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Come back in next life as? A good novelist. A palm tree in Hawaii.

June 21, 2020 by 28 Comments

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Being at home, watching a good movie with my husband. Dining out with good friends.

What is your greatest fear? Fear.

Which living person do you most admire? Both Obamas.

What is the trait you most deplore in others? Bigotry. Narcissism.

What is your greatest extravagance? My Toto toilet.

What is your favorite journey? Coming home.

On what occasion do you lie? When it might hurt someone to tell the truth.

Which living person do you most despise? The one who thinks only of himself. (Fill in the blank.)

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? I’m so glad we had this time together.

What or who is the greatest love of your life? My husband.

Which talent would you most like to have? To play a mean piano. Also, to tap-dance like Eleanor Powell. (For those who are too young, check her out on YouTube.)

What is your current state of mind? Acceptance.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? My tendency to worry about the future if there’s nothing you can do about it.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Career-wise, it would be being the first woman allowed to host a comedy variety show.

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be? Person: A good novelist. Thing: A palm tree in Hawaii.

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be? My spoiled cat.

What is your most treasured possession? My late daughter’s cross necklace.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Hopelessness.

Where would you like to live? Right where I am.

What is your favorite occupation? Making people laugh.

What is your most marked characteristic? Optimism.

What is the quality you most like in a man? A sense of humor and kindness.

What is the quality you most like in a woman? A sense of humor and kindness.

What do you most value in your friends? A sense of humor and kindness.

Who are your favorite writers? John Steinbeck, Joan Didion, Stephen Sondheim, and lately, Randy Rainbow.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Atticus Finch.

Who are your heroes in real life? First responders. Caregivers.

What are your favorite names? Carrie, Jody, Erin, Kate, Zoey, Jack, Charlie.

What is it that you most dislike? Egotism and rudeness.

How would you like to die? In my sleep.

What is your motto? To be untouched by success and untroubled by failure.

~ Carol Burnett, from “Carol Burnett Answers the Proust Questionnaire” in Vanity Fair, June 17, 2020.

Portrait: Detroit Free Press. Carol Burnett @ The Golden Globes in 2016

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Beth Takes The Proust Questionnaire

January 10, 2020 by 29 Comments

  1. What is your current state of mind?  I am calm, peaceful, happy, looking forward to the new year and new adventures.
  2. What is your favorite journey?  A long walk through the woods.
  3. What is your idea of perfect happiness?  My family and friends happy and healthy, me in love, a book, a hot cup of coffee, a good film, a blanket.
  4. What is your greatest fear?  That I would outlive one of my children
  5. What is your most marked characteristic? My ability to always see the positive side of things
  6. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?  My lack of control over my blurting or interrupting (just because I’m excited or have a story or idea)
  7. What is the trait you most deplore in others?  Cruelty.
  8. What is your greatest extravagance? Very soft things- clothes, scarves, fabric, blankets, bed – worth every penny
  9. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?  Having to be the best 
  10. On what occasion do you lie? To save someone’s heart
  11. Dislike most about your appearance? My height is 5′ 3″ – it would be fun to be tall sometimes, but I’m okay with it overall
  12. Which living person do you most despise?  Our current president – so much cruelty flows from him
  13. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?  ‘done’
  14. What is your greatest regret? that I wasn’t able to have more time with my daughters when they were young and I was busy trying to make life better for all of us
  15. What or who is the greatest love of your life?  my family
  16. When and where were you happiest?   when all of my family is together
  17. Which talent would you most like to have?   to be a singer with a beautiful voice and a dancer with grace
  18. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?   to spend more time helping those less fortunate in life
  19. If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?   that they would never have to suffer
  20. What do you consider your greatest achievement?  my children
  21. What is your most treasured possession? my 7 dollar wooden kitchen table made from one plank of wood (found at the Salvation Army and a gift from my children)
  22. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?   losing a love
  23. Where would you like to live?   in a quiet small home near the water and woods
  24. What is your favorite occupation?  writing
  25. What is the quality you most like in a man?  kindness, compassion, humor, honesty  
  26. What is the quality you most like in a woman?  same as #25
  27. What do you most value in your friends?  loyalty
  28. Who are your favorite writers?  pat conroy, roald dahl, ann patchett, fredrick backman, david sedaris, bill bryson, erma bombeck, rod serling
  29. Who is your favorite hero of fiction? King Arthur
  30. What is it that you most dislike?  clowns/dentists
  31. Who are your heroes in real life?  children
  32. How would you like to die?   asleep in my soft bed, dreaming
  33. If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?  a pygmy goat living on a lavender farm
  34. What is your motto? “this is the best day ever.”
  35. Bonus Question: How did you find my blog? I have no memory of my stumbling upon you, just that is was a pleasant experience from the get-go
  36. Bonus Question: Why do you keep coming back to this Blog?  because it is beautiful, heartfelt, thoughtful, kind, and intelligent. it offers me food for thought and a wonderful aesthetic experience, plus I love to give my feedback/opinion. 

