I have completed the Proust survey. It is a questionnaire from the early 20th century, made famous by the answers one Marcel Proust gave. Here are my answers, for your perusal. If you'd like, you can reply with an answer to one of the questions, or if you're really daring, answer them all, put them up on the web somewhere, and then supply a link.
Your most marked characteristic?My greatest asset is also my greatest bane. I have ADHD, which I have dealt with for my entire life. Having learned to overcome the weaknesses that ADHD causes, I am free to use the odd advantages that occur as a result. My wife calls it “multi-focal cognition,” but I know it for what it truly is. I simply think different, so by default, I am always approaching things in a way that many people never consider. It gives me a unique quality of wit and imagination, and causes me to wonder how many of the world’s great minds have also been plagued by what is incorrectly assessed as a learning disability. It’s a learning ability, if nothing else, since when a person with ADHD is met with a challenge that interests them, they are so focused on finding a resolution to that challenge that nearly nothing can stand in their way.
The quality you most like in a man? I suppose I expect men to have consideration and a chivalrous idea of honor. Guys who swim in an ocean of their own testosterone annoy me, and those who are too timid to speak up for themselves will never earn my respect. The image of a proper man is strong enough to exercise his own will, but responsible enough to refrain from doing so when it is inappropriate. It does not prey on the weak, but does not easily break under the pressure of the strong. It respects the lives and rights of those around them, yet holds fast to their own beliefs.
The quality you most like in a woman? I can only think of my wife. She’s beautiful, intelligent, and strong willed. I don’t like a woman who is simply an adjunct to whatever man she happens to be beside. A good woman is capable of standing on her own two feet. After all, if a man’s wife is dependant upon him, their relationship develops due to that dependence rather than the loving bond that a marriage should be made of. If the woman isn’t capable of being independent, then she is not capable of having that kind of dynamic relationship.
What do you most value in your friends? I believe that honesty and faithfulness are requirements for any decent friendship. Without honesty, a friendship is built upon false pretenses. Without faithfulness, a friendship is shallow and will not endure. Also important in any friendship is a mutual respect for one another, and for me that would mean that a friend should conform to the qualities I admire in others, as answered previously.
What is your principle defect? I have already at this point mentioned my so-called disability. The other side of the coin is that I have serious problems focusing on tasks that cannot hold my interests. Furthermore, when I am focused on a task and I cannot seem to reach the goal that I have set myself as a solution, I become obsessed and frustrated. I meet challenge and frustration with equal tenacity, and when I feel thwarted, I almost become locked into a self-destructive loop. “I cannot complete this task, but I must complete this task” becomes a frustration that to some is not anything more than an annoyance. To me, it is as if my very being depends on crossing to the other side of an insurmountable obstacle. Until I am somehow drawn away from the task, I am very agitated. I find, though, that once I do manage to distract myself, however briefly, that moment of fresh air provides me with the solution that would have occurred to others long beforehand. Even while I am aware of this, the knowledge that I can simply step away from the problem and come back to it later often does not provide me with the distraction I need to actually do so.
What is your favorite occupation? In a material sense, the one for which I am qualified that will net me the most money. Otherwise, my lifetime goal is to become a novelist. Not just somebody who has their largely unchecked manuscript printed and convinces some shop owner to put it on their shelves, but a true novelist who’s work can be found gracing the shelves under the category of “best sellers.” I recognize that, despite the relative amount of fame this entails, that the income is not precisely glamorous. I don’t really care about that, either. The most important part is that I accomplish what I had once considered impossible.
What is your dream of happiness? I could quote Sun Tzu and say that no man should be considered happy until he is dead. It sounds profound, after all, until some reader comes along and understands the underlying context. Instead, I think that to have the ultimate in happiness, all those around me would have to be happy as well. As unlikely as that is, in order to be more realistic about it, I suppose my dream of happiness is tied to my success as a writer, a father, and as a husband.
What to your mind would be the greatest of misfortunes?I would hate to see the combination of intolerance and warmongering culminate into the complete destruction of a culture. This has happened many times in history, and I am only waiting for the next one to fall. Yet, I see the desire written across the faces of many Americans to do just that. Terrorists destroyed a national landmark and threatened the lives of our people, yes, but a Muslim of Middle-Eastern descent does not make a terrorist. I don’t personally agree with the ideals of Islam, but I recognize the need for diversity and balance in the world. Right now, there are millions of innocent lives in danger because of the blind hatred and racism that has been generated by the media in response to the attacks of September 11.
What would you like to be? Again, my ultimate goals lie in becoming a recognized novelist. However, the image of what I would like to be is more than the action I would like to be known for. I would like to be several pounds lighter, for example. I would like to be well traveled. I would like to be formally educated. I would like to be continually motivated by new and loftier goals. I suppose the universal idea here is that I would like to be better than what I am.
In what country would you like to live? I’m rather happy living in the United States currently. I suppose that, if I wanted a change, the first factor in a decision would be to ensure that I spoke the language of where I lived, so that limits options quite a bit. England would be my instant choice, somewhere in the north of the country not too far from the hillocks of Scotland. Without the barrier of language, I would have to choose Japan. There is a culture that knows what respect and honor truly are.
What is your favorite color?Blue, I suppose. I appreciate most natural tones, but I find myself using and wearing blue the most often.
What is your favorite flower?This would be a three-way tie between a dahlia, an orchid, and a lotus. They are delicate yet complex flowers that demonstrate how simple nature isn’t.
What is your favorite bird? I like ravens, not for the most obvious literary reference, but for the mythology surrounding ravens in Norse lore. Odin was followed by two ravens, one named “Hugin” (thought) and one named “Munin” (memory). Since I learned that interesting tidbit, ravens have always had a mystical quality to me.
