Time Traveling Hodgepodge

Some of today's questions from  Joyce require that I put on my Thinking Cap.  Have you ever noticed how your Thinking Cap feels like it doesn't quite fit right on the mornings when your brain feels dwarfed by a short night's sleep? 

So here goes my attempt at forming somewhat thoughtful answers under said circumstances. 

1. October 21, 2015 is Back to the Future Day. Did you see the movie? The sequels? In the second film, Doc takes Marty into the future to prevent Marty's future son from making a mistake. They leave 1985 and land on a 'skyway' on October 21st, 2015. So tell us, what were you doing in the fall of 1985?

I saw the movie but none of the sequels. Truth told, I probably would not have paid to see it but I was a big fan of  Michael J. Fox.   In the fall of 1985 I was falling in love with the man I'd spend my future with.  (That was a lousy sentence, but did you follow?)  

We were attending the same college, but he was working full-time and going to school part-time at night. I was going to school full-time during the day and working part-time at night. So we saw each other from about 10pm- 1 a.m on weeknights, and as much as possible on the weekends.

These days he is asleep by 10 pm and we have no plans to go back to our old pattern of starting our talks at that time and ending three hours later!

2.  If time travel were possible, would you want to go to the future? The past?

Nope, neither. I've thought about this concept several times over the years, and the older I get, the less it appeals to me to go either back or forward in time. Yes , I do wish I hadn't made some of the mistakes I made, and I wish I'd spent more time with certain loved ones. And at times I'd like to get a glimpse into the future to see what it holds in terms of future grandbabies and such, but it would most certainly also include the absence of my parents, and that is too sad for me to wish to travel forward in time. 

3. We're not flying cars, but some of the technology imagined in the 80's film has indeed come to pass in real life 2015-flat screen TVs on the wall, tablets, fingerprint recognition, video conferencing, online banking, 3-D movies, motion controlled video games, drone cameras, and smart glasses (Google glass).  Do you worry technology is growing at a rate so fast we'll soon be unable to keep up with it's demands? Do you think the Internet does more harm than good? 

My greatest fear is the increasing rate at which devices are dividing families from interacting face-to-face when they're in the same room or same vehicle or same restaurant. It's evident that young people are not learning the social skills of conversation and empathy that come with having "everything" in the literal palm of their hand. 

4. Your favorite dish prepared in a slow-cooker? Your favorite fast food?

I love Beef Burgundy which I make on a cold winter's night occasionally.  

My whole family loves it and it's great for company as well. My favorite fast food--don't judge--are McDonald's fries.  Hot and sprinkled with extra salt.

5. No time like the present, down time, face time, pressed for time, in the nick of time, make time, mark time, or just in time...which timely saying most relates to your life right now? 

No time like the present.  As I've mentioned before, I have recently taken a second tutoring job, and my two students (10 year old  girl and  her 7 year old brother) are Chinese who have only been the US a little more than a year .  Two weeks ago the girl (I'll call her Liana) was reading a short book I took over called Zaccheus Meets Jesus. I thought she'd have trouble pronouncing "Zaccheus"  but she did okay with it.  It was the name "Jesus" that she hadn't heard!  She said "Jess-iss? Who is Jessiss?" 

My heart stood still and raced at the same time. "Jesus," I said, suddenly realizing that I had never had to explain to anyone who Jesus is!  "He's the Son of God," I said. And Liana then asked, "Who is God?"   

Then, two nights ago, I sat down to dinner with them (the mom and kids, as the dad is gone for weeks on end with his job). I prayed as I usually do (they have me eat with them every night I'm there). When I finished, Liana looked at me and said, "Miss Zoanna? Will you teach me how to praz?"   I said, "You mean pray?" She said, "Yes, that thing you do before you eat."

People, I cannot get my mind around the thought that this is 2015 in America and I'm new friends with people who have never heard the name of Jesus nor understand the concept of praying! I'm speechless. Which, if you know me, is a miracle in itself. What an incredible calling, honor, privilege, burden, and challenge I have right in front of me, to teach a child who God and Jesus are, and how to talk to Him in prayer!  

6. Tell us about a place you went as a child or younger person that's no longer there or is now something else. How does that make you feel?

When I was in third and fourth grade, we lived in Alden, KS (population maybe 200 then?). Uptown (which is what everyone called Main Street--which didn't even have a real name, nor was it paved--just sand) there was a general store where we could buy penny candy. It was attached to the craft store. Now the whole area is one big quilt shop.  While I love what it has become, I did wish I could buy some candy cigarettes and Bazooka gum the last time I was Uptown. 

7. Describe your comfort zone.

Home. PJ's. Feet up  in the recliner. Dog at my side. Hubby on the sofa watching TV. Son nearby. Coffee with creamer.  Quietness mixed with low voices and sometimes laughter. 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I've shared enough thoughts for one Hodgepodge. I'll take a pass on the random, for your sake, dear reader.