Responding to questions from sonatanator :

1. What’s the most flustered/awkwardly speechless you’ve ever been?
One Sunday at church when I was a kid I was suddenly chosen to say the offeratory prayer before the collection plates went around the sanctuary at the morning service. I was absolutely petrified, but obviusly couldn’t say no. I mumbled some lame words into the microphone for the whole church to hear. I remember that my prayer ended something like, “I pray you will use this money for your good, and I know you will.” 

2. Since we had an enjoyable but brief meet-up back in March, what would you like to propose for a second get together (which I hope will happen). Be as fanciful or realistic as you wish.
Well, if you come back to Chicago it’d be cool to catch a flick at the Siskel Film Center and then go for dinks somewhere. After all, you’ve often said that after a few drinks you lose control 🙂

3. Of the five senses, how do they rank for you from most vividly connected to your memory to least? Give an example of a strong memory association for each one.
I’ve always had a particularly vivid visual memory. Which is perhaps one of the reasons I love film so much. A mind-picture acts as a trigger for my memory of the other senses: how I felt at that moment, what the place felt like, the sounds around me.  Lastly would be my senses of taste and smell. Those are more abstract for me. For example, I remember the first time I saw “Lost Highway.” Opening weekend. And every time I see the film again the images and sounds instantly take me back to that afternoon in the movie theater at 600 North Michigan, the goosbumps on my skin, how the last shot of the film completely took my breath away. The thrill that made me buy another ticket for the very next screening.