Notes:

  • Beth is a virtual friend and faithful follower (and me of her blog) and she kindly agreed to share her responses to the Proust Questionnaire. When I think of Beth, I think of her in response #5. She is exceptional. You can find her website and bio here: I didn’t have my glasses on.
  • See prior Proust Questionnaires.
  • 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)
Filed Under: Inspire, Life, Photography, Quotes Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Mimi Takes The Proust Questionnaire

January 7, 2020 by 32 Comments

  1. What is your current state of mind?  A pint of grateful with a chaser of anxiety.
  2. What is your favorite journey? Any road that leads to my kids.  And I love Paris…and the beach…and the mountains.  I fear I’m going to struggle with this questionnaire, but I figure Proust would too.
  3. What is your idea of perfect happiness? My family together, happy, healthy and belly laughing.
  4. What is your greatest fear? Anything happening to anyone I love
  5. What is your most marked characteristic? I have no clue, so I cheated.  Upon asking a few people who know me well..a friend said ‘kind’’; Andy said ‘you’re short’; my kids said ‘perceptive, empathic, entertaining, sincere and relatable’.  I love my kids.
  6. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? I apologize for everything – even the poop that’s not mine.  A former boss who later became a friend once told me that he had never met anyone who could advocate for others with the tenacity and passion that I did and he had never met anyone who was so awful at speaking up for themselves.  C’est moi.
  7. What is the trait you most deplore in others? Refusal to own what’s theirs (or in the vernacular people who don’t ‘own their shit’.)  In the immortal words of Eric Clapton, ‘before you accuse me, take a look at yourself’.  Please understand this as a general statement, there is absolutely no one to whom I’m directing this statement.  
  8. What is your greatest extravagance?  Being able to even consider one’s greatest extravagance is an extravagance few people really get to consider. I am humbled by how spoiled I am
  9. What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Any virtue in excess is overrated and tiresome
  10. On what occasion do you lie? if I think my words would hurt someone deeply.  I will try to tell the truth, but I may wait until I’ve formulated the message and/or the person is better prepared to hear.
  11. Dislike most about your appearance? Seriously?  Most days the list is too long to write here.  Some days though I realize that I’m being superficial and stupid and embrace what is.
  12. Which living person do you most despise? I’ve got some pretty strong feelings about our current commander in chief, but the verb is too strong.  I despise some of the decisions he has made, some of the beliefs he touts and I may not look at an orange in the same way again, but I hesitate to say that i despise anyone.
  13. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? Again, I deferred to those who speak with me the most…Andy offered up “I love you” a lot; Donna thinks I say ‘seriously?’; my kids think my most overused expressions are ‘will this matter to you in five years’, ‘who are you doing this for’, ‘everyone has to own their shit’ (see question 6)
  14. What is your greatest regret? Not getting my PhD or continuing with singing.
  15. What or who is the greatest love of your life?  Andy, my kids and my grandkids
  16. When and where were you happiest?  Snuggling with my granddaughters and listening to whatever they have to say
  17. Which talent would you most like to have? I wish I could draw.  My sister is uber-talented and has the kind of artistic talent that my mom also had.  Me?  I can draw a mean stick figure…
