It’s my party
Jan 28th 2009
Karen RoseOn Writing!
Some people are party people. I am not.
I like to stand in a corner and chat during a party, but dancing and mingling makes me very self-conscious. Walking into a party filled with people I don’t know? Argh. Gives me a stomach ache just to think about. So if you see me at a party standing by the wall, looking like I’m going to flee, come up and start to chat with me. I will totally pay you. (Not really. This is just an expression.)
As for planning parties… No can do. Really lousy at it, and all DH’s and my parties have been colossal flops.
But this is Mt. Oly and my party here would have to be fab and fun. I would stock the tables with delectable chocolates – all no-calorie of course. There would be fountains of TAB and never-empty mimosa glasses.
And I would stock the guest list with lots of fun people to chat with. Because it’s Mt. Oly, there’s no limitation on who I could invite! Men, women, living, dead. DH and I played a game at dinner last night: If you could invite 3 guests from any time in history to a party, who would you invite and why? DH is a history teacher and we had a lot of fun with this.
Here we
re mine:
- Daniel from the Bible: He was an adviser to kings, surviving the transition from the Babylonian to the Persian empire. The stories he could tell. I’d love to sit and listen!
- Queen Elizabeth I: She oversaw one of the most prosperous periods in British history as it rose to a world power. Plus she held power without a husband at her side.
- Sir Isaac Newton: There have been few people through history who have independently changed the world. Newton is one of these people, in my opinion. His studies of math and physics are still the basis of our science today.
Of course, some of you party animals want a good band and dancing, so if you want that kind of entertainment, you’ll have to invite them yourself.
So if you could pick 3 historical figures to invite to my Mt. Oly party, who would you bring, and why?
56 Comments »
56 Responses to “It’s my party”
Bronte on 28 Jan 2009 at 6:10 am #
Ooooh, this is a good one. Let’s see….. Edward Jenner, anyone willing risk infecting themselves with smallpox to create a vaccine is someone I would like to meet. Freddie Mercury from Queen, we could have some great music! Last but not least Marie-Madeline Jarret De Vercheres who as a 15 year old girl took charge of fort in Quebec and tricked approx 40 Iriquois into believing the fort was filled with an equivalent number of soldiers when instead there were basically just women,kids and a couple of old men. Lots of controversy over that story but I’d love to know what really happened.
Karen Rose on 28 Jan 2009 at 7:07 am #
Bronte –
Edward Jenner is another one of those people who truly changed the world. I agree, to meet someone with that much courage and faith in his work would be amazing.
Freddie – if they played We Are the Champions I might sway a little – the closest I come to dancing, LOL. I do like Queen music though.
And the girl – what a story! I would also like to hear it from the source!
I think that’s the fun of imagining meeting historical people – to find out what really happened. So much of what we know is documented perspective. How cool to actually go there and see it.
Then come back to our time and have running water, flushing toilets and electricity for my laptop!
Connie Hettler on 28 Jan 2009 at 7:19 am #
I would invite Elvis (young Elvis-pre drug pop’n, booze drinking and all around yucky looking) because a party is just not a party without him. Shakespeare, because he was and is the most influential playwright of all time and John F. Kennedy because his death not only changed a nation but touched my family, to this day my mother can still tell you exactly where she was and what she was doing the moment she heard the news.
Sarah T on 28 Jan 2009 at 7:52 am #
King Charles II of England- I loved Kathleen Koen’s novels set around the Restoration period. Perhaps its the story of all his mistresses, but I feel King Charles would be far sexier than say the Regent (George IV) or Henry VIII, although I certainly considered them too.
Mary Boleyn (the other Boleyn Girl)- I would like to know what really happened between her and King Henry. I also think I would be too intimidated by Anne Boleyn.
King Louis XIV- I want to learn all about Versailles, although I might find him a bit intimidating too.
Lori Handeland on 28 Jan 2009 at 8:09 am #
What a great concept, K-Ro! Love it.
I’d invite Jesus. I think he’s got more stories to tell and I wouldn’t mind hearing his take on the ones already told.
Also Harlen Coben–one of my favorite authors and if his speeches are any indication, a real hoot. He’s got great stories about publishing and writing, my all time favorite topics.
My dad–he was always the life of the party and had great tales of his life as a kid in the 40s and 50s, in the air force and then as a photojournalist in the 60s and 70s. And no one could tell a story like him.
