Day 3747: The Four Questions

It’s Passover and one of the important parts of a Passover Seder is the youngest participant asking the four questions.

Now that I’m thinking about this, one might say that there is one question — Why is this night different from all other nights? — answered four times.

However, the Seder readings that follow the four questions answer why we eat matzah, eat bitter herbs, dip food twice, and eat reclining during this night that is different from other nights.

I have wonderful memories of asking/singing the four questions when I was the youngest at the family Seder. Tonight, I will be sharing a Passover dinner with four beloved people — my son Aaron, my husband Michael, my ex-husband Leon, and my cousin Lani. I don’t know if we’ll ask the traditional four questions, but maybe we’ll ask four questions from this packet I found on Monday as I was cleaning up my office at work:

Or maybe we’ll ask four questions from this book:

.

Do you have four questions about the other images I am sharing today?

In case you have any questions about this, I don’t think you suck. Quite the contrary, as you can tell from this question:

.

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “the four questions.”

I also find this,

this,

and this.

.

Unquestionable gratitude to those who help me ask all the questions in this blog, including YOU!

Day 3726: Unknown

As I’m writing this at 4:30 AM, it’s unknown to me whether I’ve written another blog post with the title “Unknown,” although I suspect I have.

Many people have a fear of the unknown. My fear of the unknown is unknown to me, perhaps because I have spent so much of my life inhabiting the unknown.

If the meaning of that previous sentence is unknown to you, my extremely rare congenital heart condition has made any predictions about my life span unknown. Therefore, I seem to feel very comfortable living in the unknown.

On the other hand, it is unknown to me why I can get so anxious about mundane issues like doing my taxes or choosing tiles for a shower remodel while fearlessly facing the realities of serious, life-long health issues. It’s also unknown to me why I waste so much time wondering who in the universe might be mad at me or wish me ill, forgetting that those people can’t really hurt me.

It is not unknown to me that I am not alone in being puzzled by the unknown operations of one’s own mind.

Let’s see what some known people have said about the unknown.

.

Do you see the unknown in any of my other images for today?

The Ides of March are known to me but it is unknown to me why those of us who are not Caesar should beware them.

If the recently deceased jazz legend Wayne Shorter (quoted above) is unknown to you, allow me to introduce you to one of his beautiful compositions.

.

I hope my gratitude is not unknown to you, dear reader.

Day 3667: Without googling

Where would we be without googling? I’m not sure, but lately I’ve been noticing questions on Twitter that start with “Without googling,” like this one:

Therefore, I decided to ask questions beginning with “Without googling,” too.

Without googling, I know that many people on Twitter are smart, funny, and otherwise awesome.

Without googling, I captured all of these images:

.

Without googling, I can’t find the holidays for each day.

Without googling, what song am I going to include in today’s blog post?

Without googling, who is very grateful for all those who help her create this daily blog?

Day 3581: Any good news lately?

Because there’s been so much bad news everywhere, I decided to ask people yesterday if there had been any good news lately.

It doesn’t hurt to ask, even though I didn’t know what the answers would be. And while many people have responded “no” and “not really,” there’s been a lot of good news, too.

Knowing about good news gives me some hope about the future, which I definitely need these days.

Is there any good news in my latest images?

The good news is that there are lots of great food trucks out there.

Here’s what I find when I search YouTube for “any good news lately?”

Any good news lately where you are?

Thanks to all who help me focus more on the good news, including YOU.

Day 3574: Inertia

I’m feeling a lot of inertia this morning because I got my COVID booster shot yesterday, which always makes feel lousy.

I’m going to overcome that inertia to look up and share a definition of inertia.

Despite my inertia, I will share my belief that it’s impossible to remain unchanged. We all change, even when we’re not aware of it.

Do you see inertia in my images for today?

Now I have to overcome my inertia about explaining another reason why I chose “inertia” for today’s title.

Last night, my husband Michael and I were discussing “Bedazzled” — the great 1967 movie and song by Dudley Moore and Peter Cook.

The song, which both Michael and I love, includes the line “you fill me with inertia.”

When Michael told me the good news that Nick Cave and Anita Lane had recorded a version of “Bedazzled,” I eagerly looked it up, only to discover that the “inertia” line was missing!

I will now overcome my inertia to say that “Bedazzled” is still a great song without the inertia line and to express my appreciation to all who help me create this daily blog, including YOU.

Day 3368: What’s wrong with you

Today’s blog title is brought to you by The Daily Bitch Calendar.

I’m smiling at that calendar now. Is that wrong?