  18. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?  I’d be physically healthier.
  19. If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?  I’d see them more (and I see them a lot).  My sister would live in closer proximity (like upstairs).
  20. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Hands down growing up with my kids.  I realize that every parent says this and every parent means it.  But, is there anything one can achieve that parallels the enormity and magnificence of playing a part in someone else’s development as a human being?  And no joke, these men of mine are fabulous people. 
  21. What is your most treasured possession?  My wedding ring and my books
  22. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?  Just thinking about anything unfortunate happening to those I love propels me to a place that is so dark and foreboding I have to quickly move away from this question.  I was truly miserable when I was sick, but I didn’t know how sick I was, so I don’t think it counts.
  23. Where would you like to live?  Wherever my family is of course…I’ve had the good fortune to travel to a slew of countries and have lived in many cities.  As trite as it sounds, wherever my heart is is where I want to live.
  24. What is your favorite occupation?  I know ‘mom’ isn’t an occupation, but it is the role I always wanted and exceeded my expectations when I became one.  I loved my career, even though it involved some plot twists I didn’t anticipate.  It might have been awesome to be on Broadway, but I didn’t have the ego (or the talent) for it.
  25. What is the quality you most like in a man? Humor, sensitivity, the ability to be present.
  26. What is the quality you most like in a woman? Humor, sensitivity, the ability to be present.
  27. What do you most value in your friends? Their ability to love me despite my flaws. My friends are trustworthy, smart, emotionally generous…and they like me.
  28. Who are your favorite writers? Seriously?  From which century?  Fiction or non-fiction?  Essayist or poet?  
  29. Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Again, there are too many coming to mind – Scout (To Kill A Mockingbird), Jo (Little Women), Charlotte (Charlotte’s Web), Max (Where The Wild Things Are), Ari (Exodus), any main character of Toni Morrison…I could go on…Holden Caulfield…
  30. What is it that you most dislike? Self-absorption
  31. Who are your heroes in real life? Greta Thornburg, Lizzo, John Lewis, Barack and Michelle Obama.  This is a pretty fluid list, and it changes with the day – right now the firefighters in Australia are coming to mind.
  32. How would you like to die? Very old, very healthy and happy while dreaming a delicious dream.
  33. If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be? If I were to come back – wait a minute, I’m not going anywhere.
  34. What is your motto? “Say yes – save your no’s for when you really need them”
  35. Bonus Question: How did you find my blog? Kismet, pal, kismet.  Years ago when I first signed up for WordPress, I found you the first day and I’ve been at your mercy ever since.
  36. Bonus Question: Why do you keep coming back to this Blog?I agree with everyone who has already responded to this – your posts incite and excite, they are intriguing and thoughtful and at core, you write damn well.  For me though the reason is really more personal and you’ll think I’m crazy.  I immediately felt that I knew you, your work life, your family.  Not in a creepy way – we both worked in professional services, my parents lived nearby,  I grew up on the trains you take everyday.  And you pushed me to say something.  In your insistence and encouragement, I found some words to string together albeit lamely.  I come back each day because your blog is diverse and amazing – and because it’s yours.  

