meet your neighbor

. . .

I conducted a small survey made up of twelve short questions. The survey had no purpose other than to quench the curiosity about my fellow Minneapolitans. Folks were chosen at random. Everyone I approached, twelve in all, agreed to take the survey.

Click here to read the first four interviewees.


Neighbor #5



I asked if they would mind taking a survey. I repeated the question in my rusty, Peggy-Hill Spanish. They patiently sat through my wild hand-gesturing and butchering of their language, shrugged, and allowed me to take their photo.


Neighbor #6 & 7



They were sitting at a bus stop in front of the Gap. Neighbor 6: "What kind of survey? It better be quick." Neighbor 7: "Survey? Sure, okay. Do you want to ask us one at a time?" Neighbor 6: "No, she can ask us at the same time."

Where do you live?
#6: "Brookyln Park"
#7: "Minneapolis"

What do you do?
#6: "I'm a teacher." [where?] "at a middle school."
#7: "I sell produce."

If you could have any super power, what would it be?
#6: "I'd want to mind-read."
#7: "Oh, that's a good one. That's a good question. Well, I'd want the power to choose our government officials."
#6: "No, you wouldn't want to be in control or anything... ha ha."

In three adjectives, how would you describe yourself?
#6: "Interesting, kind, a listener."
#7: "Oh yes, I'd agree, she's a good listener. Well, hm. I guess I'm thoughtful... I'm fortunate... and I have a good soul."

What's your favorite city or town?
#6: "Santa Barbara, California."
#7: "Oh I've never gone there before!"
#6: "Well, we'll have to go now!"
#7: "Yeah. Oh, my favorite city. I like that question. I'd choose New York."
#6: "I knew you were going to say that!"

If you won the Powerball, what would be the first thing you'd do?
#6: "Oh easy, I'd set aside education funds for my nieces and nephews."
#7: "Oh, you thought about that already! Well, I'd put 5 million in the bank, and find ways to give the rest away."

In three words, how would you describe the United States?
#6: "I'll let you answer this one first. You're more opinionated than I am."
#7: "I would say it's still the best! ...and highly troubled. I think our common citizens need to wake up."
#6: "You mean, they're asleep."
#7: "Yes, exactly. They're asleep."
#6: "I'd have to say, it's irreplaceable. ["good one!" said neighbor 6] "Yes, and very troubled. It's a work-in-progress."
#7: "Oh I like that. A work-in-progress."

Do you own a gun? If not, would you?
#6: "No, and no."
#7: "Same here."

Who is your favorite movie star?
#6: "Kathleen Turner."
#7: "Ooh, Al Pacino! I like Meryl Streep, too."

What's the strangest thing you own?
#6: "A cadillac!"
#7: "Oh, I don't really have one. Oh, okay, a sail boat."
#6: "Yeah, you don't talk about that much anymore."
#7: "Yeah, I need a sailor."
I'll send you one.
#6: "Do you know one?"
No.

What's your favorite restaurant in Minneapolis?
#6: "P. F. Chang's"
#7: "Oh, I like Vincent's. I like restaurants that are independently owned."

Can you dance?
#6: "Social dance, yes, but not contemporary."
#7: "No!"

They said I should add another question the next time I do the survey.

What are you going to be in your next life?
#7: "I'd be an elementary school teacher by day, and a dancer by night."
Hm. What kind of dancer?
#7: "Modern or ballet."
#6: "I'd be a lawyer. Or a paralegal. But by night, I'd be a professional musician. Like in a band or orchestra."
#7: "Oh, good one!"
#6: "See what thirty years of friendship will do! I know how she'll answer these questions."

I had some penguin stickers in my back pocket. I asked if they'd like to have one. They both said yes.