Lisa H on 28 Jan 2009 at 8:10 am #
I would definitely want to meet Jesus.
I would also love a chance to dine with Princess Diana
And if it could be anyone from history, I’d choose my Grandma.
These might not be the most intellectual choices, but I would never want to leave your party!
Lisa H on 28 Jan 2009 at 8:12 am #
Hey Lori – great minds think alike!
LisaK on 28 Jan 2009 at 8:17 am #
Karen, you made me laugh with your blog because I’m EXACTLY like that. The comment could have been by me.
Okay, now, first I’d choose German writer Michael Ende. He wrote “Die unendliche Geschichte”, “The Neverending Story”, but that’s just his most famous work. He’s written so many great books and short-stories for both children and adults and I think he was one of the pioneers for today’s fantasy literature.
The painter Albrecht Dürer. I’d love to peek over his shoulder and figure out exactly how he manages to do his wonderful pieces of art. He could paint the party guests, for example.
Martin Luther. The “original” one, not MLK. I’m Catholic and wouldn’t want to become Protestant (although I agree much more with their ideas; strange thing, that), but I’m an absolute admirer of this man. It must have taken great courage and determination to stand up to such an establishment of power like the church. I’d love to know how he’d think about the Church of today.
Freedom Writer on 28 Jan 2009 at 8:25 am #
On my list would be Eleanor of Aquitaine. She was a strong woman before her time, and my cousin has a genealogical pedigree that shows we are related.
My Aunt Mary she was a poet and English Professor and I didn’t get to spend near enough time with her while she was alive.
And maybe Katherine Hepburn because she seems like she was a “good old broad” and I would like to get to know her better.
Freedom Writer on 28 Jan 2009 at 8:28 am #
Lisa K-My dh is a Religious Studies major and grew up in the Lutheran faith and he tells me that Martin Luther didn’t want to leave the Catholic church either, he just wanted to make improvements in it.
Karen Hawkins on 28 Jan 2009 at 8:43 am #
Karen, what a GREAT topic — and if we’re ever at a party together, we can totally stand together against a wall and play Fashion Police. I’m very good at critiquing other people’s clothes though I never know what to wear myself.
I love to throw little get-togethers, but I like ‘em small dinner-like parties and not big wing dings. And I HATE going someplace where the music is so loud that you can’t talk. What’s the point? Oh yeah, to drink. Well, I’m over 18 and I’m not so interested in just drinking and bobbing my head to the noise any more.
Hmmm . . . my three people to invite:
Benjamin Franklin. Why? Because he WAS a party person and you need those to keep things going.
Eleanor of Aquitaine. (Freedom, that’s so COOL you’re related!) Wife of two kings, mother of two kings and one queen. Awesome lady. Very strong and very capable. Served as Regent many times during her lifetime, which was unheard of for a woman at that time. Tough, tough lady who developed the concept of a cultured, romantic court.
Jane Austen. I just know we’d have been friends. Her wit is delightful and her understanding of the human condition is simply lovely to read.
Karen Rose on 28 Jan 2009 at 8:49 am #
Wonderful choices, people!
Lori, my husband went first last night and meeting Jesus was his first pick. “Of course,” he said. “That goes without saying.”
Lisa K, Martin Luther was also on DH’s list. He’s named after Martin Luther, actually. Luther was one of those we agreed had truly changed the world.
His other pick was Caligula. Gotta love that man of mine!
BTW, he’s a high school history teacher and they’re doing a unit on the Middle Ages. He’s taking a lot of time discussing the plagues, like the Black Death, cholera and typhoid and how they changed the world. His kids love him! A few days ago he dressed up like a monk, complete with skull cap, burst into the classroom and told all the children they’d sinned, and caused the Black Death. They were mesmerized.
Later, he’ll done the monk’s outfit again, to nail the “95 Theses” to his classroom door and teach dressed as Martin Luther.
I so wish I had a teacher like him when I was in high school! It’s so sad that history is such a dead subject for so many kids. It’s so rich, filled with scandal and sleaze and importantly, the heroics of normal people doing extraordinary things.
Karen Rose on 28 Jan 2009 at 8:52 am #
For those you all picking relatives who’ve passed on, I think that is so lovely. Makes me misty-eyed.
Karen H, Ben Franklin was on my second round group of choices. He tended to be a morally squirrelly kind of man, but how fascinating! And I’ll be glad to stand with you at a party! I get so twisted in knots at the thought of socializing in the big crowd.
