Kiki Takes The Proust Questionnaire

1. What is your current state of mind? Believe me, NOBODY wants to know. I don’t even want to think about it! (yes, I’m THAT desperate right now)
2. What is your favorite journey? Right now, looking forward to move back to Switzerland. Until then, managing to just get through every day.
3. What is your idea of perfect happiness? Sitting at the shore of a lake, the sea, let my mind meander, read a book, watch the peaceful surroundings, have a drink, think deeply in total peace and serenity…. It changes with the day, the season, the situation.
4. What is your greatest fear? Astonishingly enough, I have no fear for myself. I have however great fear for the world, for future generations.
5. What is your most marked characteristic? Gosh, you mustn’t ask me! That would depend on the person you’re asking. Hero Husband “(HH)” finds me, at the same time, the person with the most empathy in this world, and (I’m sure) the most irritating too. I might say I’m a Seeker of ‘all things’. Truth, understanding, compassion, but also intellectual & cultural hunger. But don’t know if ‘seeker’ is even a correct word.
6. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Impatience. I don’t want to lose a single minute with people who ‘should know better’ but I have great patience with those who ‘don’t know any better’. Those of whom we say: He wasn’t nearby when Einstein met Edison.
7. What is the trait you most deplore in others? Not accepting responsibility, stupidity/ignorance.
8. What is your greatest extravagance? Being able to buy a book, a film, a gift without thinking about costs. Also being able to spoil somebody with a ‘little something’ (e.g. invite to a meal, bring a bunch of flowers, little things).
9. What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Obedience, one should always consider a bit of rebellion.
10. On what occasion do you lie? I am incapable of lying but do wish I could lie occasionally. Also, I think it’s too difficult to follow them up, as one lie is followed by another one. But it can be a hinderance (Just think passing through customs with too many bottles of wine; I have to pretend I’m in a deep slumber because an officer could see ‘problem’ in my terrified eyes). Is a lie out of kindness also a lie? Then, I do – for not blessing someone.
11. What do you dislike most about your appearance?  How about at least 10cm taller and maybe 10kg lighter?
12. Which living person do you most despise? Had to look this one up (again) as it was considered as a ‘very strong term’ several times in the past days (which in my understanding is by far not as strong as HATE). May I use dislike instead? People who wish to be superior, who are lording over others.
13. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? Sugar/Mince (instead of Shit and Merde). Using ‘Bloody’ ‘Whatever’ and ‘Anyway’ when speaking in English.
14. What is your greatest regret?  As it’s of no use whatsoever, I try not to. If my first marriage hadn’t provided me with a son, I might have regretted it. I have regretted stuff I didn’t have the power to change at the time.
15. What or who is the greatest love of your life? Hero Husband, my mother, my son (not in any particular order). About the ‘what’ it would be my dogs.
16. When and where were you happiest? I try to be happy every single day but as a period it was twice so far. My years in Torquay, Devon (UK), at the edge of the sea, and in Lutry, at the shore of Lac Léman (Switzerland). Hopefully my next LOOOONG happiness period will start sometime next year when we move back to Switzerland.
17. Which talent would you most like to have? Speedreading – I’m insanely jealous of HH who does it.
18. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? See question 11 & being more patient – Apart from that, I made my peace with myself.
19.  If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? Being less strict, more lenient. There are things I could have done better many years back; such as not marrying so young and divorcing much earlier.
20. What do you consider your greatest achievement?  Having brought up my son to be a wonderful, honest and kind man. Also, I’m still occasionally astonished that at the ripe age of 40+ – I’ve become the person I like to live with.
21. What is your most treasured possession? Earthly: My cello. Spiritually: A sharp brain and a soft heart.
22. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Again, had to look the proper meaning up, but I have no answer. I’ve known several people, young and old, who killed themselves and I think they had a great dose of courage, because I wouldn’t.
23. Where would you like to live? Somewhere near the water, preferably one of the Swiss lakes, in peace and serenity.
24. What is your favorite occupation? Reading
25. What is the quality you most like in a man? Humility, honesty, kindness.
26. What is the quality you most like in a woman? Kindness, warmth. Honesty.
27. What do you most value in your friends? Honesty, love and their enthusiasm to stand for what they believe in.
28. Who are your favorite writers? Mostly women writers but I can’t list them all. There are so many, and sometimes it’s (just) one book which marks me deepest.
29. Who is your favorite hero of fiction? I have no fictional hero.
30. What is it that you most dislike? Dishonesty, lying.
31. Who are your heroes in real life? My parents, my 1^st mother in law, the countless parents who manage to raise their children to decent human beings in this fu…d up world.
32. How would you like to die? If I could choose, peacefully in my sleep. Anyway (there we go!): Is there a life before death?
33. If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be? No idea; I believe in an afterlife but I’m not sure if I’d make a good butterfly, or a 2^nd Mother Theresa. Oh stop!!!! How about ‘that’ Golden Retriever, a Labrador, a wonderful ‘Street Mix’ on four paws?! I think I’d like that. (I often, often said that I’d like to be MY dog…..)
34. What is your motto? Try to be happy, every day. Smile often, be thankful.
35. Bonus Question: How did you find my blog?  If only I knew! I thought it was via Dale, but it wasn’t.
36. Bonus Question: Why do you keep coming back to this Blog?Because you get me every day, in a short, sweet, pensive, funny, unexpected (maybe except Wednesdays!) fashion. Because I’m hooked on your writing. Because you are YOU; David Kanigan, a little Everyday Hero with a Big Heart

Notes:

• Selfie of Kiki which she’s titled “terrible selfie Kiki” with her additional commentary: “had to make it b&w, I have tons of curly hair, but it’s all white and I took the pic at near darkness….. Also my arm is not long enough to get a good distance and my hand not steady enough for a sharp take. Sorry! Told you so.…” (Don’t you just love her!)
• Kiki is a virtual friend and faithful follower and kindly agreed to share her responses to the Proust Questionnaire.  Kiki Flickr photo blog site can be found here.
• The Proust Questionnaire has its origins in a parlor game popularized (though not devised) by Marcel Proust, the French essayist and novelist, who believed that, in answering these questions, an individual reveals his or her true nature.  (Source: Vanity Fair)