A Dinner Pary

Back in the stoned ages (the 1960's) Irving Wallace and his family put out a couple of fun books called the "Book of Lists 1 & 2".   Great reading for trivia buffs or or just to kill a few moments.

I think one of my favorite sections was a quiz that they gave to various celebritys called "Who's Comming to Dinner".  Or something like that anyhow.

Here's the deal;  you are having an eleborate formal dinner that will take an entire evening.  You will be at the head of the table on each side of the table you are going to have 5 guests for a total of 10.

Now, out of every single person in history, living or dead......who would you invite?    I've added a rider onto that......you cannot invite Jesus the Christ!   For me at least, there would be no other reason to invite or listen too or look at anyone else!  (insert grin here).

Some of the respondents chose people that had something in common (ie; all evil, all phillosphers, all royals), some chose people that would "rub against" one another for good arguments (ie.; Adolf Hitler and Winston Churchill).   Some others were just ecclectic and chose people that fascinated them.  Some chose a mix of famous and family.   So you see that there is quite a lot of variety available....who would you choose?

My list (as of this very moment, and that changes often) is as follows.

1.     Winston Churchill.    A many of such great intellect and such a variety of interests.   A rich and sickly boy, war correspondent, politician, cabinet minister, First Lord of the Admiralty, Prime Minister, author, artist, bon-vivant.   Great conversationalist, and would enliven any discussion.

2.     Robert E. Lee.    The consumate gentleman.  A brilliant military mind and unsurpassed leader.   A man of principle.   Remember up to the Civil war you were identified by your state first and as an American second (and don't get me started on that).  Gave up everything to fight for his state.  Quiet, refined, tough, well educated and I have the feeling that when he speaks....people listen.

3.     Abraham Lincoln.    The most vilified and admired man of his time.   Another man of principle that could and did put his convictions first.   Awkward, rough hewn, a gifted speaker and crafter of words.

4.     Aspasia.     The first woman on the list and quite an intriguing personage.   A Greek from about 400-500BC she was either the wife or mistress of the great Pericles and was a great influence on Athenian politics.  Not much is really know about her except that she was extremly highly educated, supposedly very beautiful and quite controversial.

5.   Theodore Roosevelt.    The 26th President of the United States.   Another man of many interests (notice a pattern here?), politician, naturalist, cowboy, author, soldier..... A man of boundless energy and a bouyant character (I always wanted to say that about somebody).

6.     Ronald Reagan.      Once more an American President and many of many talents.   Staunch conservative, devout Christian.   Won the Cold War, returned pride to the US.   Nuff said.

7.     Sophia Loren.     Most beautiful woman I've ever seen and loves to cook spaghetti.   Enjoys life and loves people.   Classy and a great conversationalist.

8     Frank Spencer.    Yep, my dad....a somewhat shy man that was content to remain in the background.   However when he spoke, everyone paid attention,  because he thought before he spoke and always had an excess of common sense, also a deep respect for everyone.

9     Mark Twain     A "been there, done that" kind of guy.   He knew the America of his age better than anyone.   Hey, any man who can say "I don't give a damn for any man that can only spell a word one way.", that is my kind of guy.

10     Well it's time to cheat a little bit here; I've been thinking about this for several days and just can't come up with one person that stands out above the rest...so take your pick from the following.... Groucho Marx, Queen Hatsetshup of ancient Egypt, Johnny Carson, Clara Bow, Billy Graham, a young Queen Victoria, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Simon de Monfort, Leonardo DaVinci, Terry Pratchett, Margaret Thatcher, Marilyn Monroe, Ben Franklin, William Shakespear, Frank Sinatra........

Probably about 50 more could be added to the list.... you get the idea......feel free to suggest anyone that you would add or better yet...make up your own list.

TTFN &

God Bless