I’m kind of shy, and nobody ever believes that…
A couple have picked Eleanor of Aquitaine. Another cool choice! And I agree, I think Jane would have been pals with all of us. How interesting it would be to get her perspective on the 21st century female author.
cail on 28 Jan 2009 at 8:55 am #
this is a hard one!!
Probably Grace O’Malley would be my top choice- She’s Irish AND a Pirate.
Any young woman who came over on the Mayflower- it would just be cool.
And my great grandfather when he was younger. He was the most optimistic old man and lived to be 106. He died when I was in Elementary School. I’d like to see what he was like when he was able to see and not, well, old!
Becky on 28 Jan 2009 at 8:58 am #
You’ve all said so many great ones! I want to meet Jesus. I could spend HOURS talking with him and I’m pretty sure it would change my life.
I also want to meet Jane Austen, Karen H, so we could have a party-within-a-party there. She’s just so genius and her wit is unparallelled.
Lastly, I think I want to meet Queen Victoria. She ruled for so long and saw and did so much. I just want to sit and listen.
But I plan on circulating at this party and meeting everybody else’s people, so Karen, I hope you plan on keeping this thing going for quite some time. I’ll help with refreshments.
Claudia Dain on 28 Jan 2009 at 9:12 am #
Oooh, this is so hard! When you get the whole galaxy of people who have lived before, how do you pick only three?
Jesus, for sure. The biggest of the big.
Then I’d like to meet some little nobody, some woman who lived in 12th century England. What was her life like? She didn’t make history, but her life was important and had meaning, right?
Finally, my dad. Just one more night with my dad.
Sabrina Jeffries on 28 Jan 2009 at 9:22 am #
Only three???
Like KarenH, I would DEFINITELY have Jane Austen. She was so witty in her letters that I can’t imagine her being anything but fun at a party.
Bernard de Marigny would also be there. He’s one of my husband’s ancestors and was one of the richest men in New Orleans in the early 1800’s, worth 80 million when his father died. He somehow managed to lose or spend it ALL by his death. That is inexplicable to me. Plus, a psychic once implied that my husband might be his reincarnation, obsessed with saving money now because of losing it all in a previous life. *G* Besides, Bernard was quite a ladies man–two wives (not at the same time, of course) and tons of mistresses and byblows.
And speaking of rakehells, I would definitely invite John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester. He was SO smart and wasted his life so badly. I just think he’s fascinating.
BTW, KarenR, I had an English teacher who had us all dress up in costume, memorize the storyline of one of the Canterbury tales and then re-enact a dinner where we all told our stories while eating food from the period. I was the Wife of Bath. That won’t surprise those who know Chaucer.
She was my favoritest teacher ever!
Sabrina Jeffries on 28 Jan 2009 at 9:23 am #
Cail, Grace O’Malley is such a great choice!
I want to change one of mine. Instead of Rochester, I want my husband’s mother. I never met her, and I’d love to know what she was really like.
elsiehogarth on 28 Jan 2009 at 9:27 am #
Karen, I love this game and usually it’s 7 guest including yourself. My Uncle Louis Albert who passed away, last year, was a psychiatrist at NY Ryker’s Island Prison used this test to check out his patients.
1. Ramses the Great of Egypt-he was such a visionary: architecture, science/medicine, agriculture, astrology etc. I just would love to know if there was viagra at that time since he fathered over 100 children.
2. Oscar Wilde-I love all his stories and more so his children’s stories. I get the Oscar Wilde humor and love it.
3. Alexander Hamilton-he is the reason we have money and banking system today, the Coast Guard, even the deadly IRS etc. I would love to know about his childhood in the Island of Nieves, his college years: Princeton he hated it there and transferred to Kings College-Columbia Univ., his time as aide-de-camp to General Washington. There’s just so much.
Others would be Sir Arthur Conan Doyle/Sherlock Holmes(that would be great to see those 2 face to face even though one is fictional), King Louis XIV-The Sun King, Ludwig vonBeethoven Picasso and Jane Austen.
rebyj on 28 Jan 2009 at 9:30 am #
love the question!
Laura Ingalls Wilder, because I STILL read her books once a year or so and would love to yack about ma and pa.
That Egyptologist dude thats on every Discovery special.. Zahi Hawass Oh the things he’s seen!
