proust!

i am just loving the new direction of vanity fair, a magazine i will forever subscribe to in print. treat yo self! it's so cheap! yet luxurious! the change in leadership is already so impactful and palpable. 

just like i go immediately to the approval matrix in ny mag, i always flip first to the back to read the proust questionnaire when it comes in the mail. i lovvvvve reading the questions and am always so profoundly touched by at least one answer every person gives. the best ever was david bowie who answered "What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?" with "While in New York, tolerance. Outside New York, intolerance." what a guy. 

they're kinda tweaking the questions over time, which i'm not into but here are my answers, today! i should fill this out like every ten years.  FWIW, I  cut and pasted the q's and then just went with what came to my mind. Not a draft/tweak/edit situation. How would you answer these?!

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Being on the beach with people I love. 

What is your greatest fear?

Regret. 

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

Genetic and gender predisposition toward guilt.  

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Being cheap. Not frugal, not mindful of prices, not a fan of bargains - cheap as in "but i only had the salad and one glass of wine" instead of just splitting it down the middle. 

Which living person do you most admire?

My brother, Wiley III. 

What is your greatest extravagance?

Plane tickets. 

What is your current state of mind?

Clear. 

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Punctuality. 

On what occasion do you lie?

Saying a baby that is not Ed is cute. 

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

Ooof. That broken capillary on my face that the dermatological community of Manhattan cannot seem to get rid of. Whatever, coverup, it's fine. 

Which living person do you most despise?

Let's not have hate in our hearts! But honestly Steve Schmidt because he is why we have DJT. 

What is the quality you most like in a man?

Nice manners. 

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Secret-keeping. 

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

Totes in text, rich in conversation. 

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

Too early to call. 

When and where were you happiest?

I am happy often, and I hope I continue to find new sources of that powerful, addictive emotion as long as I live. But I think the point of this question in this context is to share an anecdote that really stands out. So with that in mind, my answer is: in the boat with my father, leaving a no wake zone. I can still remember every detail from the first time he let me do it myself, I was probably seven or eight, leaving Turner's Creek for the Wilmington River. It is still emotional for me to be in any boat without him when the throttle is pushed. "Two speeds, Elizabeth: neutral and wide open." 

Which talent would you most like to have?

I fucking wish I loved running. 

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

Hmm, the running thing? Don't @ me to sign up for the marathon, please. 

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

The organic way my professional and personal networks have merged. 

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

Anything that let me be with my sister all over again. 

Where would you most like to live?

I mean - the state of Georgia and New York City? YOLO y'all. 

What is your most treasured possession?

My parents wedding rings. 

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Losing your mother. If you had a good one, though, it gets better. 

What is your favorite occupation?

A television publicist. But I do not want to do it again. 

What is your most marked characteristic?

Weird to answer that about yourself. Probably my sense of humor, though. If you can't laugh at yourself and the world around you, what is the point of anything? Runner-up: my voicemail box being full at all times. 

What do you most value in your friends?

Showing up no questions asked. 

Who are your favorite writers?

Oh god let me try....Handel, Claire Messud, Sally Quinn, Jennifer Senior, Tennessee Williams, the Rev. William H. Ralston, Ben Smith, Flannery O'Connor, and Robyn Castellani. 

Who is your hero of fiction?

Elizabeth Bennett. 

Which historical figure do you most identify with?

I literally have no idea how to answer this. 

Who are your heroes in real life?

Cancer researchers. 

What are your favorite names?

I could do an entire breakout post on names. Maybe an entire blog about it. Zero chance to narrow this down. So I'll pick one male and one female: Alice and Wiley. 

What is it that you most dislike?

Bad manners. 

What is your greatest regret?

Losing something I should have taken better care of. 

How would you like to die?

Without flourish. 

What is your motto?

No regrets, same as my mama's.