20 Questions About Childhood for Your AI Autobiography
What was childhood like for you? What was your family like? What was your first memory?
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And now, on to today’s essay, followed by a fun Miscellaneous Miscellany.
The idea for this series of questions about your life came to me last month, around my father’s birthday. He would have turned 77. As many stories as I heard and have from him, I wish I knew more.
Maybe that’s a natural desire when a parent passes away relatively young — 63, in my father’s case.
How wonderful it would be to hear my Dad’s own voice, answering questions about his life, his childhood, his work, his friendships, and his and my Mom’s undoubtedly amazing experiences raising my brother and me.
In the first essay, I offered questions to help kickstart this exercise. Turn on the heat, prime the pump, or whatever analogy you wish to use.
In this one, we dive into questions concerning the specifics of your childhood and upbringing.
Again, I repeat the invitation: to tell more — to share the nuanced details. Don’t fret if the words don’t come out as smoothly or as polished as you’d like. That’s okay. The gift comes from getting them out.
What is your first memory?
What did you like to do as a child? What did you do indoors? Outdoors? With whom?
Talk about your siblings. Which number child were you? Do you have step- or half-siblings? Were you close to one another growing up? Are you close now?
Tell me about your mother. Where was she from? Did she work or stay at home? How would you describe her? How would you describe your relationship with her when you were a child? How about now?
Same questions for your father.
How did your parents meet? What was their relationship like? What sort of home life did they make for you? Was it comfortable? Did you have enough? Was it fun? Serious? Tension-filled? Unpredictable? How did your parents interact with you?
What trips did you take as a child? Did you visit family? Did you drive or fly? Where did your friends’ families go?
What were meals like in your family? Did your family cook or eat out more often? What food did you like best? Least? Were you picky? What was your favorite dessert?
What sports did you play? On a school or traveling team? In your neighborhood? What clubs or activities did you participate in?
What made you smile or laugh as a kid?
Did you have any pets growing up? What kinds? What were their names? How did you feel when they passed away?
How close was your extended family? Did any family members live nearby? Did you do much with them? What family members played a major role in your upbringing? Grandparents? Aunts and uncles? Cousins? What stories do you recall about them?
Did you like school? Why or why not? Do any teachers stand out as special in your childhood? Why?
What were your classmates like? Who were your friends? Are you still friends with them?
Tell me about your first crush.
As you look back, how would you describe your childhood?
What was high school like? What was your group of friends like? How would you describe yourself from those years?
Did anything strange, unexpected, joyous, or tragic happen to you, your family, or your friends in these years? What?
Did you prefer to spend time by yourself or with others?
What’s your favorite memory from growing up? When and how does that memory come back to you? Hearing a song? Watching a movie? Visiting your parents?
Miscellaneous Miscellany
Econ 101 matters. And some of us need to read Economics in One Lesson, and Alex Tabarrok’s and Tyler Cowen’s excellent Modern Principles of Economics.
Paul Kingsnorth tells a compelling tale about the little-known St. Govan. Hey, I kinda believe it….
My daughter really loves duck and asked me to smoke one this past weekend. Years ago, I used this recipe and so I returned to it. Lovely flavor and tender, juicy meat. My skin didn’t turn out as well as in the video, but far better than my first attempt. Winner, winner, ducky dinner.
My copy of Stephen Fry’s “reimagining” of the Odyssey arrived this week and I cannot wait to dive in.
Traveling this summer? Think about the books you want to read in those far-flung corners of this beautiful world.
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