Johnny Bravo cuz he has the best pick up lines EVER and they’d all work on me LOL “Hey hot mama, wanna watch me comb my hair ?”
Karen Rose on 28 Jan 2009 at 9:30 am #
Sabrina, 80 million in one lifetime? Agree, that’s inexplicable. I figured you’d choose Jane A
I’m sure she’d LOVE your Will and Jane cartoon! (Which we haven’t seen recently, BTW.) Sounds like you had a great English teacher. Making children love to learn is a true gift.
Claudia, you made me misty-eyed again. That phrase, “Just one more night” does it to me, every time.
Becky, Queen Vic is a good one, too. I think her rendition of history would be fascinating. Plus, she was even shorter than me. That’s always a plus.
Cail, any woman on the Mayflower and Claudia, a common person from the 12th century – I would love to talk to them.
In round three of DH’s and my dinner game last night, I said I’d want to be Winston Churchill’s butler. Kind of a fly on the wall, observing the amazing events of a crucial time. That “regular Joe” touch breathes life into the history.
Lisa H on 28 Jan 2009 at 9:31 am #
Karen R- I would love to talk to you at a party! (I hope to meet you in NJ next year) I think the people standing in the outer corners of a room are usually the most interesting.
Karen H and Sabrina – I wanted to put Jane Austin on my list and also Shakespeare. So many great authors, you know they had wonderful little vinettes swimming around in their heads.
JudyPatooty on 28 Jan 2009 at 9:36 am #
I’m not a party person either, Karen! I am an introvert with a capital “I!” At the rare party that I attend, I am happiest sitting in a corner with a glass of wine, people watching.
I would definitely want to invite Benjamin Franklin to the Mt. Oly party. Oh, and maybe Thomas Jefferson, too. Between those two we could have conversations on an amazing range of subjects. True Renaissance men.
I also like the suggestions I’ve seen above for Oscar Wilde and Jane Austen. Brilliant and witty, both of them.
P.S. Karen, I am SO jealous of your DH’s students! My history teachers were football coaches. Need I say more?
Karen Rose on 28 Jan 2009 at 9:52 am #
Elsie – interesting. I didn’t think it was anything but a game. I’ll have to remember the RIker’s test portion. It could be useful in a book someday!
I think meeting Louis XIV would be incredible. We look back on him as an arrogant you-know-what, but I always wondered if he truly believed he was divinely ruling or it was a hunk of bull just to keep the people in line. Or maybe the first person to say it started it as a farce and then began believing their own press…
Rebyj – chuckling. I debated including fictional characters at my party. Johnny Bravo is SO funny. I love it when Donny Osmond guest stars. Whoo- ha!
Michelle B on 28 Jan 2009 at 9:54 am #
Great topic, Karen! I’ve been to more military parties where we were new and I knew no one. My DH had the nastiest habit of leaving me for just a moment only to be caught up in a conversation much longer. In our last 22 years I have learned to survive these very awkward moments for me. It meant I had to seriously come out of my shell or be very uncomfortable. Every party gets a little easier.
At one of our bases we part of three couples who took turns throwing dinner parties once a month. One was a mystery dinner with one of those boxed mysteries. Great fun that I copied for DD#1’s 16th birthday party. It took away the uneasiness of a boy/girl party becaue they didn’t have to be themselves.
to your awsome party I would invite John Wayne, reportedly he was very social and cool to talk to.
Billy Joel, love his music and I just know he would be great at a party.
Mark Twain, he was supposed to be quite the conversationalist and very entertaining.
Karen Rose on 28 Jan 2009 at 9:55 am #
Lisa H – at NJ next year, you and Elsie are with me! (I hope Elsie’s coming, too.) This is the NJ RWA chapter’s conference, for those of you not in the know. I’m speaking and already have my topic picked out!
Judy – your teachers were football coaches? Really? Nothing against football coaches, but … really?
amy1242 on 28 Jan 2009 at 9:55 am #
There are so many fascinating people throughout history. I love all the choices so far. My first choice, like many of you, would be Jesus, easy, no brainer choice. I’d also like to meet William Wallace. Possibly Edgar Allan Poe, even though he would probably scare the stuffing out of me. Toss in the Brothers Grimm and we’ve got a party going. I’ll help you plan it all out K-Ro. With all these interesting people there, I dare you to stick to that corner!
