Lady Trader’s Proust Questionnaire

It’s Lady Trader’s turn to spill the tea, so here we go!

I was so excited when I knew we were all going to do the Proust Questionnaire after Damian did it. The questions were fun, but revealing; I was so curious as to how my fellow team members would answer, and how I would as well.

When I first filled out the Questionnaire it was several months ago. Reviewing my answers recently, I realized I had to change a few, as things in my life had changed, and I was in a different place. It just goes to show you how life can change in a short period of time. I am also curious as to what my answers would have been had I taken this “quiz” before my cancer fight. I know I’m a lot more introspective now, so these answers reflect Lady Trader 2.0!

What is your idea of perfect happiness?  Sitting by the ocean, reading a book on a late summer day.

What is your greatest fear?  Not being able to help the people I love.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?  Queen Elizabeth I. She was a strong woman, in a field dominated by men. She also took a very unorthodox road to get to the top!

Which living person do you most admire?  My oncologist, Dr. Rachel Kramer. She is more than just a doctor to me, she is a friend, and I would have never gotten through my treatments without her support.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?  The voice in my head that tells me I can’t do things.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?   Hypocrisy

What is your greatest extravagance?  I tend to spend a lot of money on flavored teas and Funko POPs!

What is your favorite journey?  The journey that so far has been my life! It’s had valleys and mountains, and there is still a long road ahead!

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?  Morality. Everyone has different levels, and who am I to judge anyone?

On what occasion do you lie?  Telling everyone I wasn’t scared of chemo, when in reality I was scared shitless!

What do you dislike most about your appearance?  Not seeing the same person in the mirror that others see.

Which living person do you most despise?  I don’t want to name names, but someone who has tried to drag me down in order to lift themselves up.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?  “What the Fuck?”

What is your greatest regret?  That I haven’t traveled more; will be changing that soon!

What or who is the greatest love of your life?  It took me a long time to figure this out, but the greatest love of my life is me. Perhaps a major health scare will do that!

When and where were you happiest?  As a child, Christmases in Brooklyn with my family were the happiest times of my life.

Which talent would you most like to have?  I know how to play the trumpet, but I would love to play the guitar. I’d love to rock on stage with Black Sabbath! Last I checked, they didn’t have a horn section!

What is your current state of mind?  Determined

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?  I’d like to be about 4 inches taller!

If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?  That they could all be healthy and happy.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?  Being content with who I am, and loving that person.

If you were to die and come back as a person or thing, what do you think it would be?  I would probably come back as a cat. Everyone says I have “cat appeal” since all the strays in my neighborhood know to come to me to be very well cared for!

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?  I’d like to come back as an eagle, so I could soar above the land and see its beauty.

What is your most treasured possession?  My memories of people who I love who are no longer with me.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Self pity

Where would you like to live? Surrounded by people I love, and who love me.

What is your favorite occupation?  Trader. It’s what I do, and who I am, and I love it!

What is your most marked characteristic?  Loyalty

What is the quality you most like in a man? Intelligence

What is the quality you most like in a woman? Self confidence

What do you most value in your friends? How they make me laugh and “get” me.

Who are your favorite writers?  Shakespeare, Charles Krauthammer, Steven Moffat, Ron Chernow, David McCullough, Joseph Ellis, Winston Graham. (I just realized that this list is all men. I don’t even want to tackle what that means!!)

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?  The Doctor (Doctor Who)

Who are your heroes in real life?  My Grandmother – she didn’t have it easy, but loved life, loved to laugh, and loved her family.

What are your favorite names?  Elizabeth, Demelza and Ophelia

What is it that you most dislike?  Long questionnaires!

How would you like to die? Peacefully

What is your motto?  “Trust, but verify.” – Ronald Reagan    “If you can’t love yourself, how the hell you gonna love someone else?” – RuPaul

Lipton: What is your favorite curse word?  Fuck

Lipton: What sound or noise do you hate?  That “beep, beep, beep” sound when a truck is backing up. I know it’s trivial, but it drives me insane!

Lipton: What sound or noise do you love?  Laughter

Lipton: If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? “Scared you there a few times, didn’t I?” as my cats are sitting there by His feet!

Author: Lady Trader

"Lady Trader" is a Brooklyn girl, and a Wall Street lifer! Recently fought cancer, and won! I love heavy metal, history, sci-fi, oh, and blogging about Billions and it's great lead actor, Damian Lewis!

4 thoughts on “Lady Trader’s Proust Questionnaire”

  1. Lady Trader – We have several similarities! I would be scared of chemo, too, but stoic in front of my close friends and family. That is, if I followed through with chemo at all. Occasionally I think about what would I do…if??? Looking forward to seeing your travel photos because I know where you’re going!!! 🙂 Ahhh, Christmases in New York. And we picked the same instrument to play, the guitar! My grandmother was such an important role model in my life as well. This is fun learning about each other on a deeper level!

    1. I knew of our similarities when I read your questionnaire, but didn’t want to spoil anything! I think this questionnaire has cemented why we all get along, and why we all make FanFun so amazing! And us all wanting to play the guitar? That shows it’s destiny!

      I know what you are saying about the chemo, but I only hesitated for a second. I knew that I was early stage, and that there was an 85% cure rate, so I liked those odds!

      I cannot wait to share my travel log with everyone! And boy am I lucky that Deal or No Deal will be paying for it! 🙂

  2. It is fascinating how all three of us had very close relationships with our grandmothers. Mine had a very important presence in my life, and as I said in my own questionnaire my greatest regret is not spending more time with her… As I became a college student, I spent less and less time with her and preferred to be with my friends instead. I think I assumed she would live forever and then I was shocked when she died in my sophomore year in college. I miss her dearly. She was my best friend.

    The other thing is that all three of us go for playing an instrument for the talent we want to have. But how cool you can play the trumpet! i would LOVE to play the sax!

    I am looking forward to seeing you filling up those pages in the passport. Traveling is my biggest passion in life. And how nice your favorite occupation is your job. I enjoy doing my job but obviously not as much as you enjoy yours! 🙂

    Gingersnap is right. This is fun, if not for anything else, for getting to know each other better!

    1. I was luck enough to have my Grandmother live with us for most of my life. She worked in the city too, and when I first started working on Wall Street, her, my mother and I would all ride the subway into lower Manhattan. Three generations of working women! It was great. I know she is still with me everyday, and was there for me when I was going through chemo. Sometimes as girls we (naturally) clash with our moms, but grandmas for some reason really get us!

      I learned how to play trumpet in 4th grade and played until the end of HS. I could probably learn guitar (since I already know how to read music). I should just try! What do I have to lose?

      I know you are so excited for me to travel! You are an expert so expect me to pick your brain!

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