In the back of every Vanity Fair edition is the Proust Questionnaire which is devoted to the answers of someone who is fairly well known. The answers never cease to make me think about my own mortality and legacy. The questionnaire has its origins in a parlor game popularized by Marcel Proust, the French essayist and novelist, who believed that, in answering these questions, an individual reveals his or her true nature. Here is the basic Proust Questionnaire with my answers.

1. What is your idea of perfect happiness? I always liked the dopamine that would kick in from participating in an athletic event. That feeling of accomplishment and being totally spent. But certainly perfect happiness might be found travelling for pleasure and not worrying about anything for a few days or weeks. That’s bliss.
2. What is your greatest fear? Creating an unfinished legacy.
3. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Being insensitive to the plights of others. Wasting days. Complacency.
4. What is the trait you most deplore in others? Perceived power fueled by wealth. Style with no substance.
5. Which living person do you most admire? Right now, I don’t know if anyone is worthy of that accolade.
6. What is your greatest extravagance? Black athletic socks from Under Armour
7. What is your current state of mind? Searching. Deciding what to do with the next chapter.
8. What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Accountability for one’s actions
9. On what occasion do you lie? When it will hurt someone I care about
10. What do you most dislike about your appearance? My teeth and my flat feet.
11. Which living person do you most despise? Any person who can randomly hurt someone be it physically or emotionally for no reason.
12. What is the quality you most like in a man? Truthfulness
13. What is the quality you most like in a woman? Humor
14. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? “Interesting…”
15. What or who is the greatest love of your life? My wife and kids.
16. When and where were you happiest? My honeymoon
17. Which talent would you most like to have? To play the piano or guitar
18. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I would have learned how to play an instrument early on!
19. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Being married for 20+ years, having 2 healthy kids and a handful of awesome friends
20. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? I’d either come back as a professional baseball player or jazz musician from the early 40’s
21. Where would you most like to live? I’d like to be back in Pittsburgh and or New Orleans. San Francisco as a backup plan.
22. What is your most treasured possession? I have a pair of boxing boots autographed by Muhammad Ali that are pretty cool
23. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Zero options.
24. What is your favorite occupation? Musicians with supreme talent
25. What is your most marked characteristic? A positive disposition and a quick wit
26. What do you most value in your friends? Humility, Intelligence & empathy
27. Who are your favorite writers? I used to love Robert Ludlum books. Maybe John Irving.
28. Who is your hero of fiction? I have no fictitious heroes. Winnie the Pooh?
29. Which historical figure do you most identify with? My Father, Grandfather and Uncles
30. Who are your heroes in real life? The people that sacrifice themselves to right the wrongs of others. People that practice random acts of selflessness
31. What are your favorite names? Lucca and Bella
32. What is it that you most dislike? Being late
33. What is your greatest regret? Majoring in Political Science
34. How would you like to die? Sitting in a chair with Mimi and the kids, watching the sun set in Santorini, Greece
35. What is your motto? Move the needle.