Who are your favorite prose writers? Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, J.R.R. Tolkien, Terry Goodkind, Michael Crichton, J.K. Rowling, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Orson Scott Card, Douglas Adams, Michael Stackpole, Timothy Zahn, Arthur C. Clark, Carl Sagan, John Steinbeck, Henry David Thoreau, Harper Lee, Ken Kesey, H.G. Wells, James Joyce, Oliver Sacks, Robert Heinlein, and C.S. Lewis, just to name a few. I have to admit, though, that it required me to do a few internet searches to remind me of all of the authors I’ve ever admired. I’m sure to have missed some.
Who are your favorite poets? Ogden Nash, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Maya Angelou, Shel Silverstein, and Walt Whitman; obviously I’m more drawn to prose.
Who is your favorite hero of fiction? It varies depending on what I’ve read lately, but right now I’d have to say Bean from Ender’s Shadow by Orson Scott Card. Even though, as the title implies, he is largely overshadowed by Ender, he’s a perfect example of the unlikely and unsung hero.
Who are your favorite heroines of fiction? I related well to Ellie Arroway, from Contact by Carl Sagan. The character thinks in very much the same way I do, perhaps without the brilliance of Carl Sagan’s intellect.
Who are your favorite composers? I have always liked Tchaikovsky when in the right mood. Mozart or Vivaldi does well in a pinch. As for modern composers, I prefer John Williams.
Who are your favorite painters? I appreciate M.C.Escher, Salvador Dali, and Vincent Van Gogh. I’m not very well educated about art history, though.
Who are your heroes in real life?I have to admire the creativity and wit of Neil Gaiman, to master so many different forms of literature (mainstream fantasy, children’s literature, and graphic novels). I also appreciate Michael Crichton’s ability to turn some bizarre concept into a very realistic story (or, in one case, turn a very real story into a bizarre reality). Outside of literature, though, names mean very little as many of my heroes and influences come from my very own family, who amaze me every day with how much I am loved despite my stark oddities. Chief among those is my wife, who continues to amaze me every day.
Who are your favorite heroines of history? I suppose that by stating “of history,” that I should stick to women who have made notable mention for themselves. That is rather difficult for me, as much of history is male-dominated due to the chauvinistic quality of dominant cultures. On the other hand, it would be just as difficult for me to choose a male figure from history. If I must choose a favorite, then, I must choose Rosa Parks. She is the very embodiment of a strong woman who stood (or perhaps sat) by her principles in the face of adversity.
What are your favorite names? I once invented a character named “Kallistrate.” It’s Greek for “beautiful soldier.” I’ve always thought that Greek names have poetry to them. Then there’s my daughter’s name, Adelei Rhiannon. A little bit of German, a little bit of English.
What is it you most dislike? There are so many things to choose from. I suppose most of them can be encompassed within “close-mindedness.” A closed-minded person is intolerant, inconsiderate, and quite often ignorant. How could a person be considered wise if they refuse to learn about other people, other cultures, or to even consider ideas that are different from the ones they are accustomed to?
What historical figures do you most despise? At the risk of omitting the obvious answer of “Hitler,” I’d like to mention King Henry the VIII, who is deserving of more expletives than the English tongue can supply.
What event in military history do you most admire? The defeat of the Spanish Armada by the fleets of Queen Elizabeth undoubtedly changed the course of history during that era, much less marked the end of a long and bloody war.
What reform do you most admire? Amidst all of the reforms that politicians enjoy debating, the one reform I would love to see is political reform. We have lost the sense of true representation in Congress, and our representatives continually pat themselves on the back by giving themselves raises despite an unstable economy, keeping in mind the fact that our representatives are independently wealthy and do not truly need the money. The central problem is that the government no longer has any fear of its populace. They instead act like doting guardians who decide what’s good and what’s not good for us without actually polling their constituents. It’s a sad state, really.
What natural gift would you most like to possess? Some birds actually have a small deposit of metal at the end of their beaks, giving them a perfect sense of direction. Those birds also have an uncanny sense of navigation, so that they can always find their way to a specific place if they so choose. I think I’d rather like that. I could hike off-trail whenever I pleased without the need to check my compass or calculate my position.
How would you like to die? When I die, I would like it to be with the confidence and satisfaction of a life well-lived. There are some who say that when you are well-known, your essence will live as long as your memory survives. If I accomplish my goal, I may then be able to achieve a sort of immortality. That would give me satisfaction. Having confidence in those final moments, however, depends on me being a good husband and father. To take the question to a different idea, I think I would like to die in a manner that doesn’t let me linger for long. If it happens too quickly, it’s seen as something horrible and tragic. If it happens slowly, then I will lose all of my dignity in the process. With the right amount of time, I can make my funeral the celebration of life that I’d like it to be.
What is your present state of mind?Due to feeling slightly ill, I’m not as chipper as I usually am at this time of day. I’m happy to nearly be done with the current school session since I am taking the next one off. I’m excited to be approaching my second year of NaNoWriMo, which I’ll probably fail due to having a busier day-to-day life. Also, I’m simply happy to always have someone to come home to for a nice weekend off.
To what faults do you feel most indulgent? I’m prone to long “binges” of video games. It doesn’t help that I own a game that allows me to participate in a twenty-four hour race. I used to play these kinds of games constantly. Now that I have a family of my own, though, I get perhaps one or two chances in a month to play, which is sad; my Wii looks sweet on the high-def.
What is your motto?You can never go where you already are, and you can never lose what you’ve never had. I usually say this to people who tell me that I’m crazy.