Louisa Edwards on 28 Jan 2009 at 10:03 am #
I think Eleanor Roosevelt is probably first on my list. Then Oscar Wilde, because you know he’d liven things up. And maybe Henry VIII, for the hotness. Oh, wait, you mean he didn’t actually look like Jonathan Rhys-Myers? Scratch that. How about Will Shakespeare? Even if he didn’t look like Joe Fiennes, I bet he was sexy anyway.
amy1242 on 28 Jan 2009 at 10:04 am #
Judy, our high school football coaches taught health (yeah, the sex part made even the teacher blush) and psych (he brought an interesting angle to the mental subject).
Trish on 28 Jan 2009 at 10:19 am #
A party with all those wonder people? If you could even get me in the door I’m sure I’d end up so tongue tied I’d say something stupid and embarrass myself. But who would I want to embarrass myself in front of?
First would be my grandfather. He died when I was around 4-5 years old and I have a memory of him teaching me to color… the only memory I have of him. I’d like to know if it’s true and then get to know him. I’d probably just sit and hold his hand all night, ignoring the other guests but I do have to choose 3.
Second would be Princess Diana. I know that it may seem trite, but I’ve always seen her as a normal person caught in a fairy tale of someone else’s making. She was a mother, a sister, a wife, a daughter and she was beautiful but flawed. She cared deeply about others and seemed to relate to so many people. When I watched her wedding, her life seemed like a romance novel. Young girl gets the prince, they fall in love and live happily ever after… but we all know that didn’t happen. She always struck me as just a normal person, who happened to be born into an aristocratic English family. I wonder if that was true.
And last would be Robert Frost. He could recite poetry to me all night and I’d be happy.
I’m not a circulator, so I hope you all bring your guests over and introduce them.
elsiehogarth on 28 Jan 2009 at 10:37 am #
Oh Lord, how could I forget Jesus…..he would definitely have great stories. I think I would just like to see him during his carpenter years….listening to his stories while he was making a table or a chair.
Karen Rose on 28 Jan 2009 at 10:44 am #
Trish, Robert Frost is the only poet whose work isn’t Greek to me. His Road Not Taken is my favorite.
Louisa, Eleanor Roosevelt was one of my later round picks. What a woman.
Amy, the Brothers Grimm – we’ll be rockin’!
Michelle, I heard a lot about John Wayne from my father-in-law. It was always “John Wayne, American.” FIL had a booming deep voice, LOL. I’ve heard JW was an intensely loyal man. I’d like to meet him too. And please ask Mr. Joel to stick to his early hits, pre-Christie and Uptown Girl. I have that playlist titled “Joel, Grouchy Years.”
Lisa H on 28 Jan 2009 at 11:01 am #
Ohhh Karen! I can’t wait to meet you. Will you share your topic? Or must I wait with pen in hand…
Suzanne Enoch on 28 Jan 2009 at 11:37 am #
Oscar Wilde – I love witty conversation.
Mark Twain – Ditto.
Thomas Jefferson – One of the smartest people ever, and I think he would enjoy meeting the other two. *g*
Karen Hawkins on 28 Jan 2009 at 12:24 pm #
See, I’d like to meet Jesus, but not party with the man. Talk about standing in a corner with nothing to say! “So, uh, Jesus . . . MR. Jesus, I mean . . . how uh, how’s it hangin’?”
Nope. I’d rather keep that for the time honored question, “WHICH PEOPLE FROM HISTORY WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO MEET?” and not the “WHICH PEOPLE FROM HISTORY WOULD YOU INVITE TO A PARTY?”
I have my limits.
KarenR, that’s soooo cool about the NJ conference. I went one year and just loved it. Bet you’re an ace speaker, too!
JudyPatooty on 28 Jan 2009 at 12:52 pm #
Re: Football coaches as history teachers …
Yes, Karen, my history teachers were football coaches. You’ll love this … In 7th grade Texas History class my teacher (coach) said the following (add your own heavy Texas accent) … “You know yourself boys and girls that your DeSoto he crossed the Mississippi and then he went ahead and died.”
I am not making that up.
Karen Hawkins on 28 Jan 2009 at 1:03 pm #
Lol! JudyP that’s HYSTERICAL! I had a coach who taught our health class. Because he didn’t like teaching health, we spent a lot of time in the library writing papers. It dawned on me one day that I didn’t think he was actually READING these papers AT ALL. To see if that was true, when we had to write a two papers on ‘body parts,’ I chose the kidney for one and the liver for the other. My first paper was titled “KIDNEY BEANS AND THEIR MANY USES” and had four very widely spaced out recipes using kidney beans and the second one was called “LIVER AND ONIONS AND HOW NOT TO COOK THEM” and proceeded to lampoon the time honored recipe of L & O.