 

Notes:

  • Mimi is a virtual friend and faithful follower and kindly agreed to share her responses to the Proust Questionnaire. She has been with me from the beginning and I consider her a critical inspiration in this blogging effort.  And as you can see from her responses, she is something Special.  You can find her website and bio here: Waiting for the Karma Truck.
  • See prior Proust Questionnaires.
  • 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)
Filed Under: Inspire, Life, Photography, Quotes Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Ray Takes The Proust Questionnaire

December 30, 2019 by 24 Comments

  1. What is your current state of mind?  Restless.
  2. What is your favorite journey? A 3-week mission trip to Tanzania in 2007. My favorite Journey song however is Wheel in the Sky.
  3. What is your idea of perfect happiness? On the back porch with a book, a glass of bourbon, a cigar and a dog or two at my feet
  4. What is your greatest fear?  Something happening to our daughters and now granddaughter.
  5. What is your most marked characteristic?  Being comfortable in a room full of strangers.
  6. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Speaking before thinking
  7. What is the trait you most deplore in others? Not following up after promising to do so.
  8. What is your greatest extravagance? Fountain pens.
  9. What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Tolerance. Relativism is helping destroy our society.
  10. On what occasion do you lie?  I have gotten better at telling the truth as I get older since I don’t get in trouble as much.
  11. Dislike most about your appearance? My three chins and four waists.
  12. Which living person do you most despise? I don’t hate/despise anyone, but would like to have a word or two in private with a few representatives from California.
  13. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?  I polled my family and was advised: “Drive Gently”, “Swell”, “Roger that”.
  14. What is your greatest regret? At times, being selfish in my marriage.
  15. What or who is the greatest love of your life? My wife and daughters, but I think our granddaughter is positioning to take over.
  16. When and where were you happiest? Vacations at the beach.
  17. Which talent would you most like to have? To be able to sing in addition to playing the guitar. Played in a band for years, but can’t sing a note.
  18. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? See #6 above.
  19. If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? To go back in time and get a do-over at being a better husband/father.
  20. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Helping raise three daughters into productive adulthood without getting pregnant or needing to be bailed out of jail.
  21. What is your most treasured possession? A photograph, taken on Memorial Day, 1976 of three men who had a profound impact on my understanding of life and real friendship. Background can be found here: A Difficult Task Indeed.
  22. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Feeling worthless and unloved
  23. Where would you like to live? The beach. Any beach.
  24. What is your favorite occupation? As crazy as it may sound, I loved being a funeral director for the 30+ years I worked in that world.
  25. What is the quality you most like in a man? My, isn’t that a bit personal?
  26. What is the quality you most like in a woman? I’ll defer to my wife of 33 years.
  27. What do you most value in your friends?  Rigorous Honesty. . . absence of any intent to deceive.
  28. Who are your favorite writers?  Michael D. O’Brien and NYTs Best Selling Author, Andra Watkins
  29. Who is your favorite hero of fiction? John Galt
  30. What is it that you most dislike? People who pretend to like you, but sabotage you at every opportunity.
  31. Who are your heroes in real life? Don’t have any
  32. How would you like to die? In my sleep, after a great dinner out.
  33. If you were to die and come back, what do you think it would be? A dog living with one of our daughters.
  34. What is your motto? Life is short, dead is for a very long time.
  35. Bonus Question: How did you find my blog? I’m not sure how I found DK’s blog, but my WordPress stats page indicates that I began following it on April 22, 2012. 
  36. Bonus Question: Why do you keep coming back to this Blog? Dk’s blog is like a box of chocolates. You never know what to expect each morning (when I read blogs) and you are never disappointed.

Notes:

  • Photo of Ray Visotski and his beautiful Grandaughter Adeline Louise.
  • Ray is a virtual friend and faithful follower (as I am of his blog) and he kindly agreed to share his responses to the Proust Questionnaire.  Ray’s Blog can be found at Mitigating Chaos.
  • See prior Proust Questionnaires.
  • 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)
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Lori Takes The Proust Questionnaire

