“AND THE AWARD GOES TO…”: MY LIEBSTER AWARD

BY: JAMES F. O’NEIL

“Awards can give you a tremendous amount of encouragement to keep getting better, no matter how young or old you are.”  –Alan Alda

I have not been much of an award recipient in my days.  I might have received a penmanship award for cursive.  Maybe a spelling ribbon (never first: Eleanor Wagner always got 1^st Place).  No swimming trophies–unless you count the one for perfect attendance, no matter what the Chicago weather in summer.  No high school valedictorian.  Definitely not a magna-cum-anything in college.  The retirement plaque was a reward, kinda, for endurance.  That’s it.

Until recently.

I’ve been blogging for three years now on WordPress.com.  I‘m happy.

Now I’m happier.

I’VE BEEN NOMINATED FOR THE LIEBSTER AWARD.  JAWOHL!

Yes, Mimi, at Mimi’s Corner, nominated me for the prestigious Liebster Award.  This award is conferred upon those whose blogging is noted, from the original German translation of “liebster” as “beloved,” or a term of endearment used only for VERY close friends; but also it can designate something “personal” or “greatest” or “favorite” or better “a personal favorite.”

It’s mainly a fun way for bloggers to encourage each other, and partake in the fun of blogging.  And the nomination comes from another who has been nominated. And on it goes. 

I carefully considered the requirements and the fun and sharing it might be–and how it would be a different kind of memoriesofatime posting from my usual. 

I decided Why not?  Why not share, for this is one of my blog goals anyhow.

I replied to Mimi: “I accept.  I humbly thank you for doing this for me.”  So you can find her blog site at   https://talkeasysite.wordpress.com/

There are a few rules for a blogger to follow to qualify for the award; I would like to let you know that I have complied:

RULES FOR THE LIEBSTER AWARD

If nominated for the award, and accept, write a blog post about the award in which you

Thank the blogger who nominated you with a link back to his/her blog

Display the award on your blog

Answer 11 questions asked by the nominator

Nominate 5-11 other bloggers

Create 11 new questions for the nominees

List these rules on your post (for others to know what is coming.  Not so bad.)

Mimi asked me these 11 questions about myself.  Very interesting information here for you, my readers.

11 QUESTIONS FROM MIMI MY NOMINATOR:

1. When did you start blogging and why? I began blogging in May 2013, thanks to my younger brother, Denis. He encouraged me to publish my stories of growing up and to share my memories.
2. Who is your role model? My dad, Mortimer J. O’Neil. He raised me, taught me the O’Neil ways of to be a gentleman, to work hard at whatever I do.  He was funny, kind, street smart, happy, sad, religious, patriotic, union, reliable, and more.  I respected him always as a kind of “elder statesman,” filled with wisdom when needed.
3. What is your favorite book and why? I would choose a play, Shakespeare’s Othello. Yes, not a novel, not the Bible.  But the best Shakespeare did–for human weakness, love, lust, tragedy, marriage, evil, friendship, jealousy, treachery–all condensed, with some beautiful poetry, and a good story, too.  It’s my favorite.
4. What country would you like to live in? I have been to Turkey and Greece; I’ll take Turkey. I have been to France and to England; I’d take England.  I have this primal urge to visit Iceland.  Maybe Ireland.  I’m happy to spend the rest of my life here in the United States, right here in Florida.
5. What is your greatest strength? My greatest strength is my greatest weakness: over achievement. Perhaps some OCD thrown into the mix with my INFJ, and my bi-polarity.  Blend it all together with a bit of dusty shelves and chaotic sock drawers.  You get the picture.
6. What do you fear most? Having a stroke and being incapacitated, relying upon and being a burden to others.
7. If you could be an animal, which one would it be and why? No doubt a cat. I was never a cat lover.  However, since 1973, we’ve had seven cats, off and on.  From what I know of them, their lives, their little feet, I’m for them.  Oh, a black and white tuxedo, a Sylvester, of course.
8. What is most important to you in life? FAMIGLIA. HEALTH.  PEACE.
9. What is your favorite movie? My 100 Best Movies. My 10 Best Movies.  My Best Movie to watch over and over, to laugh, cry, and feel good?  “And the envelope, please.  IT’S A TIE!  CASABLANCA and SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE!”
10. What would you want to change in your life if you could? I know from the Butterfly Effect (a concept that small causes can have large effects) that my whole life would be different were one thing changed. (See the movie The Family Man, one of my favorites.)  So I want to change nothing, despite everything that I ever thought about changing.

    11.  What makes you angry?  Angry?  How politicians, mostly learned lawyers, are so    stupid and do such stupid things, pass stupid legislation, get involved in stupid situations, forgetting the law, the Constitution, and their constituents: the voters.  (It’s more upset-ness than anger.  ANGER from religious intolerance, and bigotry with violence.)

Then I was to make a list.  Some of this you have NEVER known.

11 RANDOM FACTS ABOUT MYSELF

–I used to be 5’10 ½”; now I am 5’9”…

–I had a cool tie collection with many tie-tacks.

–I have a Cross pen fetish.

–I am a member of NSS: The National Sedentary Society.  (We never meet.)

–INFJ

–I babysat for a WW2 Flying Tiger pilot’s baby son.

–I never was accepted into Northwestern U., but was by the U of Minnesota.

–I will eat almost any kind of soup, especially what my wife brews.

–I drove a mail truck; I also once or twice drove a school bus. 

–I have walked in snow up to my butt.

–I had a fantastic ride in a real WW2 B-17 bomber ($400 for ½ hour).

Now I will share a list of other writers whom I follow.  There are many others I read daily and could recommend.  But look at these for now.

https://theliterateshow.wordpress.com/

https://pensitivity101.wordpress.com/

http://teachezwell.me/

http://skinnyandsingle.ca/  

https://marthakennedy.wordpress.com/

http://jilldennison.com/

https://hintsandechoes.wordpress.com/

https://thisonpurpose.wordpress.com/

https://thebestthingsinlifeblog.com/

https://susanmillard.wordpress.com/

https://onesunnyplace.wordpress.com/

NOW HERE ARE MY QUESTIONS FOR MY NOMINATED BLOGGERS TO ANSWER:

Who is the most important person in your life today?

Have you seen a good movie lately?  What made it good?

Did your schooling connect to your life?

What makes you angry?

For what in your life do you feel most grateful?

For a person you loved deeply, would you be willing to move to a distant country knowing there would be little chance of seeing your friends or family again?

What is your most treasured memory?

Which sex do you think has it easier in your culture? 

What is the greatest accomplishment of your life? 

Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as your dinner guest?

What do you like best about your life?

* * *

So, OK?  HOW DID I DO?  DID I WIN?  DO I GET THE AWARD?

© James F. O’Neil  2016