Tag, I'm It

Indigo Wrath has tagged me and asked that I list seven historical or fictional characters I’d like to meet. I was a little surprised by my own lack of intellectual curiosity about historical figures until I realized that I've met a few powerful and influential people (some of them mentioned here) and have often been impressed by their ordinariness. Hence the saying, "Never meet your hero."

That said, I have assembled a mixed list of characters I wouldn't mind chatting with:  

Sam Seaborn, a smart liberal political operative who worked for our nation’s greatest president—Josiah Bartlet, on the TV show West Wing. Sam often delivered the pithy progressive pronouncements that made the show such a liberals’ delight for most of its run. And he looks like this.

Fleur Pillager, a strong and fascinating Native American character in Louise Erdrich’s Four Souls who undergoes—and brings about—several dramatic transformations. I love Erdrich’s novels, especially those portraying generations of Native American families. The narrative flows, and occasionally builds to a wonderfully understated and ironic scene in which a dozen random details come together to create a magical event that results in (often hilarious) death or destruction and a lot of poetic justice.

Elizabeth Bennet, of Pride and Prejudice. My husband and daughter love, love, love her. I’m sure I will, too, when I finally get around to reading this book that they’ve each read a dozen times.

Wm. Shakespeare, to learn about his inspiration, his writing process, and just exactly who wrote what.

Mary Cassatt, to take painting lessons and let her know that women artists eventually get some respect.

Gloria Steinem, who managed to be both charming and eloquent as she helped communicate the need for, and goals of, the Women’s Movement. Oh wait, I did meet with her, for over an hour, in 1976. While some feminists were angry and strident, she was always interested in making positive connections—a very powerful role model.If we met now, I'd ask how she assesses where we've come. (She's still alive, but she helped change history and she's who I choose, so there!)

The inventor of Scottish bagpipes, to ask for volume control. I work at a college with a Scottish name, and the pipes are featured at many events. I've come to love them, from a distance.

Tag, you're it. If the question strikes your fancy, how about writing up your own list of seven historic or fictional characters you'd like to meet? I'd be interested to know!

May 8, 1985: The Lunch Date

Previously in our series…
On April 15, 1985, my designer and I went to our typesetting vendor’s plant to complain about a messed-up, overbilled job. Their new man said if we gave him a chance to do the next issue right, we wouldn’t regret it.

The new typesetter, whose name was Peter, came to my office for two meetings. With my staff, we talked about new procedures we would use to (1) type our stories on the computer and add codes for headlines, bold, italic, etc., (2) send the files to the typesetter by modem, and (3) get back proofs on paper, which we’d mark for corrections in the usual manner. There shouldn’t be many corrections, we agreed, because they were capturing our files rather than re-keyboarding everything. We talked about how much quicker and easier it was going to be to get material ready for our magazine.

I enjoyed these meetings. I thought it was because the process was so cutting-edge and fascinating. My staff was pleased enough with the new procedure, but confused about why I was so animated and chatty.

As the second meeting ended, Peter waited while my staff left. “We don’t have any reason to meet here again,” he said, “but I’d like to call you for lunch….I mean, personal.”

Oof. I was totally unprepared. I don’t date, I thought. I don’t have time for that. But by the time he calls I can think up an excuse. “Okay,” I said.

He called about 20 minutes later. “How about May 8?” Crap, I didn’t think I’d need that excuse so soon. “Okay,” I said.

On May 8 Peter picked me up at my office and we went down the street to Ciatti’s Italian restaurant. We talked a lot about our families—he was the youngest of six, I was the oldest of six. As he talked about his father, who died when Peter was 14, he got a little catch in his voice and teared up a little. Smooth, I thought. He’s doing a Nancy Reagan to show his sensitive side. Am I a bad person for doubting his sincerity?

The tab came with a couple of chocolate mints. He passed his to me, saying he didn’t like mint and chocolate in combination. “Oh, I love it,” I said. “Every time I get to Chicago I go to Marshall Field to buy Frango mints.”

“I’m going to Chicago next week for a conference,” he said. “Maybe we can get together for dinner after I get back.”

"Okay," I said. And this time I wasn't thinking about making an excuse.

Update: For the record, apparently May 8 was the day he asked me out, and May 16 was our actual first lunch date. I was relying on memory; he found his 1985 calendar!

Wholesome food contests

I don't mention many contests, but occasionally I'll make an exception. Robynn at Robynn's Ravings promotes wholesome foods, and she has three giveaways going: (1) $50 worth of Great Harvest Bread Company's delicious products, (2) a gift certificate to Chipotle, or (3) a DVD of the documentary "Food, Inc." If you don't live near a GHBC bakery, the company will send you a set of mixes, so anyone from anywhere in the world can enter and win. Great Harvest and Chipotle both serve up delicious products, and both follow sustainable practices. (I learned about this promotion from DJan, by the way.)

Speaking of giveaways, today's mail brought a very cute cupcake cookbook and apron I won from Moogie.

May lilacs