December 30, 2019 by 20 Comments

  1. What is your current state of mind? Happy and a wee bit antsy.
  2. What is your favorite journey? Any that takes me to family and dear friends.
  3. What is your idea of perfect happiness? An evening of good friends, fine wine, and lively conversation.
  4. What is your greatest fear? Hurting those I cherish.
  5. What is your most marked characteristic? The ability to giggle, sometimes at the most inopportune times.
  6. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? My need to please.
  7. What is the trait you most deplore in others? Callous indifference.
  8. What is your greatest extravagance? A gorgeous piece of art.
  9. What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Righteousness
  10. On what occasion do you lie? To protect another’s feelings.
  11. Dislike most about your appearance? My legs—I’ve always yearned for long, willowy gams.
  12. Which living person do you most despise? In this instance, I am Switzerland.
  13. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? I need to let that percolate…
  14. What is your greatest regret? Not trusting my heart.
  15. What or who is the greatest love of your life? My family—those by birth and those by blessing.
  16. When and where were you happiest? In the midst of a great conversation or a good belly laugh.
  17. Which talent would you most like to have? The ability to speak multiple languages fluently.
  18. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I’d be braver.
  19. If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? They’d be physically closer to me.
  20. What do you consider your greatest achievement? My education.
  21. What is your most treasured possession? My family, friends and dogs.
  22. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Being bitter and alone.
  23. Where would you like to live? Anywhere that’s near to nature.
  24. What is your favorite occupation? Writing
  25. What is the quality you most like in a man? Intelligence paired with a dry sense of humor
  26. What is the quality you most like in a woman? Compassion
  27. What do you most value in your friends? Their ability to love me despite my flaws.
  28. Who are your favorite writers? Can’t choose just one…
  29. Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Never been into hero worship.
  30. What is it that you most dislike? Cruelty in any form.
  31. Who are your heroes in real life? Those who give their hearts & voices in service of the greater good.
  32. How would you like to die? In bed with a book on my chest.
  33. If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be? An owl.
  34. What is your motto? A good laugh makes everything better.
  35. Bonus Question: How did you find my blog? Can’t recall, but so grateful that I did.
  36. Bonus Question: Why do you keep coming back to this Blog? The community and camaraderie I’ve found here are a balm to my soul.

 

Notes:

  • Lori is a virtual friend and faithful follower and kindly agreed to share her responses to the Proust Questionnaire.  Lori is a professional writer. You can find her website and bio here: Lori Ferguson.
  • See prior Proust Questionnaires.
  • 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)
Filed Under: Inspire, Life, Photography, Quotes Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Kiki Takes The Proust Questionnaire

December 20, 2019 by 37 Comments

  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 1st 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 2nd 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)
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Dale Takes The Proust Questionnaire

December 17, 2019 by 68 Comments

  1.  What is your current state of mind? Fuzzy (but I’m sick so…)
  2. What is your favorite journey? The one I am taking right now. Being my own woman.
  3. What is your idea of perfect happiness? Being good with who I am
  4. What is your greatest fear? Being insignificant
  5. What is your most marked characteristic? My smile
  6. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? My sloppiness
  7. What is the trait you most deplore in others?  Insincerity
  8. What is your greatest extravagance? Getting my hair done
  9. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?  righteousness
  10. On what occasion do you lie? I To protect the person I am lying to (white lie)
  11. Dislike most about your appearance? My hands
  12. Which living person do you most despise? Despise is such a strong word…
  13. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? Right?
  14. What is your greatest regret? Regrets are a waste of time. BUT I wish I had dared more
  15. What or who is the greatest love of your life? My family
  16. When and where were you happiest? Tuscany
  17. Which talent would you most like to have? Play a musical instrument, like the cello
  18. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? My lack of stick-to-it-iveness
  19. If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? That I had taught them to be more aware
  20. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Everything I did for Austin
  21. What is your most treasured possession? I don’t have any
  22. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Having no esteem of one’s self
  23. Where would you like to live? Tuscany
  24. What is your favorite occupation? Anything that means I’m out there with people.
  25. What is the quality you most like in a man? Sense of humour
  26. What is the quality you most like in a woman? Sincerity
  27. What do you most value in your friends? Our camaraderie and sense of belonging
  28. Who are your favorite writers? Maeve Binchy, James A. Michener
  29. Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Don’t have one
  30. What is it that you most dislike? Someone who is so full of himself and only talks about the monetary value of things
  31. Who are your heroes in real life? My Grandmother.
  32. How would you like to die? I’d prefer not to, but since it is inevitable, in my sleep would be nice.
  33. If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be? An oak tree
  34. What is your motto? Live, Love, Laugh
  35. Bonus Question: Why do you keep coming back to this Blog? Because you constantly help me to grow.

