Whenever I ask someone what their favorite something or other is--such as a favorite food, book, movie, sport, SI swimsuit model--the response is generally coupled with a somewhat odd look, resembling the visage of a recently castrated bull (Note: Animals whose genitalia have undergone a recent removal tend to have a sort of frightened yet faraway look in their eyes after such operations, much like those nervous people who can't answer a question they ought to know the answer to). Now, some people, like Julie Andrews, have an automated and immediate answer for those types of questions, and such individuals have no problem replying that their favorite things include raindrops, kittens' whiskers, doorbells, apple strudel, ponies, and wild geese (Note: Yes, that is from The Sound of Music, though it sounds more like something from The Producers). Really, you might think more people would know what their favorite things are. "But they don't!" (from film A Man for All Seasons).
So what? you ask. What is the big deal about not knowing what your favorite food or sport or TV show is? I think the big deal lies in the fact that much of what we do involves interaction with other people and making relationships; that means getting to know them, what they like, what they dislike, etc. If we do not know those sorts of things about ourselves, how are they supposed to know? Such self-ignorance begets other-ignorance and leaves a rift in what could have been an otherwise strong relationship. Wait, wait. Don't you think that's a little melodramatic about it? you ask. Am I really? I wasn't aware that making a big deal out of knowing such things about your family and friends was being melodramatic. I apologize.
Okay, fine, you say. We get the point. But how are we supposed to figure out something like that? Especially with subjects as broad as favorite movies, favorite books, and so on. I mean, "I could no sooner choose a favorite star in the heavens" (from film Ever After). Well, personally, I think it's all about being specific and taking time to figure things out. Try this for a model:
Questioner: What's your favorite book?
Me: Well, my favorite young adult novel is Banner in the Sky by James Ramsey Ullman. My favorite fantasy novel is The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien. My favorite science fiction novel is Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis.
Questioner: Do you have a favorite author?
Me: Sure. My favorite American writer is Mark Twain. My favorite children's author is Dr. Seuss. French author: Albert Camus. Italian: Dante Alighieri. German: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. American poet: Robert Frost. Non-fiction....
Questioner: Wow, sounds like you read a lot. You probably don't have much time to watch movies.
Me: Actually, I do watch movies. My favorite action movie is Gladiator. My favorite romantic comedy is...
And so on and so forth. Got the picture? You know, we often make the mistake of thinking that the question "What is your favorite..." means pinning it down to one thing which stands above all others. But even Julie Andrews couldn't do that. All you need to do is think about it for a while, then categorize the subject into subgroups. If you are still indecisive or having trouble figuring it out then, divide the already divided groups further. In the end of your introspective endeavor, I am certain you will, in effect, have done as the Greek philosopher Thales suggests, namely "know thyself." And when someone asks you for a favorite sushi restaurant, you'll pop off an answer just like that (Note: I just snapped my fingers when I wrote "that"). And "then [you won't] feel so bad" (see film The Sound of Music).
(Note: Should some of your favorite things happen to be bright copper kettles, warm woolen mittens, and brown paper packages tied up with strings, you don't actually have to sing about them)
My Favorite Things
Favorite cut of meat: T-bone steak
Favorite type of pasta: farfalle
Favorite day of the year: April 20 (Note: Hey, it was my favorite day before the cannabis activists turned it into a national holiday. Okay, it really wasn't. And it actually isn't. But it happens to be the day that Michael Jordan set a record for most points in an NBA playoff game, which leads me to the next category)
Favorite retired NBA player: Gary Payton (Betcha thought I was gonna say Michael Jordan!)
Favorite type of tomato: Roma, of course. A tomato by any other name would smell...like a tomato. But it's still my favorite.
Favorite season: Autumn. Or fall, if you prefer (Go ahead, fall. Just don't whine if you hurt yourself).
Favorite country: Italy
Favorite U.S. president: Ulysses S. Grant (Note: He only beats Abraham Lincoln because he's on the fifty dollar bill and Lincoln's only on the five; if Ben Franklin had been a president he would have beaten them both)
Favorite continent: Europe
Favorite Indian pacifist: Mahatma Ghandi
Favorite non-white poet: Gwendolyn Brooks
Favorite mythological character: Teiresias, the blind prophet from Sophocles' "Oedipus the King"
Favorite Will Ferrell quote: See title.
What are yours?
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