Proust Questionnaire: Jeremy Sale, Sr.
The Proust Questionnaire is a mini-interview. Its name and modern popularity (link: Vanity Fair) is owed to the responses given by the French writer Marcel Proust.
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Today's Proustian Participant, Jeremy Sale, is my Dad.
Born in South Africa; a resident of Jordan, the UK, and other places; Dad is a full-fledged, Leafs-loving Canuck and an all-around great guy.
Anyone who's met us, knows that Dad was a huge influence on me. He took black-and-white photos in the 70s with his Pentax, and made me envy the cool complexity of an SLR more than any other object on earth. He also introduced me to the bizarre and spooky world of the darkroom at The Mississauga News—about as close to a science fiction set as you're likely to visit as a kid.
He also made people laugh all the time. Still does. Watching him reduce my aunts to tears was a real "I have to do this with my life" kinda thing.
Do your thing, Dad...
What brief advice would you give yourself at age 19?
Study harder in school. Oops. At 18 that was too late. It was all downhill from there...
(Possibly related) What article of clothing was your worst choice, in retrospect?
Received a red track suit as a Christmas present from in-laws. It was so bizarre I figured I would wear it to their house on Christmas Day. Turns out it was a surprise wedding... the fortunate few had been tipped off…none of them were wearing track suits…
What was your favourite age?
30. Old enough to know better, young enough to go ahead and do it anyway.
First movie you remember?
A Night To Remember. (Most people won’t.)
Do you have a motto?
Illigitimi non carborandum.
Don’t let the bastards wear you down.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
The obvious thing would be my two amazing sons. Less obvious?
Well, I’m still around…and still racing cars at 76. Does that count?
What is a popular thing, that you just "don't get"?
Selfies. Trump. Suicide-bomber jeans.
What word do you consistently mis-spell?
Pharaoh. But that’s OK, they even got it wrong when they named that horse American Pharoah.
What word or phrase do you overuse?
Have you finished with that cheeseburger?
What word is the most overused with others?
When people are asked a question and they preface the response with either "So…” or “I mean….”
In an alternate universe, what is your career?
Race driver.
What food did you hate as a kid that you now love?
Cabbage
What food did you love as a kid that you now hate?
Baked beans on toast.
What is your greatest fear?
Phobophobia
Your guilty pleasure TV/movie/music?
Seinfeld (Especially The Strike.) The Simpsons. I don’t really trust anyone who doesn’t get the Simpsons.
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