 

Notes:

  • Dale is a friend and faithful follower and kindly agreed to share her responses to the Proust Questionnaire.  Dale’s WordPress blog can be found at: A Dalectable Life
  • 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)
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Sawsan Takes The Proust Questionnaire

December 14, 2019 by 61 Comments

  1. What is your current state of mind? At peace, but stressed. working on multiple projects and short on time.
  2. What is your favorite journey? Inward, always inward.
  3. What is your idea of perfect happiness? Silence, solitude, poetry, and wine! Food too.
  4. What is your greatest fear? Losing the ones I love.
  5. What is your most marked characteristic? Fiery
  6. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Impatience and I have OCD tendencies.
  7. What is the trait you most deplore in others? Not being authentic. 
  8. What is your greatest extravagance? Daydreaming! 
  9. What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Patience, hence I’m impatient.
  10. On what occasion do you lie? When I can’t say no.
  11. Dislike most about your appearance? I always wished my skin was darker. 
  12. Which living person do you most despise? No one. But I’m indifferent to some people. And if I’m indifferent to someone they wish I despised them. 
  13. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? “Are you F****** kidding me?”
  14. What is your greatest regret? Wasting time not being productive. 
  15. What or who is the greatest love of your life? My family.
  16. When and where were you happiest? When I didn’t know how ugly this world we live in can be. I can be at my happiest but cannot stop thinking of the less fortunate.
  17. Which talent would you most like to have? Writing…
  18. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? To be less fiery. I don’t have a temper. But on the inside, I can go from ice to volcano in a fraction of a  second. 
  19. If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? I want them all under one roof again, with me.
  20. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Surviving not knowing where my two sons were for almost 10 years. They were with their father, I just didn’t know where exactly. I found them, we were reunited in 2012, and they’ve been with me since then. A happy ending, yes, but sometimes I look back and think, “Did all this really happen?” 
  21. What is your most treasured possession? My peace of mind.
  22. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? There is no worse misery than losing a child to death.
  23. Where would you like to live? In a log cabin in the mountains, far far away, near the edge of the world. Don’t ask me where that is.
  24. What is your favorite occupation? The one I’m transitioning into right now; medical interpreting, and translating.
  25. What is the quality you most like in a man? Tenderness and integrity.
  26. What is the quality you most like in a woman? Tenderness and integrity. I do realize I gave the same answer to both men and women. Both are human first. Gender-specific qualities are for another kind of questionnaire.
  27. What do you most value in your friends? I don’t want a friend to ever tell me what I want to hear. I want my friends to say it like it is.
  28. Who are your favorite writers? I don’t have a favorite writer, I have favorite pieces of writing.
  29. Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Wonder Woman, the new wonder woman.
  30. What is it that you most dislike? Those that don’t pay attention to detail.
  31. Who are your heroes in real life? In this day and age, my heroes are the ones that care. They always do their part. They don’t do “their best”, they do what it takes.
  32. How would you like to die? Very old, in my bed, after I get the chance to say my goodbyes, I wish to be alone, awake and aware when my time comes. 
  33. If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be? As Myself, again and again, and again.
  34. What is your motto? Whatever it is you’re doing always ask yourself, “why am I doing this?” 
  35. DK’s Bonus Question: Why do you keep coming back to this Blog? Live and Learn is the only Blog that is a part of my day, every day, most days with my morning coffee. I keep coming back because it is a delightful place to be, where everybody knows your name kind of place, I keep coming back because it is fertile ground for inspiration, and so much more…

 

Notes:

