Who would you have lunch with?

[germdoc]

Here's the setup: if you could have lunch with 2 famous people, 1 living and 1 dead, who would it be? And why?

This is a tough one. My picks might change from day to day. I have a strong interest in history, so for a living person I might lunch with Michael Beschloss or Doris Kearns Goodwin. Or with Dick Cavett--is there anyone interesting he hasn't met and has stories about?

FWIW there aren't too many politicians I'd want to lunch with, nor even too many entertainers. Kate Winslet maybe...

Now for the dead person I would pick HL Mencken, hands down. Not only was he outrageously funny and dead-on with his satire and criticism, his knowledge of history and personalities was encyclopedic.

On the other hand, how about Groucho Marx? Who could be wittier?

How about Ben Franklin?

Cleopatra?

OK, I'm going to stick with my original picks.

[cgallery]

My father died several years ago. I'd lunch with him and my mother (still living).

[sacherjj]

I've never met my Grandfather on my Dad's side, as he was dead before I was a twinkle in my parent's eyes. From what I can tell, he was a great guy. I'm his namesake, first middle and last. That would be my pick for dead person. And of all the people who I would love to see that are living, I think I would pick my father, because I'm sure that he would enjoy seeing grandpa more than I would. Famous is subjective and rarely makes the person any better, from those who I've met.

[Knottscott]

Living person - Kate Beckinsale...mostly b/c we just watched Pearl Harbor and she looked so dog gone cute! If she weren't available, Ana de la Reguera (Sister Encarnacion in Nacho Libre) would be just fine.

Dead person - Toss up between my father and grandfather...miss them both. Oh, a "famous" dead person.... the way I understand it, Jesus is alive which excludes him. Mark Twain or Ben Franklin always seem to get credited with lots of interesting quotes...good lunch conversation while I wink at Kate or Ana.

[germdoc]

I would love to get together with my father and show him my woodworking projects, as that was something he took up a few years before he died.

No offense re' the above picks: let's accept we would love to see our departed family members or lunch with our spouses (some of us anyway)! What I meant was figures from history or popular culture, not necessarily famous people per se.

[Greg in Maryland]

Alive: Steven W. Hawking -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_W._Hawking

Deceased: Daniel J. Boorstin -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_J._Boorstin

[JSCOOK]

Living Person: Sandra Bullock ... believe it or not, my wife on many occassions has been mistake for her ... which isn't all that bad ... and we've joked about meeting her in real life sometime.

Dead Person: Albert Enstein

[JR]

Current: Steve Jobs. He's probably a dick, but what a visionary.

Past: tossup between Lincoln or Churchill. If you believe Goodwin, Lincoln was a superior story teller. On the other hand, with Churchill you get brandy and a cigar.

JR

[Knottscott]

Living Person: Sandra Bullock ... believe it or not, my wife on many occassions has been mistake for her ... which isn't all that bad ... and we've joked about meeting her in real life sometime.

SB? ...definitely not all that bad!

[JoeyGee]

I would actually go with HARPO Marx (read his book for some great stories) and living...well, that's tough, but I would go with Chuck Yeager--I think he's still alive...

[docrowan]

Oh, a "famous" dead person.... the way I understand it, Jesus is alive which excludes him.

I agree, you can't pick Jesus. Famous dead would be Moses for me. I guess that doesn't need any elaboration. Famous living, perhaps King Carlos of Spain. What an honorable man, to be groomed from boyhood to be a dictator, and to lead your country in a peaceful revolution to democracy, then turn over the reins of power.

[BearPipes-1]

Living - Ian Anderson [Jethro Tull] or Jeremy Post [Model Engine]
Dead - GK Chesterton or CS Lewis

Actually, I'd prefer to have a table for all 5 of us, as long as you're making arrangements...

[docrowan]

Well, crud. I forgot about CS Lewis. Instead of lunch, can I have a banquet?

[JoeyGee]

I want a do-over, I was being selfish.

Living--Osama Bin Laden

Deceased--ANY deceased USMC jarhead.

I don't need to eat. I'll just sit back and watch.

[LinuxRandal]

I want a do-over, I was being selfish.

Living--Osama Bin Laden

Deceased--ANY deceased USMC jarhead.

I don't need to eat. I'll just sit back and watch.

Are you sure you don't mean:

Deceased - Osama Bin Laden
Living - The guy paying you the reward for him?