Our Answers To Big Questions

[princessbelle]

Originally Posted by Blade

Question # 5 1-30-11

How do colors and music change our moods?

I am somewhat of a "color-freak". Color is a huge part of my life and i tend to pick up color or aura's from people so if i "feel" a dark or cloudy or a sort of liquid with sediment color, it does affect my mood especially if i know this person.

I also soak in and notice the colors around me often. Even in buildings and other people's homes and they do affect my mood.

Music? oh gosh yeah....let me listen to a sad song and tears drip off my chin. Give me some ACDC and i'm dancing and sliding around in my socks all over the house.

Rock on!!!!

[Blade]

QUESTION #6 2/8/11

Why do we eat after funerals?

[The_Lady_Snow]

Originally Posted by Blade

QUESTION #6 2/8/11

Why do we eat after funerals?

I did not experience the eating after a funeral until I came to America, where I came from the body layed out at the family home, people came to visit, bringing food, drink, candles, and herbs and dried plants to help with transition. Occasionally a live chicken made an appearance, but it wasn't for dinner.

The food was brought the family could do body vigils, pray, etc. without the family having to worry about that task, laundry was done by the ladies in the neighborhood.

In other words word... I dunno

[girl_dee]

Originally Posted by The_Lady_Snow

I did not experience the eating after a funeral until I came to America, where I came from the body layed out at the family home, people came to visit, bringing food, drink, candles, and herbs and dried plants to help with transition. Occasionally a live chicken made an appearance, but it wasn't for dinner.

The food was brought the family could do body vigils, pray, etc. without the family having to worry about that task, laundry was done by the ladies in the neighborhood.

In other words word... I dunno

You have definately been to a clone family of mine.

Cajun's lay the body out a love oned, stay up all night (hence the term *wake*) fasting and having rituals (bring your own chicken style)... . bury the dearly departed the next day and then have a huge buffet style free for all feast. Everyone brings some yummy dishes to the feast and tends to the mourning family for a while doing chores and errands... and of course lots of drinking..

What a sendoff

[Gemme]

Originally Posted by Blade

QUESTION #6 2/8/11

Why do we eat after funerals?

Food is comfort. That's why the obesity rate is so out of control. Speaking of control.....a lot of folks feel out of control where death is concerned. Food, they feel they can control. Ergo, food gives folks a sense of comfort and/or control is a very emotionally charged time.

[princessbelle]

Originally Posted by Blade

QUESTION #6 2/8/11

Why do we eat after funerals?

I know when my father died and then my brother, my mom's house was packed with people. We all cried and told stories about them. But, then what. You just sorta sit around. Well, people do get hungry and it is one less thing for the "family" to have to deal with if people bring food for everyone to eat. It takes the burdon off of the family to worry about entertaining guests....even in that situation ...you still worry bout that.

Also, food is comfort.

Most importantly probably it is a way of showing love to the family. A way of reaching out to them and feeling that you've done "something".

[cinderella]

Yes, my love, I can see and understand that. I've attended many wakes - Puerto Rican's wakes are no different from Irish wakes - lots of food, liquor and reminises and jokes. What the closest of us to the 'dearly departed' will never regain, is the love and warmth, and yes, the bad aspects of them we will miss...

Originally Posted by princessbelle

I know when my father died and then my brother, my mom's house was packed with people. We all cried and told stories about them. But, then what. You just sorta sit around. Well, people do get hungry and it is one less thing for the "family" to have to deal with if people bring food for everyone to eat. It takes the burdon off of the family to worry about entertaining guests....even in that situation ...you still worry bout that.

Also, food is comfort.

Most importantly probably it is a way of showing love to the family. A way of reaching out to them and feeling that you've done "something".

[The_Lady_Snow]

Originally Posted by cinderella

Yes, my love, I can see and understand that. I've attended many wakes - Puerto Rican's wakes are no different from Irish wakes - lots of food, liquor and reminises and jokes. What the closest of us to the 'dearly departed' will never regain, is the love and warmth, and yes, the bad aspects of them we will miss...

s
Do you know why we eat after funerals?

[cinderella]

Because we can...? We're still alive and able to do so. Not so much for those we've buried.

Originally Posted by The_Lady_Snow

s
Do you know why we eat after funerals?

[Soft*Silver]

I am going to guess we eat after funerals out of necessity.

