I read this question in a recent magazine and the couple dozen answers printed from people around the country. There were some very predictable answers, such as Bill Gates, Martin Luther King, and RBG. And there were the music and film idols that many of us would love to meet in-person. But two of the answers caught me off guard. I reread each of them several times as I nodded my head and smiled. These few short sentences were overflowing with wisdom and love.
One person said she would invite her grandparents, all of whom died before she was born. She would ask what her parents were like as children and how they grew into the people she loved so much. Another said her mother. And she would serve Mom Mac and Cheese, which would be fine with her. She knew that all mom would want is a bite of something and to spend time with her.
Both of these answered touched my heart and my past. If I were answering this question, I must admit that I would be greedy. I would say, my family, all of them. Because as the years have slipped away, so have most of the people I dearly love. And one more family dinner would be a treasure more valuable than anything on this earth. One night to relive many of the happiest memories of my childhood would be a dream come true. The house would be full of love and laughter from my entire family.
But if I am forced to play by the rules, I would say my grandfather. I never met my father’s father. My father also never met his father. Grandpa was killed just weeks before my dad was born, and we never knew much about him. So my grandfather would not be able to tell me stories of the ornery little boy who grew up to be my dad and one of my greatest heroes. He wouldn’t describe the milestones in my father’s life or how proud he was of my dad on those occasions. But he would be able to tell me about his life, his family, and where our family came from all those years ago.
More importantly, he would now be able to tell me the story of meeting his son for the first time. My dad searched all of his adult life for details about his father. But in those days, records were not considered essential. He always wondered and yearned to somehow find that connection. The closest we ever came in our search was discovering his father’s death certificate. It was not until after my dad was gone that I found out where grandpa was buried in an unmarked grave. The last thing that we could do for dad and grandpa was to correct this almost unforgivable oversight. Now he will never be lost again.
The day I said goodbye to my dad, only one thing bought me peace. I knew that he would finally get to meet his father. Often times, I have tried to imagine what that was like for both of them. And that is what I would so love to hear about from my dinner guest. What was it like the first time he met his son, my father?
I know I would also digress and have a million questions about all of my family. And for that reason, I would have planned a gourmet meal of 10 or more courses. The longer the meal, the more stories I would enjoy. And as we finished our last course and final sips of an after-dinner coffee, I would have just one request. Please tell them all that I love them very much. Share hugs and happiness and know that you are all loved and are forever in my heart with our many treasured memories.
What a lovely post! Gives me an idea to do the same! Wouldn’t it be great if you could have two such dinners, one for families and one for famous folks through the ages who have been especially inspiring? Perhaps this is what The Next Adventure is like and we can actually experience this? Lovely thought, too!