5 questions from @julian

[sonia]

Thank you for the questions, julian! If anyone wants questions from me, feel free to comment, and I will give you some when I have a chance.

1. D'you have a place you miss from childhood?
   
   I loved family expeditions to Prince William Forest Park when I was a kid. (Also the double name still entertains me.) There was a tree that had grown into a four shape, with a side branch growing horizontally and then turning into a second vertical trunk. I liked being lifted onto the horizontal part to sit up there. There was a stream and a pond at the far end of one of the trails and sometimes our parents would let my sister and me wear bathing suits under our clothes and play in the water. I'm nostalgic about it more than missing it, but it's a strong sensory memory that floated up in response to the question.
   
   
2. Would you rather swim or take a hike? Can you capture why?
   
   Hike! I'm not a strong swimmer and would much rather have my feet on the earth and my glasses on my nose so I can see where I'm going.
   
   
3. Of the four personality temperaments based on the ancient Greek humors—sanguine, phlegmatic, choleric, and melancholic, which one best describes you? (I stole this one from a meme of days gone past, but it's at least interesting.)
   
   My sense of the words is that sanguine is calm and happy, phlegmatic is stoic and imperturbable, choleric is angry, and melancholic is sad. I found this description of the four temperaments which links to this test which says I'm about equally phlegmatic and choleric, a bit melancholic, and not sanguine at all. Their descriptions have more subtlety.
   
   
4. Is there a children's book that you would recommend to adults?
   
   The 13 Clocks by James Thurber, the old illustrated edition, for the gorgeous language and the joy of the Golux's indescribable hat. (Is it a children's book?)
   
   Alexander and the Wind-up Mouse by Leo Leonni is a picture book that I adored when I was so young I pronounced it "Alexangud" and I still think the art and story are beautiful. "Lizard, lizard!"
   
   
5. What's the best and/or easiest way to make you smile?
   
   Certain familiar Bulgarian dance tunes or songs or even bits of warmups. Like this dance: Bičak ("Beechak").
   

Comments

[batdina]

I'd LOVE questions from you. (I have a set from someone else, so yours might be a few days from now.)

[sonia]

1. What is an aspect of Jewish belief or ethics that is near and dear to your heart?
2. How is Judaism helping with grief?
3. If you could change one thing about your living space, what would it be?
4. A sweet/funny/kind incident with your partner?
5. A piece of art you love? Do you own it? Did you make it?

<3 Thank you for the enthusiasm!

[julian]

If I ever do the temperaments again, I'll definitely ask it as, "Which one do you think you fit best," which is a different focus. But anyway.

On The 13 Clocks, I don't imagine Thurber *meant* it for kids (Wikipedia doesn't say), but I first encountered it as a kid, read aloud to me by my parents. It is gr-eat. (Lauren Bacall did an audiobook version. Gosh.)

Anyway. Can I have questions off you? You ask interesting things.

[sonia]

I still wouldn't know how to answer the temperaments question! I think I'm a mix of all of them. I generally think we're all a mix of All The Things.

I first encountered The 13 Clocks read aloud to me by my college roommate, a comforting tradition she brought from her childhood. She found me a used copy before online used bookstores were a thing. I'm very attached to that book!

1. A therapeutic moment you're proud of as a therapist? (Anonymized, of course!)
2. A therapeutic moment you're proud of as a client/student?
3. What would your ideal job/practice be like?
4. You know all those meditations that ask you to start in your happy place? Is it indoors or outdoors? Vague or specific? Anything else you want to share about it?
5. What is your favorite color? Is there a reason?

[boxofdelights]

I would love five questions from you.

[sonia]

1. A favorite moment with a pet?
2. A book everyone in the group hated but/and the group still talks about it years later? (I'm guessing this happens in other book groups...)
3. A book you never would have read if it hadn't been chosen by a book group, that you unexpectedly loved?
4. What are you planning for your garden/yard next year?
5. What helps you get through the dark time of year?

<3

[boxofdelights]

Answered here: https://boxofdelights.dreamwidth.org/409122.html

[asakiyume]

I liked Leo Leonni's Frederick which featured mice done the same way. Super charming. (And I do also like Alexander and the Wind-up Mouse).

Enjoyed your other answers too ^_^

[sonia]

I like Frederick too, but it doesn't grab me the same way.

Thanks!