1. What event or memory do you still want an apology for?

In order to still want an apology for a certain event that occurred so long ago would mean that I am still holding on to the pain of that memory and forcing it upon myself in order to feel such pain. Since I don’t consider myself as a person that holds grudges, I do not identify myself as someone who could relate to this prompt. Instead of holding a grudge for so long against someone or something, it is better to move on from such dark memories and leave them in the past. Of course, this is much easier said than done and can’t be completed simply by saying “Okay, I’m going to get over this memory now.” There may be stopping that is acting as a blockade from stopping you from letting these memories go. For instance, if this event occurred with a family member or friend that you are personally very close with, it is not so easy to simply let them out of your life just because you did not get an apology for something.

2. What former version of yourself would you like to go back and visit?

I would love to go back to my old high school days and be more relaxed in life. High school was easily the best four years of my life thanks to my wonderful friends and teachers that were able to teach me so much, and not just the Pythagorean theorem or the history of World War II, but rather the philosophical meanings of life and what it means to truly get close, build a connection with people, and to fall in love with them. It was so comforting knowing that I would always have people to turn to in times of need and would be there to support and just talk to me every day to put a smile on my face. Therefore, the real reason I am going back to this former self is not because of who I was during this time, but rather because of my surroundings and the people that helped me become all that I am. However, this time, as mentioned in the first sentence, I would be so much more easygoing in order to truly cherish those times of joy and freedom instead of worrying about the next history test that had nothing to do with what was important to my life.

3. Who do you wish to know more about a family member?

I wish to know more about my grandfathers. Even before I was born, they had both already passed on, leaving me without quality grandfather time throughout my youth. Though I am not sure how much value just that quality time of hanging out and getting to know each other better would have helped me develop, I do know that it would have made those around me much happier to know that I was around to see them at least once and feel the warmness of their family love. In order to get such information, I am sure I could discuss this with my parents, but just as something is lost in translation from one language to another, so would memories that are passed down from one person who witnessed these memories from their own perspective versus someone who had never even seen such a person in their lifetime. Therefore, in order to truly gain complete and full knowledge, I would have to go to some alternate universe where my grandfathers are alive, drinking their beer and smoking their cigarettes, and I finally get to interview them and keep something of theirs in order to truly remember who they were as human beings.

4. What local event do you remember hearing about?

A local event that I have heard about, but obviously not experienced in my lifetime, is when the New York Jets won Super Bowl III in 1969. My father was only a few years old when this occurred, but he still remembers the feeling of happiness that his team was able to conquer the world and defy all odds in order to win that Super Bowl. For all non-sports fans, this is considered one of the greatest upsets in sports history and I would love to talk with someone who was physically present at the game in order to get a feel of their emotions on that wonderful day of January 12, 1969. I do not know if an event that important to me (in the context of sports) will ever happen in my lifetime.

5. What artist or piece of art moved you? What do you know about this artist and/or the process of creating this art? What else do you want to know?

One solo artist that has particularly moved me more than any other solo artist in the history of music is Ed Sheeran. This man, at only 27 years old (turning 28 on February 17^th), has created some of the most beautiful music I have eve listened to. Also, by beautiful, I do not simply mean romantic music that has a harp and wonderful lyrics about a girl. By beautiful, I mean he is able to speak from the heart as truthfully as anyone I have ever seen. His process is so amazing to watch and the way he is ever so easily able to create lyrics and the music to follow is absolutely incredible. I do not know if there is anything else I feel I need to know from Ed other than the words he portrays in his songs because they are all I truly need to understand who he is as a person and as a singer/songwriter. I could go on and on about how much his music has meant to me over the years and how I feel understood in the alternate universe that is Ed Sheeran’s music, but unfortunately, I am out of time and must stop.

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