I got a “!00″ on them both and he never mentioned that I’d gone off topic. When we did driver’s ed, I had to write about a car part, and I wrote my paper on “CAR DOOR KNOBS AND WHY YOU NEED THEM.” Got a 100 on that, too!
Of course, the best history teacher I ever had was a coach. He knew his stuff and was SO organized. I still remember some of his lectures to this day.
amy1242 on 28 Jan 2009 at 1:27 pm #
Lol, Judy and Karen! After I thought about my many classes with “the coaches” this morning, I started laughing at some of the things they taught us. I didn’t truly appreciate them until this moment!
dbrown3400 on 28 Jan 2009 at 1:38 pm #
KarenR, I hope to see you at the NJRW conference as well. I’ve been in the past and shared some great times with fantastic authors.
My first pick would be Leonardo da Vinci. His diverse talents have always fascinated me. I believe he is one of the great minds of all times and would have plenty to talk about.
Next, I would choose Franklin Roosevelt because I think he would have much to offer to any conversation.
And my dad, who taught me everything I know about baseball and football — although now we would argue about which teams are the best. LOL
Janae on 28 Jan 2009 at 1:40 pm #
As a history major, it’s really hard to narrow it down to just 3. There are people that I want to cross examine, to ask them the age, old question, ‘What the heck were you thinking?’ The people I admire, and finally, the people who I think would be great at a party.
My grandpa, who had a great sense of humor. I’d give nearly anything just to have the opportunity to scream once more time as he pulls out his false teeth (with the intention of making us scream), or to listen to him play the harmonica.
Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, because she’d be such a blast to be around. The stories that she has to tell would be better than The Star.
Abigail Adams because not only is the wife and mother of two presidents, she’s an intelligent woman, who spoke her mind.
Paula on 28 Jan 2009 at 1:58 pm #
Janae you beat me to it The first on my list is Georgeanna as I would love to hear about her life and yes she could give today’s paparazzi a run for their money!
Second is Claude Monet, having been to Giverney and seen his house and the famous Lily Pond I’d like to speak to the man himself.
Third the Queen Mother (Mother of Queen Elizabeth II) she would in my opinion be fascinating to talk to.
Others would be my grandparents and my dad so as I could tell them about my life and children their great grandchildren and for my dad his grandsons that he never got to meet
Gannon on 28 Jan 2009 at 3:05 pm #
Karen, we play this game at the dinner table occasionally, only it’s “Which five people would you want to have dinner with?” My picks:
Queen Elizabeth I–one of my favorite historical figures. How fun would it be to pick her brain?!
Leonard da Vinci–absolutely brilliant man. I would love to talk with him for hours.
Jane Austen–one of my favorite authors. Her writing is so witty, you just know she’d be a treat to hang out with.
Of course, I could think of many, many more, including some of my family who have passed away. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
Margaret on 28 Jan 2009 at 3:12 pm #
Good grief! I’m out of pocket a couple days to computer woes and what do I come home to? Brains leaking out all over TGB. I never heard of some of these people. Gives me something to study in the near future. KarenR, I’d be happy to hold up any convenient wall with you any day. Name the day and the wall.
Narrowing down to 3 is impossible, course. So cruel to make me choose!
Mark Twain, for sure. I love his acerbic wit.
Definitely Susan Blackwell, the 1st woman doctor in the USA. I read her bio many years ago. Can you imagine what she had to go thru to receive her degree? I’d love to hear that story 1st hand.
A top-notch courtesan. How did they keep her man or how did she feather her nest before being dumped? It can’t have been just sex that held him. Could it?
That’s sort of my 3.
Trish on 28 Jan 2009 at 3:18 pm #
Paula – I agree with you about Claude Monet. He’s my favorite and I’d love to meet him!
Nicole Jordan on 28 Jan 2009 at 4:35 pm #
Oooo, I love this question! There are to many to count for me. Definitely ElizabethI and Jane Austen. I already know a little about Eleanor of Acquitaine since I played her rival in A LION IN WINTER and studied her for my one medieval and even included her in my novel. So I would probably save my third wish for some others. Alexander the Great. William the Conquerer. Winston Churchhill. HG Wells. Leonardo DV. Darwin. Christopher Columbus. Wordsworth. Kipling. Too many others to name!
