1. FIRST NAME? Charles, Chuck, Charly, Shorty, Hot-Shot.

2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yes, Charles for my Grandpa, Charles D. Mouser and Ray for my Dad, Arley Ray Hinman.

3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? March 22, 2006 when I was notified my daughter had taken her life, and several times since.

4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? No -- it's terrible. I have a neurological disorder called "essential tremor." My right hand shakes uncontrollably when I try to concentrate on doing something specific like using a screwdriver, writing, eating, using a key. Curiously it does not affect my playing the keyboard I suppose because there is some downward pressure involved.

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? Salami.

6. KIDS? If the implication of the question is whether I like them, the answer is "Absolutely." Last week when I was waiting for the Tallgrass bus at Wal-Mart's a cute grandmotherly type woman sat down with a little newborn and I was hoping she would offer to let me hold her (the grandmother -- not the baby!) but it didn't happen.

7. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOURSELF? Yes and the reason is I have a good image of myself and like what I see. That is not being egotistical. It's healthy to like yourself.

8. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? Not a daily one as such, but I write obsessively about my life and wish everyone else did.

9. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Not "a lot" but I find it a useful writing tool when it doesn't offend anyone.

10. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Answer is Yes -- which reminds me I need to write a story about sibling rivalry. Brother Bob had his removed when he was six years old. Doctor Warner presented his tonsils to him pickled in a bottle of formaldehyde and he (Bob) lorded it over me for years showing his tonsils to company whenever they came. I was so jealous because I didn't have any body parts in a bottle to show.

11. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Lord no! Heights scare the p-waddin' out of me!

12. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Oatmeal with brown sugar, raisins, and milk.

13. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Yes but I push each shoe off with the big toe of the other foot.

14. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Blue Bell Vanilla.

15. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? My legs are exceptionally strong from years of bicycle riding and in later years from jogging. On the other hand, my upper body strength is unusually weak, especially my hands.

16. SHOE SIZE? 11 B. The Hinman side of the family had narrow feet and I inherited that characteristic.

17. RED OR PINK? Don't say "or," say "and/or"! I like both.

18. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Physically, I don't like my tendency to obesity. Temperamentally, I dislike my short fuse. I tend to "blow-up" under the least provocation.

19. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Answer is my daughter Mary Ann. She was too young to die!

20. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? No, I am realistic. Not everyone has the time it takes.

21. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Tan/tan.

22. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? I am essentially deaf but I hear the A/C fan and this noisy keyboard.

23. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Phosphorescent orange or green. I like vivid colors, not milque toast colors. YUK!

24. FAVORITE SMELL? Elizabeth Arden's RED DOOR essence.

25. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My son Paul in Tulsa. He checks in frequent to see "what's up?" He checked my calendar for Thanksgiving.

26. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? If they converse easily and without struggling.

27. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON THAT SENT THIS TO YOU? Oh Yes, very much. She is my first college roommate's widow and we hit it off great. She doesn't have an agenda that I have detected. We like each other for what we were before we met which is non-threatening and what I am looking for in a friend.

28. FAVORITE DRINK? Ice water preferably from a spring.

29. FAVORITE SPORT? Nebraska football, Houston Astros baseball, women's fast-pitch softball, gymnastics, ice-skating, women's billiards.

30. EYE COLOR? Any but I know it when I see it.

31. HAT SIZE? 7 5/8 at least. My head is large with a modest size brain so I am told.

32. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No.

33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDING? My attention span is too short to watch movies; besides that I fall asleep frequently and lose the story line.

34. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED AT THE THEATRE? Can't remember it's been so long ago. Perhaps "Golden Pond" -- don't I sound dull and uninteresting.

35. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? No shirt; I'm writing this sitting in my jockey shorts ready for bed at any time.

36. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter! We have had a succession of triple digit weather and I am tiring of it.

37. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs.

38. FAVORITE DESSERT. Lemon Meringue Pie.

39. WHO'S MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? One of Jo's sons.

40. WHO IS LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Sabrina -- she is too busy serving in the armed forces in Iraq. Thanks Sabrina for what you do.

41. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? The Fun Way to Serious Bridge by Harry Lampert and the book of Luke in the Bible.

42. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Cookie crumbs from this afternoon. I had no idea you could see them. Perhaps I need to slip into my robe!

43. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Houston Astros.

44. FAVORITE SOUND? Most any sound. I'm quite handicapped by my hearing. I would most like to have my hearing of music restored. I am a musician who can not hear what I play.

45. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? To my knowledge I don't recall hearing either.

46. WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT POSITION? I am 84 years old. I have outlived most everyone in my family. I have trusted Christ as my saver (Savior) so that my "position" is that I will go to heaven when I pass away. Two of my favorite people are already there, Connie and Mary Ann. I am anxious to see them. I am ready when I hear the invitation "Come on up? -- your place is ready!"

Chuck Hinman