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January 2010 
What is a real question?
Posted on Aug 28th, 2009
by 
sandi
sandi
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for August 28, 2009:
Okay, we all know what a question is, that's a given. Then who gets to decide what a "real" question is, the ask-er or the one being quizzed? There are questions to uncover facts, like the peeling of an onion to reveal the core answer. There are questions devised to make you think and make you want to explore the options. There are questions that are put simply to annoy and make you want to slap the asker into the nearest thorn bush for their edification, as in "don't you ever bother me with that again!". So the question must itself be valid and worth the answering to be real and deserving of a true answer. Some real questions may never be answered to our satisfaction in our lifetimes. Nobody owes you the answers, sometimes it's just plain none of your business. Any parent worth their salt can tell you that.
Access: Public
Love your picture. They grow a lot of corn in Illinois. I'm still amazed at how tall corn can grow. We have what we call “horse” corn which is harder and taller and also what we call “sweet” corn which is sweeter and shorter.
I would like to add this one little thing. Every morning I try to answer these questions to the best of my ability as a brain exercise so that it doesn't go to into premature hardening, also known as “set in her ways, just humor her” or become so hide-bound that my mind won't stretch anymore. This doesn't mean I know the the answers for anyone but myself and a lot of the time that is just groping in the dark for something solid. They do help me to define my beliefs and intuitions, because more often than not, I simply pull the answers out of the air. And that suits me right down to the ground!
I really enjoyed reading you blog this morning, Sandi. Most especially, “There are questions that are put simply to annoy and make you want to slap the asker into the nearest thorn bush for their edification, as in “don't you ever bother me with that again!.”
And when you said, “Nobody owes you the answers, sometimes it's just plain none of your business” that reminds me of the question that people oftentimes ask themselves … “I wonder what so-and-so think of me?” Byron Katie says, “Let it go – it's none of your damn business!”
Terrific photo!
Good morning, Carlton - I'm in Crystal Lake, Illinois and you're right. We've got corn comin' out our ears! I live a stone's throw of a couple-hundred-acre corn field. I believe itheir crop is grown specifically for hominy.
Thanks, Carlton, Good Morning to you! We also have what is known as horse corn, field corn, or dent corn. Lord knows I've eat enough of it. When I was younger the fields around my house were given over to field corn because of all the livestock being raised. If you wanted corn for supper, you pulled young “roasting ears” that were still milky enough to gnawed by human teeth. Fresh creamed corn is still my favorite, served with hot, buttered biscuits and sliced tomatoes! It's also what they carried to the mill for cornmeal and very tasty cornbread came with that. I didn't know about sweet corn as an option til I was nearly grown. A few weeks ago I found some dried ears of real field in my Dad's freezer. Lord only knows how long that strain has been in the family, passed from Father to Son over the generations. I can tell you one thing, next year I'll be growing some field corn. Have a Blessed Day! By the way, that corn is some Red Indian corn that I plan to use in Fall Flower arrangements.
There's the truth of it right there, what other people think of me is none of my damn business. Who in the world would I want poking around in MY head looking for their private file? They would be surprised that I often don't think of them at all. Yeah, haven't you ever been put out by someone's nasty, facetious little questions? They are like sweat bees, too small to be signicent but large enough to be a nuisance, a good swat can cure that. Oh, I can wish… Really most people who know me at all would not do that, as I would never be so rude as to ask such questions of them.
Carleton, I'm glad you brought the subject up, when I go to the kitchen in a few minutes to get to work, I'm going to bake a big skillet of cornbread while it's cool this morning and have field peas and cornbread for supper. Y'all come and have some too.
“Fresh creamed corn served with hot, buttered biscuits and sliced tomatoes!”
“Field peas and cornbread.”
All this talk of food has got my stomach growling! Thank you for the kind invitation to supper [said as I wipe drool from my chin].
Can you tell I haven't had breakfast yet? I'm going to take care of that right now. (oh, you've got something on your chin…)
Can I come too, we can pose the question; “Which came 1st, the chicken or the egg?” It's one of my favorites.
I knew it! I just knew it! You just couldn't let it rest, could you? Well, Jeannie, my dear inquisitive friend, I couldn't begin to tell you, you'll just have to ask Laurie at supper, she know all this metaphysical stuff that I don't have have a clue about. I do know some eggs are fixing to go down!
What came first? the rooster of course. =} Sorry I could not resist.
Which leads to, Why else do you think he crossed the dangerous, life threatening intersection.
=}
To “Lay it on the Line” of course!
Lot of chatter going on around here. Bingo, anyone?
Aha! Gotcha on that one! Because he saw a car coming!
There in, leaving Carlton's answer of, give me that down and dirty and everything in between stuff of ….LOVE…. which makes you water add droll like cream corn and biscuits
Hey Blog master a round of Bingo dappers for everyone.
Thanks
Mercy, I come out of the kitchen for minute and there's a party goin on! E-7, E-7.
[Set the scene: Laurie be speckled in wizard hat and robes]
Question
“Which came 1st, the chicken or the egg?”
Answer
Neither! As human beings we are energy (this is true for all living things – including chickens). Each of us has a personal energy signature. One of the fundamental laws of physics states that, “Energy can be transferred from one form to another, but neither created nor destroyed.” As such, birth is not a beginning – it is a continuation. That lends tremendous comfort because we then understand that equally true, death is not an end – it is merely a continuation. In either case, it is a change from one form to another.
[Scene transition: Laurie as regular self]
Question
Why did the chicken cross the dangerous, life threatening intersection?
Answer
I have no idea!
Every first grader knows that one Laurie. To get to the other side.