How fascinating it would be to meet anyone of those incredible people.
Great question, K-Ro!
Paula on 28 Jan 2009 at 4:41 pm #
K-Ro I think that your party would go with a bang with all us goddesses and all the historical people that would be invited, you wouldn’t get a chance to stand and be ‘lonely’!!
It would be quite an ecceletical(sp?) mix fun and interesting!
TinaLouiseF on 28 Jan 2009 at 6:33 pm #
Czar Nicholas II
Queen Elizabeth I
Frances, my paternal grandmother, she died when my dad was 14.
Erick, my maternal grandfather, he died when I was 1.
ladydawgfan on 28 Jan 2009 at 6:34 pm #
Lemme think for a moment . . .
First, and mentioned previously, would be Queen Elizabeth I. I think that she was an extraordinary woman, and not just in her time.
WA Mozart – Gotta have some music and laughter at the table!
Sacagawea – I would love to listen to her stories from her expeditions with Lewis & Clark.
Kay on 28 Jan 2009 at 6:56 pm #
Great Party, Karen. Sorry I’m late—my internet was down most of the day. What great choices everyone has made. Since all of my top picks (Jesus, Jane Austen, WA Mozart) have been picked, I’ll get to talk to them, anyway. Soooooo……
1) Mary Magdelene— I want HER take on what happened.
2) Vivaldi. I love his music. I would be interested to see what he would make of modern instruments.
3) Edgar Allen Poe–one of my favorite authors, and a great mystery writer.
Sabrina Jeffries on 28 Jan 2009 at 7:12 pm #
Karen, I haven’t done Will and Jane lately because I misplaced my camera! I only found it Tuesday.
Karen Rose on 28 Jan 2009 at 7:12 pm #
Hey everyone! Had to leave for a while to get my annual mammogram (ouch). If you haven’t done this, be sure to do it soon.
Great choices from everyone!
Sacagewea – I would love to hear her side of it too. I wonder what kind of men Lewis and Clark were.
Abigail Adams – great choice! Dolley Madison, too. The woman had some serious pluck.
Interesting point with Vivaldi. I wonder what he would do with a synthesizer…
Sabrina Jeffries on 28 Jan 2009 at 7:39 pm #
Oh, and here’s a couple more. Yeah, I know I’m cheating.
Harriett Wilson. Margaret made me think of it. She WAS a top-notch courtesan in the Regency period. I’d love to see what she was really like. By the way, Margaret, her memoirs are available in print (entitled Harriette Wilson’s Memoirs now, although the original book was entitled The Game of Hearts). You could just read what her life was like!
Beethoven. I’d love to know who the Immortal Beloved really was!
Louisa Cornell on 28 Jan 2009 at 9:18 pm #
Late to the party, but it sounds like a blast!!
Hmmm.
My three would have to be :
W.A. Mozart – I would love to know if he truly saw the whole work in his head before he put it on paper. Because I studied at the Mozarteum which is also the repository for most of his originals I have actually seen his work up close. Not a correction mark on it and all in his own hand. AMAZING! Like he was taking dictation from God.
And Sabrina, thanks for inviting another of my favorites – Ludwig van B!
The Bronte sisters – LOVE Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights
Vlad the Impaler – THAT should liven up the party! And I really want to know how much of his legend was myth and how much was true!
Karen Hawkins on 28 Jan 2009 at 9:25 pm #
Ooooh! Louisa, Vlad’s coming to your party? You’re having a goth get together, aren’t you? You wild woman, you! Or, with Jane Eyre there, it’s a gothIC party … Heh!
Ok, that was bad. I just couldn’t resist.
elsiehogarth on 29 Jan 2009 at 7:47 am #
Karen H. I agree Vlad the Impaler would be soooo cool at a Goth Party a la Gary Oldman. I’d also like to see Sigmund Freud, Napoleon Bonaparte, Edgar Allen Poe, Lucretia Borja and Cleopatra at that party.
Solveig on 31 Jan 2009 at 6:53 pm #
Great topic :Ö)
I´d choose King Arthur
Jane Eyre and
Auður djúpuðga (one of our famous women who colonized Iceland at Landnám).
But there have been so many interesting people on earth through history that if one really had a chance to do this I think we would take forever to choose :Ö)