Vanity Fair’s Proust Questionnaire:

101 Luminaries Ponder Love, Death, Happiness, and the Meaning of Life
Edited by Graydon Carter
Illustrated by Risko

Make that 102 – What is your idea of perfect happiness? A Sunday morning with Robert, Gypsie, coffee and the newspapers.

What is your greatest fear? That America has succumbed to fear.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? This constant need to do the Irish jig.

What are the traits you most deplore in others? Corruption, bigotry, stupidity.

What is your greatest extravagance? Our annual stay at the Casa Marina in Key West.

What is your favorite journey? To Omaha.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Courage, temperance, justice, prudence, humility, kindness, generosity, patience, integrity, honesty, gratitude, compassion, sincerity, respect, loyalty – they’re all pretty good!

On what occasion do you lie? Lie? Why, I never lie, sir.

What do you dislike most about your appearance? This striking resemblance to Brad Pitt. It’s very confusing for his fans. And mine.

Which living person do you most despise? Mitch McConnell because he makes Trump possible.

Which word or phrase do you most overuse? Terrific!

What is your greatest regret? I have several, all regarding friends I feel I’ve let down in one way or another.

What or who is the greatest love of your life? Robert Charles.

When and where were you happiest? Our wedding day. Bliss.

Which talent would you most like to have? To play piano.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? The life Robert and I have created together. Close second: the role I’ve played in helping to create and sustain the Educare Learning Network, Alliance for Early Success, and First Five Years Fund – I’m just one small cog in a very large machine. Close third: Writing and publishing, “What You Don’t Know About Men,” though I hope my best writing is still to come.

Where would you like to live? I’m a Chicagoan and Chicago feels right as a home. But, if we could, Robert and I would spend our winters in Key West or California (Beverly Hills, San Diego, Sonoma.) Does anybody have a few million dollars to throw our way?

What is the quality you most like in a man? I’ll leave that to your imagination.

What do you most value in your friends? Wits. I’ve successfully surrounded myself with people smarter than me and people who make me laugh.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Gatsby. (That’s your cue to reply, “Gatsby? What Gatsby?”)

What is your motto? Non sum quails eram.