your eternal memory
i had watched the movie "After Life", a japanese-made film about a place that people go to where they die. here, workers, something like social workers, work with you to help decide what memory you would like to take with you to the after life as all the other memories will be erased from your mind. people chose memories such as the feeling of putting their head on their mother's lap to sitting under a cherry blossom tree with petals falling all around them to experiencing the first moment of being in love. one man even described a moment when he was 5-6 months old, lying in the sun, feeling the warmth on his body.

so my question to you is this :
what is the earliest memory you have? if you needed to choose a memory that you would want to remember for eternity in your after life, what do you think it would be at this point of your life...?

don't worry if you can't decide right now... the people in the movie had 3 days...

passions... the journey...
ever since i've posted this question, i've been kicking around an answer in my head. i'm not sure there IS an answer at this time, as i'm still figuring it out... but i do know a few things that i enjoy doing ("the intense emotion of zeal and enthusiasm", if you will.. hehe, joanie, i was going to put the definition too, but you beat me to the punch -- us diesels think alike ;) ):

likha
most of my time is devoted to dance and likha. in the beginning, when i first started, i joined likha because bev said "come with me because i dont want to go by myself!" -- it was either me or ardees that would go with her, and since i wasnt busy that sunday afternoon, i decided to check it out.... four seasons later...it turned into an art/life that i really enjoy and love. i've experienced so much since i've joined -- performing (esp in the PI), learning more about the culture, the music, the instruments, the costumes, the different cultures of the 7000 islands (well, maybe not ALL of the islands...), the people behind it... it's such a cool thing to be a part of and i find that i am in touch with my heritage. =) thanks bev, for dragging me. ;)

hockey
i like that fact that i play a sport, and that it's inline hockey (hm, i'd like to play ice sometime.. damn, that's hardcore...) -- not everyone does it, and i'd like to be good at it.. maybe someday when i have more time (oh boy!). even though it's a drive over to alameda, and the games are sometimes at 10pm, i dont mind going to play. it's exciting -- there's that rush you get when you're out there, trying to lunge for the puck, skating, trying to get it from the opposing team (kicking ass in the process), and being a part of a team effort to score the goal. i dont expect to play in the NHL or on the US women's olympic hockey team (hm, now THAT would be a goal.....), but it's a fun game and a great way to work out. (i have this aversion to gym memberships, but we can get into that some other time...)

journal
i've found that keeping a journal is helping me realize my passions in life. writing what i feel is the outlet for me (ahem, blogging [thanks gary], and actually writing in a regular journal [thanks nees]). i think lately, since i've been on the go, i've been taking for granted some things, such as "me" time. the journal is a way to look inside myself and see, well, ME. ;)

family and friends
spending time with them is what i also enjoy. especially if i can spend time with them while i'm doing those activities i have passion for. i feel blessed to have such a wonderful family and friends who are supportive and loving (that includes you guys on "sinabinila"! =) man, i'm feeling mushy... *hugs* to you all)

travel
going to different places for a change of pace satisfies the adventurer in me (funny how i'd like to think i'm adventurous, but also thrive on routine...). i'd like to plan at least one big trip a year. and the mini last-minute-ones are just as cool, too! i'm glad that my job has given me the avenue to travel different parts of this country (i'm not sure i'd find myself in Overland Park, Kansas, on any given day...). and then there are friends i have still yet to visit (vancouver and edmonton are places i NEED to go! ;)) and so many other places, but as of late, because of situation at work and also lack of vacation time, i'm unable to explore the furthest reaches of europe and australia. esp london. june, maybe? we'll just have to see...

on the horizon
other things i'd like to do: swimming, rock climbing, yoga, gardening, learn how to cook, re-visit crocheting (i used to do that a LOT), learn to paint w. watercolors, ride in a hot air balloon, fly my kite, start a family, continue to play the guitar, sing in a church choir again, and maybe even explore a new career in voice-over and radio announcing... among some things... but not in that order... hehe ;)

thus far, in my journey to fulfill my resolution this year, my one biggest fear is spreading myself too thin. am i loosing sight of what i'm passionate about because i'm doing too much or trying too hard to figure it out....? time will tell.
but life is just a journey, so does that mean i'm passionate about life, embracing it with all that interests me? i'd like to think so. =)

[san francisco - Coffee House, 17th street]

Computers and gadgets (but you all knew that!)
I don't know if I would call it passion or an obsession? ;-) In the beginning, it started with my first Commodore 128 my dad bought me. I wanted one of those new Macinstosh's, but they were wayyyyy too expensive! Imagine, the first macs that came out with 16k of RAM for more than $2,000! Our palm pilots sport 8mb or more! But I digress...

When I discovered the laser printer in high school, I was hooked even more! It was just totally amazing to me how I can print my reports that looked like magazine or newspaper fonts (vs the dot matrix look). On top of that, I could add inline graphics! I was really headed to the molecular biologist / genetic engineer route, but it was computers that changed my path.

My imagination is limitless with it. I can create light sabers, clone people, design, etc. It is almost like magic! When I started getting paid for it, it was even better because I am doing what I love. On top of that, I get to "share" many of these experiences with pictures and the Internet with friends and family afar...

Life
I know that this is a generic term, but every day has to be awesome! Think about it, life is short. I try to learn everything I can, explore, and just enjoy what God has put on this earth. We should all be thankful that we are fortunate to have healthy lives with great family and friends surrounding us...

[berkeley]

pas'sion (pash'en) n. 1. intense emotion: anger; rage; ardent love; zeal; enthusiasm. 2. The object of admiration. 3, (cap.) the sufferings of Christ in his last days, in preparation for the Crucifixion

*
It's almost too easy to say that photography is my passion. Can passion include mediocrity? Can I be lukewarm at photography but still be passionate about it? Yes :: I'm thinking out loud, and I've just answered my own question. :: Success lies in the marriage of passion, talent and hard work.

I don't know if i can use Webster's words above to describe how I feel towards photography. I don't know why I want to pursue it. I want to be great at it, but that seems too selfish. Why did Eva Hesse, William Eggleston, Garcia-Lorca, Dalí, + Helen Levitt become artists? Can I join their ranks? Were they passionate about their work, or did they just do it without trying to define the role of art in their lives?

Considering the word is used to describe an act of Christ, I don't know what photography is to me, but it certainly is on a higher plane than anything I've ever wanted to say I've done. Even if I fail, I don't want photography to be something I never attempted. If that defines passion, then I suppose that's it. P for passion. P for photography.

What am I passionate about?

Like you, I'm still trying to figure it out. I know I'm into physical fitness, but whether or not that's a passion I'm not sure. I've always wanted to try rock climbing, water skiing (gotta learn to swim first), yoga, etc., but trying to find time to fit all this into my already busy schedule is a wee bit difficult.

I'm not really sure what else...Never really thought about it before. Good topic though, Bern! :-)