The Proust questionnaire

Still having a hard time writing so I decided to take The Proust Questionnaire.  This is a set of questions answered by the French writer Marcel Proust and many of the questions are used by modern interviewers.  Enjoy!

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

To live on the beach with my pets and be able to read books all day and not work.

What is your greatest fear?

The end of the world, which seems closer now than it did before.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

My habit of thinking about past events and obsessing over how I could have handled it differently.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Disloyalty and the inability to find joy in life.

What living person do you most admire?

My mother, Stephen King, Ryan Murphy. Emma Stone and Barack Obama, I sure miss him.

What is your greatest extravagance?

My $100 Ugg slippers, who pays $100 for house shoes?  I do, they are so warm!  Also jewelry and pets.

What is your current state of mind?

Peaceful with a side of contentment which could change at any moment.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Righteousness, everyone has different morals, they are not right or wrong they just are.

On what occasion do you lie?

To spare someone’s feelings or when I don’t want to go somewhere.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

I can list a million things, but I dislike my fingers the most.

Which living person do you most despise?

This one is easy, Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Greg Abbott, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Jim Jordan, Lauren Boebert, Matt Gaetz and Ron DeSantis.  Ugh.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

Confidence, kindness, empathy and a great sense of humor.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Intelligence, authenticity, class and a great sense of humor.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

Awesome or, since I have a puppy, no!

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

My husband, my pets (past & present) and books.

When and where were you happiest?

Anytime I am near the ocean laying on the sand.

What talent would you most like to have?

Ability to sing in tune or to write novels.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I wish that I had a passion for a specific profession so that I could love working.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Managing to stay married for 22 years.

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing what would it be?

I would like to be a library full of books.

Where would you most like to live?

As close to the ocean as possible, any ocean.

What is your most treasured possession?

The diamond heart necklace my mom gave me and my wedding rings.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

The drive from Fort Worth to Ruidoso or being broke.

What is your favorite occupation?

No occupation.

What is your most marked characteristic?

Overwhelming empathy that can be paralyzing.

What do you most value in your friends?

Laughter and loyalty.

Who are your favorite writers?

Stephen King, Lisa Taddeo, Erin Morgenstern, JK Rowling, Michael Cunningham, Lionel Shrive, Gillian Flynn, Dan Simmons, Zoje Stage, Bret Easton Ellis, Mona Awad, Olivie Blake, Matt Haig, Josh Malerman, the list goes on and on.

What is it that you most dislike?

Bad service, large bills and broccoli.

What is your greatest regret?

Saying no when I should have said yes.  Saying yes when I should have said no.

How would you like to die?

What everyone wants, to die in my sleep, peacefully.

What is your motto?

“It’s not too late to learn how to be happy again.”