Proust Questionnaire: Juniper Grace's answers

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On Wed, 19 Apr 17 19:48:24 UTC Juniper Grace (58) answered the Proust Questionnaire (click on a question to read other answers):

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?: to be of no use
Where would you like to live?: In the country that leaves me alone to do my work. In a country that values nature
What is your idea of earthly happiness?: an untouched forest and a purpose - the ability to put that purpose into motion
To what faults do you feel most indulgent?: an uncultured bluntness that makes my work difficult on occasion, pacifism (because I think it's impossible)
Who are your favorite heroes of fiction?: Fiction is pointless. I would've said Ayn Rand's John Galt, but now that her deeper point has been explained, I can't support him, either.
Who are your favorite characters in history?: Napoleon, General MacArthur, Frida Kahlo, Rodney Dangerfield just makes me laugh
Who are your favorite heroines in real life?: Why is this a different question? Here's to the women who don't need a different question. Here's to embodying your unique self, society be damned.
Who are your favorite heroines of fiction?: I find this questionnaire repetitive and annoying. However, I'll say Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird. I'm not afraid to admit my soft spot for her. Do I need to explain that?
Your favorite painter?: Kahlo, Georges Seurat
Your favorite musician?: Rachmaninoff, Beatles, Radiohead
The quality you most admire in a man?: an ability to digest criticism
The quality you most admire in a woman?: the same - although women are consistently better at this, anyway, so I'll say perseverance
Your favorite virtue?: the virtue of not asking people this question - or perseverance
Your favorite occupation?: the concept of work, itself; working at what you're best at; improving at what you're best at; being of use
Who would you have liked to be?: The moment you indulge this thinking is the moment you fall out of step with the universe.
Your most marked characteristic?: command of a room; to lead and to be followed; to see your worth truly and fully
What do you most value in your friends?: the ability to feel my affection through my actions benefitting them and not necessarily through its expression
What is your principle defect?: stubbornness; bluntness
What to your mind would be the greatest of misfortunes?: to be of no use - or worse, to be a liability to those I care about
What would you like to be?: the functioning center
What is your favorite color?: the deep green of virgin forest
What is your favorite flower?: the dandelion - its shocking yellow against that green, its ability to propagate, its usefulness
What is your favorite bird?: the barn swallow - a pleasure to watch them hunt - engineers dream of creating something so efficient and aerodynamic
Who are your favorite prose writers?: Again - and again - I find fiction pointless. I do have a close friend who writes it adequately. I love him dearly. I'll say him.
Who are your favorite poets?: I'll stick with T.S. Eliot for the great undercurrent of knowledge necessary to appreciate his work
Who are your heroes in real life?: My family for dealing with me; my writer friend for dealing with me; my staff for dealing with me; me for dealing with them
Who are your favorite heroines of history?: These questions stomp all over each other. I hope Proust was sensitive to that. I'll repeat Kahlo. I'll add Margaret Fuller. Joan of Arc. Sojourner Truth.
What are your favorite names?: I like my name very much. People seem surprised by that for some reason. I like it when those close to me create a term of endearment out of it - as long as its organic - like Juni or just Grace. I hate it when it's insincere or too soon.
What is it you most dislike?: my shortcomings as a mother; missing my youngest
What historical figures do you most despise?: Do you want me to say Hitler? Should we get it out of the way? Fine. Yes, definitely Hitler. Also, Ayn Rand, mostly because people connect me to her so often. She believed some horrible things.
What event in military history do you most admire?: MacArthur's retreat at Bataan, and his eventual transformation into a pacisfist
What natural gift would you most like to possess?: any of the ones I see in you - especially the ones you're blind to
How would you like to die?: alone, still strong in mind and body, and without celebration
What is your present state of mind?: Here. Centered. Standing here and looking forward.
What is your motto?: It's all downhill from here (an inside joke - proof that idioms are often accurate and efficient).

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