Thursday, Jan 22, 2009

Thursday’s Thoughts: Who’s Coming to Dinner

I Have 6 Famous/Historical People to Invite… Who Are They?

For this week’s Thursday’s Thoughts MEME, the question begs… who would you invite if you could invite 6?  I can’t decide; I keep vacillating back and forth on who I want to feed.  But, it does need to be 3 Men and 3 Women, in addition to myself.  Funny, when Christine R. asked the question of who you would invite, she didn’t ask what you would prepare.  That worries me more than who I’d ask.  In any event, this is who I’m settling with:

RONALD REAGAN – United States President & National Hero

There is absolutely nothing that I don’t love about “Ronnie.”  Nothing.  He is, by far, my very favorite U.S. President (although I’d have to say that Lincoln is right there next to him).  He was a charismatic, intelligent, caring, and thoughtful man.  I’ve never loved a president the way that I loved President Reagan since his presidency.  I have so many questions to ask him, including those about his time as California Governor and days in Hollywood.  Here are some great facts about Ronald Reagan:

Ronald Reagan was the second son of Nellie and John Reagan.

Reagan’s father, an alcoholic, was often on the road as he was a shoe salesman.

The family finally settled in Dixon, Illinois, where Reagan attended high school.

Reagan served as the student council president and participated in many sports, including football.

He also worked as a life guard in Dixon and is credited with saving many lives at Lowell Park.

After graduating from high school, Ronald Reagan entered Eureka College where he took an interest in acting.

He graduated in 1932, serving at one time President of the student body and majoring in economics and sociology.

Reagan then signed to become a radio sports announcer until, in 1937, he was signed to act in movies.

In 1940, Ronald Reagan married the famous actress Jane Wyman and had two children but the couple were divorced in 1948.

During World War II, Reagan enlisted in the military where he rose to the rank of Captain but was not accepted for war duty because of an eye problem.

He acted in over fifty movies including Knute Rockne, All Americanwhere he played the part of Rockne, “The Great Gipper.”

During the remainder of Reagan’s Hollywood and political career, he was often referred to as “The Gipper.”

In 1952, he married another actress, Nancy Davis, who was a real asset and supporter in his political life.

After gaining some experience in Hollywood “politics”, Ronald Reagan became the 33rd Governor of California in 1966 and was re-elected in 1970.

As governor, he forced the University of California to charge tuition fees for the first time.

A conservative Republican, he also froze hiring of new employees, raised taxes, and balanced the budget.

Reagan made two runs at becoming the Republican candidate for US President before on his third try, in 1980, he was successful.

After winning debates with Jimmy Carter, the Democratic President at the time, Reagan was elected and inherited the Iran Hostage Crisis.

Ronald Reagan resolved the crisis after 100 days in office only to become the first US President to survive a shooting assassination attempt.

He was re-elected in 1984 and many credit his confrontation policies for wining the Cold War with Russia.

Ronald Reagan died in 2004, after a long battle with Alzheimers disease, and was accorded a state funeral, a measure of the respect Americans had for “the gipper.”

TORI AMOS – Musician & Singer

I could actually write for days and days as to why I love Tori Amos.  The long and the short of it is that she is an amazing pianist, composer, and singer.  For those who have actually taken the time to listen to and understand her music, consider yourself enlightened and fortunate.  Nothing aggravates me more than narrow-minded people who throw Tori’s music in a box and classify her as a “man hating feminist.”  In fact, she doesn’t hate men… at least, not that I can see.  She’s had sex with quite a lot of them from what I can tell…. and, she’s married to a terrific one.  I think the hardest thing about loving Tori is the fact that you have to be still and really listen to her music when you’re first discovering an album.  Once you’ve gone there, though, and you know the lyrics… the pieces just continue to take on new meaning every time you listen to them.  Her tonality in voice is unlike anything else you will listen to.  Her voice is truly an instrument.  She is a very spiritual individual, as well.   She’s a MUST at this dinner event!  (Wonder if she’s vegetarian?)

NOAH – Man of God, Leader of Noah’s Ark

Now, go with me on this one.  You know how I am about animals… a total animal freak.  I have a lot of questions about how it is that Noah managed with all of the different species of the world, on one big boat, with very little help.  And, did he question God at all about this entire venture?  I mean… everybody thought he was crazy and then he had lions, tigers, and bears… OH MY!  In all seriousness, this is a story from The Bible that is EPIC!  I want to know.  Did the animals just behave and were all peaceful because God had them be such?  Which animal(s) did he like the best and why?  What was it like to be responsible for all of God’s creatures (animals)?  I have many questions! 

PRINCESS DIANA – Princess Wales aka “Princess of the People”

I was devastated when she died; devastated and in shock.  Her life was cut way too short and I’m not sure that I fully believe that it was merely an accident.  I suppose the Royal Family would have quite the issue on their hands if he married and bred with a Muslim, after all.  In any event, she was a beautiful person.  I’m glad that she married Charles because we grew to love her.  But, I feel so sorry for her that she made the decision to do so when he should have just married Camilla all along.  There is so much that is tragic and beautiful about her at the same time.  I would love to hear about her charity ventures, her travels, and her love life.  I’d like to know if she is watching her boys from above.  I would hope that she would tell me that she is happier in Heaven.

JOHNNY CARSON – Comedian & Television Star

I think that you have to have somebody with a great sense of humor at the dinner table… just in case.  I think Johnny is the perfect choice!  He’s had years of training of talking to famous people, plus it’d be fun to kick back a cocktail with him.  He might even know Ronald Reagan, already.   I used to love watching Johnny Carson when I was younger.  He had the best sense of humor.  I’d like to ask him questions about his addictions as well as the “highs” and “lows” of his life.  He is really missed.  I wish that I had the collection of DVD’s with him… when the San Diego Zoo would come on with Joan Embry and also Carmac the Magician.  I miss Johnny!

LORI K. – Famous only to those who love her… MY BEST FRIEND

Lori and I have been friends since 1983-4.  So, I guess that means that we’ve been friends for 24+ years.  Some of you people reading this blog aren’t even that old.  Good grief… I’m a hag.  But, Lori would have to be the other person there and not just because she’s my life-long best friend, but because to me she’s a modern-day hero.  She has dedicated her life to God and raising her family by the word of God.  She loves her husband faithfully and wholly.  She’s an amazing mother and humanitarian.  When anybody has ever needed help, she’s been there.  She’s taken care of her dying father and mother-in-law and nursed them in her home until their passage to Heaven.  She took in her nephew, a very troubled child, when his unfit mother abandoned him and nobody else would take responsibility for this boy.  She’s the definition of a true friend.  I don’t think that there’s anything that I’ve done or said (which, BTW… is A LOT… I’m the nutjob in the family) that has made her change her mind about loving me.  She’s been my inspiration and my protection, my confidant and my prayer guide.  I believe that she is an angel sent down to earth for those of us who really need her the most (I’m for sure one of them).  There’s no other human being in the world like her.  OK… to the practical side… she doesn’t drink… so, she can give me the “recap” in the morning if I drank too much!  Hee Hee.  She would just have to be at this dinner with me!

Well, folks… that’s my post for this week’s MEME.  I hope that you hop on over to Thursday’s Thoughts today and either leave a comment or post an article on your blog today about who you’d invite.  The prize is a really cool Dinner Party Cookbook from Amazon.com.

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