I am going to go back to the agrian time to pre-industrial where towns were popping up and neighbors pulled together. Deaths were a family matter, the dead kept at home, bathed and clothed and presented at the house. Relatives were given notice to come see and pay their respects. Sometimes it was a long buggy drive. People came hungry. Locals brought food to help feed the kin and friends. They also chipped in and took care of the farm chores too. Feeding horses, collecting eggs, milking cows. These things all had to be done. Animals dont care if someone died. An udder is full and needs expressed. People chipped in and helped out with that too. We just dont have something similar to that in today's lifestyle to follow suit like we do with eating. People still come from far away and need fed....at least, thats how it all started.

[ravfem]

Originally Posted by The_Lady_Snow

s
Do you know why we eat after funerals?

it's funny, i was just talking about the rituals surrounding death & funerals recently.... when i was young, the body was brought to the house (and in the case of my uncle, a soldier who died in Vietnam, a soldier came with the body and stayed there at the house, beside the casket the entire time).

Everyone, whether they knew the family or not, brought food. So much that a lot of it was thrown out eventually.

i think that some of it is that, at least in the culture i grew up in, you offer food at any & all occasions, happy or sad, as a way to socialize, show respect, love & either sympathy or congratulations. i remember more than one occasion when a family member would say something like, "i have to fix something to take with me before i can go over there", and also, "did you see that so&so didn't even bring a store bought cake?!" It just wasn't done, especially store-bought stuff!

my granny fed us til we couldn't eat another thing & then kept trying to push food on us... it was her only way of showing love.

[Gemme]

I got distracted while posting earlier and I forgot something about colors.

There's a strong influence with pride and colors. Red/white/blue have been taught to us to equal national pride. The colors of one's flag of origin usually brings forth pride. With the superbowl as an example, there's even a song on the radio RIGHT NOW depicting the link between color and pride...."Black and yellow"...about the Steelers and Pittsburgh pride.

[Blade]

Question 2/27

What's the fine line between seeing that your needs are met and being selfish?

[princessbelle]

Originally Posted by Blade

Question 2/27

What's the fine line between seeing that your needs are met and being selfish?

Wow great question. My honest answer is I don't know.

I think i probably struggle with this one. I tend to be on the "oh i'm ok, no problems" side rather than risk appearing selfish. But in doing that it is also performing an injustice to myself.

I agree it is a fine line and I admit i need to work on this one.

Thanks for the question!!!!

[weatherboi]

Originally Posted by Blade

Question 2/27

What's the fine line between seeing that your needs are met and being selfish?

I am not sure if that fine line can be identified because it seems both those things would be in a constant state of relativity with each other. I guess finding a balance between both would be a start.

[Blade]

Not sure I know the answer to this either. I've seen good times and hard times. Usually my hard times were my own fault and my good times were due to my hard work. Though I have had times that were hard that were beyond my control.

I guess what I'm saying is it selfish to have all my needs met and have 3 motorcycles, 4 trucks, 2 cars, a camper, a house and land and contribute to charity and have money in the bank. I don't think so not when you work for it. Would it be selfish if I saw someone in need and not help them, knowing I had everything I needed and much more, sure it would.

I think sometimes we think we need more than we actually do. Why have 4 trucks? Well I bought them all new and paid for them and didn't trade them, they were mine and they weren't eating anything. Did I need them NO, but I was glad to have them when other people needed something to drive, due to various reasons.

So I'm on the fence on this question. shrugs....

[Soft*Silver]

Originally Posted by Blade

Question 2/27

What's the fine line between seeing that your needs are met and being selfish?

this is an easy one. Being selfish is when you put your needs above all others. Getting your needs met is simply standing in line...

[Gemme]

Originally Posted by Blade

Question 2/27

What's the fine line between seeing that your needs are met and being selfish?

The two are not necessarily related. You can be one and not the other or have both circumstances at the same time. I'm not exactly sure how to answer this one.

[Blade]

QUESTION 3/11

Would you like to know the precise date of your death?
Why or why not??

[Gemme]

Originally Posted by Blade

QUESTION 3/11

Would you like to know the precise date of your death?
Why or why not??

Absolutely. If I was the only one who knew. I'm not as squicked out by death as many people are. It would give me freedom to actually live my life, I think, and the time to plan things just so, in order to make sure that I get done what I need to get done before I go. The planner and list maker in me would just go bananas with this information. I would see it as a personal challenge to see if I can do everything I want and need to do before the bell dings.