A little bit about me . . .

My answers to the infamous Proust Questionnaire:

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Probably knowing its pursuit isn't a futile process and that we will all be embraced by it at least once in a lifetime.

What is your greatest fear?

Losing my mind (although whether or not this has already happened is debatable) and mediocrity run a close race. Also, the older I get the stronger my fear of heights becomes. This was never an issue when I was younger, but now when I look out the window of a very tall building I imagine how the whoosh of being pushed off its top would feel and it absolutely gives me the willies.

Which living person do you most admire?

This is where I have to admit my lack of knowledge as to worldly events. I know there are many individuals out there who are activists, environmentalists, humanitarians, altruists, and peacemakers and peacekeepers who are worthy of much admiration, but I don't who they are. In my immediate circle, at this particular moment, I would say Phil Henry. He is probably one of the finest attorneys in Georgia and someone with whom I had the pleasure of working with for many years. He's an extremely learned counselor, is kind, generous, thoughtful, even-tempered (although I'm sure he has his moments yet doesn't let too many people see them), always has a warm good morning for everyone and continues to call his wife sweetheart whenever she calls. He's just that kind of someone you hope to be like when you grow up.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

My impatience and the reactions I am capable of making when I don't let that impatience pass. Believe it or not (!), I can be pretty caustic sometimes because of it!

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Ignorance.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Large breasts. Oh wait, that's not really a virtue, is it?

On what occasion do you lie?

When it involves sparing the feelings of someone I don't know well enough in order to share complete candor. Even if it were true, I wouldn't tell such a person, "Sure, that putrid green sweater blends fantastically with your skin tone." (Not!) I have also lacked honesty in the past when the alternative would mean me having to feel the full affects of shame. Shame is felt for a reason, and of course it's not very pleasant, but I believe in feeling it is how we learn. I have not always had the virtues of Washington or Lincoln, but I strive to be a better person every day.

What do you dislike most about your appearance?

The fact that it even matters! Honestly, this is a very tough question as there are many figure flaws I'd rather not possess. Just one is my lack of an upper lip, which I inherited from my Mother.

What is your greatest regret?

Not being comfortable enough to be uninhibited.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

Something or someone I don't think I've yet to find.

What talent would you most like to have?

The ability to compose beautiful music.

What is your current state of mind?

Hopeful, but realistic.

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

Geez, where to start? This is very superficial when there are other more important things about which I should be concerned, but I think it would be nice to possess the genetic ability to grow long, beautiful hair. My sister does, but mine is very fine and thin and gets to a certain point just below my shoulders where it simply stops generating any more length. This has prevented me from ever having a career as a pole dancer, which is a real shame.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Hopefully its something I've yet to achieve, but if the words 'to date' are added to this question, I think it would have to be surviving single motherhood and raising a rather special and beautiful young lady whom I hope will do great things in her lifetime.

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

Perhaps I would be the bridge over the stream of consciousness. I think it would be rather interesting to be that thing over which so many would travel in order to reach the road of unconsciousness!

What is your most treasured possession?

I have a lot of "stuff." I like to surround myself with nice things as aesthetics are very important to me, but I fully realize it's all just "stuff" which could be taken from me by natural disaster, theft, or financial ruin at any given moment. If I had to pick one thing it would be very tough, but I do have a beautiful and delicate cameo bracelet which belonged to my Mother, which I treasure very much.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

To exist without love and art. To be completely alone in the world with no other living being who cares for you and to whom your existence matters - that would surely be misery at its lowest depths. I think I would also slowly suffocate if I was living a life void of art. I don't necessarily mean a painting or photograph or sculpture, as art is all around us in many shapes and forms and lacking the ability to recognize and see it would be truly miserable. Oh, one other thing. I recently saw a documentary on the Discovery Channel about the Zoa, a primitive Indian tribe who reside in the Amazon rainforest. They exist completely naked, except for the bone (I think they're made of bone?) tubes inserted into the flesh of their chin and lower lip. There is no way they are able to really kiss each other with those things on their faces! A lifetime of deprivation from passionate kisses would mean another bout with misery. I've said too much, haven't I?

Where would you like to live?

I think it would have to be Utopia, as I don't think such a place exists. It would be where I could either walk or ride my bike to wherever I needed to go and if I needed to travel anywhere of a farther distance, the method in which I journeyed would leave absolutely no carbon footprint. The climate would not be in crisis. The crime rate would be zero. Water would be clean. Air would be pure. The ground would be fertile. Respect for all, including the Earth, would be the universal theme of the inhabitants, and it would be a place where Styrofoam had never been invented.

What is your most marked characteristic?

Physical or mental? My brain. I don't think anyone looks at me and thinks, "That girl is stupid!" I also think I have nice hands.

The quality you most like in a man?

Just one? Then it would be him wearing a thick coat of intelligence, with a collar of true self-deprecation, cuffs of humor, a lining of benign irreverence, all held together by the threads of character and integrity. Of course being handsome and tall are also qualities I appreciate very much.

The quality you most like in a woman?

Again with just one? Then it would be her being able to wear the very same coat as that man (see above), it look even better upon her curves, and she be respected all the more because of it! I also think tall women are fantastic, although I know some petite women who are pretty fantastic people as well.

What do you most value in your friends?

Their ability to know I am perfectly imperfect, yet remaining my friend regardless.

Who are your favorite writers?

A very hard question, as I love to read and when finishing a really good book its author might be considered a favorite of the moment. My answer to this would be an evolving one, but those who come to mind are (and not in any order of preference) Jane Austen, Pablo Neruda, John Irving, Joan Didion, William Styron, Wally Lamb, Oscar Wilde, W. Somerset Maugham, Gabriel García Marquez, and a true favorite, Haruki Murakami (I would love to reside in his head for a day or two!).

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?

Atticus Finch? I end this with a question mark as this is also another evolving response (see above) which I might need to revisit in the future.

Who are your heroes in real life?

People who make a significant difference in other peoples' lives on a daily basis.

What is it that you most dislike?

The concept of whatever mentality is involved and actions required for the purchase of a Hummer. Seriously, don't get me started here, but I can honestly say I don't think I could ever be friends with anyone who owned, or had a strong desire to own, a Hummer. That is, of course, unless that Hummer was owned by the taxi driver there must surely be working in Utopia (see response above), and said Hummer was utilized to deliver multiple people to their locations of choice and in doing so, emitted nothing into the atmosphere but good karma. We all know Utopia doesn't exist though, right?

What is your motto?

It's easier to stay out of trouble than to get out of trouble. P.S. This is a great motto, although it hasn't always been one I've followed!

I've been told I haven't aged a bit since Kindergarten , so as I don't have any recent pics . . .