As a therapist, I’ve heard many people ask the question “What’s wrong with me?” Often, I respond like this:

“What’s wrong with you? Nothing. And that’s the wrong question.”

Yesterday, I was feeling like something was wrong with me, as I took in so much of what was wrong with the world. I started focusing on the wrong in me and in others, including my husband Michael. After a rough day when so many things went wrong, we were sitting in silence at the dinner table. I didn’t want to say the wrong thing and make anything more wrong between us.

Finally. I said, “Michael?” He replied, “Yes, Ann?” And then I said something I used to think was wrong for a humble person to say:

“I’m awesome.”

Michael laughed and agreed and suddenly what was wrong was right again.

What’s wrong or right with my other images for today?

What’s wrong with you if you feel like goofing off on National Goof Off Day? Nothing.

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “what’s wrong with you.”

What’s wrong with expressing gratitude to all who help me blog every day, including you?

Day 3254: Joan wants to know

Joan, our newish shelter cat, wants to know a lot, because she is a very curious kitty. She is not alone: I am very curious, too.

Yesterday, I posted this question on Twitter, claiming that Joan wants to know.

Joan wants to know why I chose to include her in that question. Good question, Joan! I know that if I do include Joan, I’m likely to love the responses even more.

Joan wants to know what you think about the images in today’s blog.

Joan wants to know if you are going to be celebrating National French Toast Day and/or Chanukah.

This is what I find when I search YouTube for “Joan wants to know.”

Joan wants to know if you knew there is a musical group named “Joan.”

Joan wants to know your thoughts and feelings about this blog post.

Finally, Joan wants to know if you know how grateful we are for you!

Day 3162: How many?

How many …

• blog posts will I write?
• tweets will I send?
• days until I get back to work after vacation?
• cats are enough?
• years have I been working as a group therapist?
• wishes have come true?
• hopes have been dashed?
• losses can we bear?
• comforts can we find?
• people can we trust?
• days before we will have peace?
• questions will I ask?
• answers will be given?
• images are in this post?

How many ways might you celebrate this precious day?

How many people would see a show with trained rescue cats and how many people will watch this video I took last night of the Amazing Acro-cats performing in the same theater where my son Aaron played John Wilkes Booth in a performance of Sondheim’s “Assassins”?

How many people were wearing masks in the audience? All of them.

How many comments will I get on this blog post?

How many times have I expressed gratitude for you in this blog? Thousands and thousands of times.

Day 2590: Questions for the ride home

Yesterday, on my birthday (which was the first international palindrome day in 909 years)  …

… I saw this at a local performance of Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical:

That reminded me of seeing plays and movies with my parents when I was a kid, when we always had questions and discussions on the ride (or  walk) home.

Here’s how I would answer that second question for the ride home:

I’m already angry or concerned enough to speak up, protest, march, or become an activist for change. MY question is, “Why aren’t YOU?”

Do you have any questions for the ride or walk home about my new cover photo on Facebook?

Do you have any questions about my other photos from yesterday?

Do you have any sitting-on-the-sofa questions for Harley?

Some people on Facebook had questions about what I posted there the day before my birthday:

On my last day of being 66, it occurs to me that I am now entering the time of life that when I die, nobody will say, “Oh no! She was so young!”

I answered those questions by writing these lyrics for a new song:

NOT TOO YOUNG TO DIE

I’m not too young to die,
’cause I’m over 65,
Yet I plan to stay around for lots more years.

Young is not a word
That is regularly heard
By my aging but still operating ears.

You might call me old,
But I’ll just be staying bold
And enjoying every moment left to me.

No one knows how long
I’ll be here to sing my song,
So I guess we’ll all just have to wait and see.

© Ann Koplow, 2020

There are questions in this song from Hair.

How can people be so heartless?  How can people be so cold?  How can people have no feelings?

I don’t have the answers to those questions but I am unquestionably grateful for every day I’m alive and for YOU.

 

Day 2088: You’re probably asking yourself …

You’re probably asking yourself, “What is this title and what does it mean?”

I’m definitely asking myself, “Why didn’t I set my alarm last night so I could get to physical therapy on time today?”

You’re probably asking yourself, “What photos will Ann share today, if she’s in such a rush this morning?”

Good question.

You’re probably asking yourself, “Should I answer any of those questions?”

I’m asking myself, “Do I probably have time to look for and share a relevant YouTube video?”

The answer is no.

You’re probably asking yourself … how will Ann thank all those who helped her create today’s post and also thank ME?