 

Not only was it a great year for me, it was the year Obama was elected president of the United States. It also marks the unraveling of the disguise America had been wearing since day one. We now are aware of the truth - a truth no one spoke about; it wasn't taught in our schools then, and now, that same truth is being buried by school boards throughout the land. We are squatters. We are pirates. We are kidnappers. We are thieves. We are liars. We're terrible. 

This country was founded on crimes against humanity. 

The only thing we ever did right was WWII - and we can't stop patting ourselves on the back for that one enough, am I right? Ugh.

I remember being taught that Australia was founded by convicts and oh, what a terrible country! Ha! They have nothing on the US. Our sense of entitlement and superiority  is based on lies, hate and committing crimes. No wonder the rest of the world hates us. I now understand and I know we can't make it right, but we can fix it. 

That all began with the election of Obama. The racists, the bigots, the far right? They lost their shit and have been in overdrive ever since. The thing is, their initial disgust actually exacerbated the uncloaking of the hateful country we live in. It's like when that person we all know goes from being passive aggressive (well, bless your heart,) to full on aggressive.  No. It's not pleasant. 

But it did expose a lot of truths.

And I, for one... have always enjoyed living truth over living a lie. 

Thanks, Obama!

7/ Favorite decade you have lived.

I should say the 2000's, but nope. It's the seventies! 

They were awesome. I mean, not for me, personally, but, culturally, what a strange ass time. Look at where the world was at the beginning and then look at where we ended up. 

The musical journey alone was worth the price. 

What a great time to be an adult. 

Of course, there were no laptops, no cell phones, no internet.... 

Typing on a typewriter? Sucked.

But there was sugar pop, bubblegum pop, power pop, new wave, disco, punk, heavy metal, funk... etc. 

The bi-centennial, Nixon, Carter, evangelicals, Streisand, drive in movie theatres, inflation, gas shortages, racism, gay liberation, black power, women's lib, Roe vs. Wade, the golden age of porn. 

We were naïve and hopelessly delusional, and ignorantly happy.

Smiley faces. Pet Rocks, peace symbols, Keep On Truckin', elephant bells, polyester...

That is a trade off I am willing to live with. 

I hated what was coming in the next decade, but... we didn't know, now did we?

8/ Favorite era, during which you wish you'd been alive.

Wow. So, I would have been a peasant. Or a farmer, at best. Maybe I could have become a household servant?

If you were rich? It's a whole different story.

I am going with Paris in the 1920's. 

I would do the most outrageous things and dance, dance, dance!

Imagine the people I would ingratiate myself upon. 

(Back then, I might pass for clever. And that was enough to open a few doors.)

9/ A moment in your life you wish you could relive just as it was.

The day I met The Boyfriend. 

I had no idea. 

I remember seeing him at the register of the coffee shop we'd agreed to meet at. So out of my league. I assumed he would lay eyes on me and turn tail. 

Instead, two and a half hours of conversation zoomed by at lightening speed with so much laughter and agreement. 

I remember as I was walking to my car after having said our good-byes... "Oh boy, this one is gonna cause some trouble."

And he did. 

And we're all the better for it. 

10/ A moment in your life you wish you could relive and change everything.

I've made so many mistakes. Stupid choices. Regrettable. 

Or not. 

I don't regret anything. Even the really, really horrible stuff. It got me here, and I like 'here.' 

If I were to relive one thing... I would never have treated my partner Josh in such a careless manner. He was such a good man. And, at the time, I was too busy naval gazing and preoccupied with all things 'me' to appreciate him, or see him for who he was. I chose badly. I behaved selfishly. I was myopic and ungrateful. I couldn't see the life he'd created - for me, out of nothing. And I casually threw it all away. Stupidly. Arrogantly. 

I can't imagine what he thought of me. We remained friends. I visited him in Seattle about eight months before his death. I never owned my shit, though I do remember apologizing - although, there was a lot more I should have apologized for, things I was unware of at the time. 

I don't know that I could change the outcome of anything, but... I do wish I'd been more honest with him. Had, during our last visit, owned up to what an ungrateful shit I'd been. 

For both our sakes. 

He should have died knowing that the world thought the world of him. 

--- ---

Okay. Enough of me.

Your turn. Do your thing. Explain your answers, or not. But leave them in the comments section or post on your blog and leave a link here. 

Until next time...

Thanks for reading... and sharing.

Reelin' In The Years - Steely Dan

Time (Clock Of The Heart - Culture Club