AROUND TOWN: Proust Questionnaire, Lockdown Version

As a little something to pass the time while sequestered in our homes, a handful of friends and I answered the Proust Questionnaire. Here is my response.

Which Living Person Do You Most Admire?
Malala Yousafzai

What Are Your Favorite Qualities in a Man?
I’ll leave this one to your imagination.

What Are Your Favorite Qualities in a Woman?
Intelligence, Humour (extra points if she use British spellings), Honesty.

What Do You Appreciate Most in Your Friends?
Their intelligence, humor and honesty.

What Is Your Main Fault?
I’ve become quite sluggish. (Well before the pandemic.)

What Is Your Idea of Happiness?
Sunday mornings — drinking coffee with Robert, reading the newspapers, giving Gypsie a head rub.

What Is Your Idea of Misery?
The Republican National Convention.

Who, If Not Yourself, Would You Want to Be?
Paul McCartney. What a life! What talent. And he seems to be a nice guy.

Where Would You Like to Live?
If not Chicago — London, Key West, Sonoma County, Beverly Hills ... anyone have an extra $10 million I could have?

What Is Your Greatest Fear?
Right now it’s this pandemic — afraid it will take the life of someone close to me.

Who Is Your Favorite Author?
It’s always a race between Hemingway and Fitzgerald for me. Plus, my friend Robert N. Georgalas and I have been exchanging letters during the Great-Stay-At-Home and I am relishing each and every word in Bob’s writing.

Who Is Your Favorite Musician?
Leonard Cohen.

What Is the Most Overrated Virtue?
Chastity. I mean, really: Is this even a virtue?

Which Words or Phrases Do You Most Overuse?
“Terrific” and, lately, “Fuck Trump.”

Which Talent Would You Most Like to Have?
Play jazz piano like Patricia Barber.

What Is Your Motto?
I have two — “La vida es corta, y la muerte larga” and “Take it easy — and, if it comes easy, take it twice.”