But that's where it gets a little juicy. As my mentor used to say, “Bob, I always know MY reason for doing something, but I don't always know the purpose.”
The first time I heard him say it was when he was telling me about a train ride he took in Europe. He took the train from Berlin to Paris because he wanted to see the city in spring. While on the train he met a young couple who were pretty confused about life. They sat and talked the duration of the trip. About thirty years later my friend ran into these same people in the US. “You changed our lives,” they said. “We will never forget you.”
Thus, the reason he took the train to Paris was to see the city in the spring, but the purpose was a little larger.
Peace
Thank you, Laurie, I knew you wouldn't let us down, that satisfies me, I hope y'all are good with that. Cheese straws, anyone?
What a nice story, I like the ending. I've noticed in my life several such incidents that could have been trivial in themselves, yet totally changed the course of my life. Thanks for that story, Bob, glad you could come by.
That's a terrific story, Bob!
Sandi - I think we should talk dessert. With all those eggs, we could whip up some delicious Creme Brulee.
(Just don't let Gabriel be the one who uses the torch to carmelize the top – with only three toes, he's likely to burn the place down)!
Bob, your story is a reminder to us to be present and aware at all times. You never know what the constantly present, benevolent spirit has in store for us. Keep your lamps trimmed and burning. I promise not to start any fires, but please no open flames when you are around me. As a present, I was given a tee shirt that read, “Caution Extremely Flammable”.
Laurie, emotions arise as I re-member tasting my dear amazing mothers Creme Brulee. I believe it was her loving hands that made it so special, as you are to me.
Sandi ~ You've been on my mind often. Hearing you say, “There you are”, re-minded me of someone who I love dearly that is no longer in my physical presence. As we were playing in our garden we would lose site of each other. When Maryanne would finally find me, in her most innocent voice, proclaim, “There you are”. I miss her angelic presence so so much. Thank you for the re-minder, kindred one.
It's experiences like these that brings us closer to the mystery of our interconnectedness.
Alright, Creme Brulee it is, I've got 5 and 1/2 doz. eggs in the fridge and I just got back from the store with another 10 lbs of sugar. We can do this. we don't want Gabby using the torch, No, Sir! If he was to catch hisself on fire he'd be too slow to get out of his own way. Laurie, I'll have to admit, I do indulge in some wonderfully rich egg custards. I'm so skinny from all this gardening and cooking that I'm not throwing a shadow anymore. It's for my health that I eat lots of Extreme Moose Tracks and custards.
Hi, Gabby, you are such a sweetheart I would never let you play with fire, that fur would go up in a flash. Thank you for sharing your touching re-memberances with us, It only take one to set off a chain reaction that can pull you backwards in time. You have to remember this though, when I say, “there you are!” it is more like Lucy Van Pelt cornering some hapless soul. Not really, but I laughed at the thought. Think of me the other way and I won't enlighten you. As far as interconnectedness goes, ( Mercy! What a word! ) aren't we all like separate cells of the same body?
Gabriel - I'm glad to have triggered fond memories of you Mother.
Sandi - Extreme Moose Tracks and custards are for your HEALTH you say. I'll buy that (and some ocean front property in Arizona while I'm at it) …
Now here's a good solid question for you. I'm assuming you'll be at the Farmer's Market most of the day on tomorrow. However, YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS COMING SUNDAY, AUGUST 30TH. What are your plans?
Laurie, I don't know if this break-time or break-down. When a friend asked me why I do this to myself and then told me I needed a commercial kitchen, I told her what I needed was a responsible adult to sit me down and explain a few home truths. Anyway, my motto seems to be, “Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.” I have 2dozen Mason jars sterilizing in the oven, it's the only way I can do that quantity at one time. I'm betting it's the last time too.
Wow, are you psychic too? I see you know my birthday is Sunday and so far I'm planning to go to one of the Atlanta bars and drink hard liquor till they throw me out. Oh, that was a nice, stress relieving laugh! I'm going to a pot-luck Birthday supper tomorrow night at a friend's and if my brother doesn't have a supper planned for Sunday night I'll be outa here like a shot by 10:00 am Sunday Morning. Unless, of course, my children do something to screw that up, like telling me they'll be over later. Then I'm out by 9:00am.
I refuse to spend another Birthday at home waiting for someone to show up late so they can spend time doing something else. I love them dearly but not enough to sit at home on my Day when I could be having fun for myself. I really want to go to the High Museum of Art in Atlanta and the Botanical Gardens for sure. I will not ever take them again, they pouted, whined, had to go to the bathroom endlessly, wouldn't behave on the train and annoyed the Hell out of me and that was 3 years ago. Whatever I do, it is sure to be totally selfish, and completely enjoyable. Thank you for asking.
Well, here is a great big Co latha breith sona dhuibh! (happy birthday) in Scottish Gaelic to get you started, my friend. I say skip town after the pot luck tomorrow night and kick up your heels! Leave a note taped to your door asking whoever shows up to take care of The Ladies, and let them know you'll be back when you're good and ready, and not a moment sooner! You can tell them your doctor told you to do it for the health of it :)
Kick butt and take names (financially) at the Farmer's Market in the morning!
Gia - We really enjoy Lake Woebegone too! Len and I listen to Garrison Keillor on NPR (National Public Radio) whenever we get the chance.
Thanks, Gia, that's very cool. Just a big Slice of American Pie, I can really like the comparison, I've read all his books and truly enjoy them. You're a sweetheart for pointing that out!
I'm still amazed at how tall corn can grow.
Funny, you all didn't catch this cute little pun delivered by our dear friend, Carlton.
Gabby, the big corn I see here is all coming from you, Sweetie!
Like this picture and love corn for its taste too.