Today I've been pondering an imaginary gathering of people I'd enjoy meeting and/or conversing with over dinner. I call it my Fantasy Dinner Party. Like Fantasy Sports, the participants need not live in the same time or place. I think I originally got this idea from a PBS show I watched with my older brother many moons ago called Meeting of Minds. (Go ahead...mock me for being a nerdy PBS-watching girl...!) Steve Allen hosted this round table discussion which brought historical figures together to discuss their views on a variety of topics. As a kid I was fascinated with this concept of defying the space/time continuum to bring these diverse people face to face. I admit the fascination remains, though my guest list has certainly evolved through the years. Imagine all that could be learned from hearing these eclectic people share their knowledge, experience and insight!
The criteria for getting on the list is that you need to be an interesting person or someone I admire - or both. Click read more for a list of some people who should expect an invitation.
Here are some of my fantasy guests (in no particular order):
Steve Allen
Jimmy Carter
Maya Angelou
Clint Eastwood
Angelica Houston (alright...she can bring her dad along too...)
Stephen King
Richard Rodgers
Oscar Hammerstein
James Hilton, author of my favorite book, Lost Horizon
Benjamin Franklin
Mark Twain
Jimmy Stewart
Leonardo Da Vinci
Rod Serling
Emmylou Harris
Claude Monet
Thomas Jefferson
Sharon, my mother-in-law (she's climbed 2 "mountains" for which she has my admiration!)
Alton Brown
Ron Howard
Sid Caesar
Scott
Julia Child
Ernie Kovacs
Joanne Woodward (Ok, I suppose if her old man wants to tag along...)
George Harrison
Alfred Hitchcock
Walter Cronkite
Buck Henry
Roger Ebert
Steve Martin
Betty White
Malvina Reynolds (If you don't know who she is, you should look her up!)
Buckminster Fuller
Carl Reiner
Chris and Martin Kratt
Robert Altman
Jeff Smith (The Frugal Gourmet)
Smothers Brothers
Peter Falk
John Cassavettes
Susan Sarandon
Al Franken
Walt Disney
Joel and Ethan Coen
Penn Jillette
John Glenn
Colin Mochrie
Ryan Styles
Truman Capote
Arlo Gutherie
We're gonna need a bigger table!
Consider this a work in progress...as I think of more I will post again...and again...and again.
SB