  • Sawsan is an Awesome Friend and faithful follower and kindly agreed to share her responses to the Proust Questionnaire.  Sawsan’s WordPress blog can be found at: Last Tambourine
  • 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)
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Antonio Banderas: Proust Questionnaire

December 13, 2019 by 59 Comments

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  • What is your idea of perfect happiness? The very short instant right after accomplishing something very challenging.
  • What is your greatest fear? The death of my loved ones.
  • What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? My pathological incapacity to say no.
  • What is the trait you most deplore in others? I don’t like fake people, impostors.
  • What do you dislike most about your appearance? I would like to be four inches taller. (He’s 5′ 9″)
  • What is your current state of mind? Excited and calm even if it is a contradiction.
  • If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? The age. I would like to be 30 years old now.
  • If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? I wouldn’t change my family for anything in the world.
  • What do you consider your greatest achievement? I survived Hollywood.
  • If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be? A mountain.
  • If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be? The ocean.
  • What is your most marked characteristic? People always say my eyes.
  • What is the quality you most like in a man? Integrity.
  • What is the quality you most like in a woman? Compassion.
  • What do you most value in your friends? Loyalty.

~ Antonio Banderas, excerpts from “Antonio Banderas Answers the Proust Questionnaire” Vanity Fair, December 12, 2019

Photo: Actor Antonio Banderas attends the “The Skin I Live In” premiere at the Palais des Festivals during the 64th Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2011 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

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Saturday Morning

March 16, 2019 by 17 Comments

A little tap at the window, as though some missile had struck it, followed by a plentiful, falling sound, as light, though, as if a shower of sand were being sprinkled from a window overhead; then the fall spread, took on an order, a rhythm, became liquid, loud, drumming, musical, innumerable, universal. It was the rain.

– Marcel Proust, Remembrance of Things Past

Photo: David Salter with rain

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DK: Proust Questionnaire

October 27, 2017 by 95 Comments

  1. What is your current state of mind? Unsettled. Restless. (Permanent Status.)
  2. What is your favorite journey? To stay home.
  3. What is your idea of perfect happiness? Solitude. Followed closely by Donuts.
  4. What is your greatest fear? Mortality. 
  5. What is your most marked characteristic? Impatience. Volatility.
  6. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Introversion. Restlessness.
  7. What is the trait you most deplore in others? Cruelty. Arrogance.
  8. What is your greatest extravagance? Gadgets. (Latest edition. Don’t ask how many.)
  9. What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Optimism.
  10. On what occasion do you lie? It’s rare.
  11. Dislike most about your appearance? I’m at peace with it all (except morning weigh-ins)
  12. Which living person do you most despise? Despise, such a strong word. No one.
  13. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? “Are you prepared to hear this?”
  14. What is your greatest regret? Memories of cruelty.
  15. What or who is the greatest love of your life? Family.
  16. When and where were you happiest? Right now.
  17. Which talent would you most like to have? Pianist like Beethoven. Writer like Steinbeck.
  18. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Less introverted.
  19. If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be? Accept that the Patriarch is right.
  20. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Our two children.
  21. What is your most treasured possession? Gadgets. All of them.
  22. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? The poor, the cold and the hungry in winter. Cruelty to animals.
  23. Where would you like to live? Home. Wherever home is.
  24. What is your favorite occupation? The one I’m in. Love it or leave it.
  25. What is the quality you most like in a man? Humor and humility.
  26. What is the quality you most like in a woman? Grace and kindness.
  27. What do you most value in your friends? Truth.
  28. Who are your favorite writers? Haruki Murakami. Mary Oliver. Steinbeck. Ted Kooser.
  29. Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Bugs Bunny.
  30. What is it that you most dislike? Meals without prodigious amounts of dessert.
  31. Who are your heroes in real life? No heros. I admire the gentle, the kind, the humble.
  32. How would you like to die? I wouldn’t.
  33. If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be? A Golden Retriever. Or Bruce Springsteen.
  34. What is your motto? Never look back.

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)

 

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