Short List
I'm off today. I've got presents to buy and errands to run; the last before Christmas. But at least this morning, I'm stuck in the house waiting for a birthday-present delivery. (I've been told it's a "cooler" kept in the "cellar" for one of my favorite dinner beverages.)
Fortunately this gives me time to ponder the invite list for my 51st birthday dinner. Coming up with a top 7 is harder than I thought. They've got to be just the right people. I place a premium on laughter and music; after all it is a birthday celebration. I also want engaging and articulate speakers who can converse on topics of particular interest to me. And one or two beautiful women can't hurt. No nasty politcal bickering or heavy discourse on issues, please.
To help focus my thinking - not to mention it's a fun way to while away the hour till the delivery guy gets here - I came up with a short list from which to draw down to the final seven. Many are well-known. A quick Google will give the background on most of the rest (with the possible exceptions of Tom Horton, Baltimore Sun writer and Chesapeake Bay activist; David Harp, photographer specializing in Chesapeake Bay photography; Bruce McPherson, insightful story-teller and interim rector at my church who is at the same time spiritual and down-to-earth; and Marie Carnes, author of a not-too-shabby blog down Springfield way.)
Well, gotta go. The delivery truck just pulled up. The complete short list is after the jump.
K-
The Short List for Kem White's 51st Birthday Dinner - 25 December 2005
Beautiful Women - Salma Hayek, Heather Locklear, Molly Sims, Catherine Zeta-Jones
Birding - Pete Dunne, Tim Gallagher, David Allen Sibley
Classical Music - John Corigliano, Glenn Dicterow, Hélène Grimaud, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Leonard Slatkin
Entertainment - Ellen DeGeneres, the Muppets, Bob Newhart
Environment - Tom Horton
Leaders - Bill Clinton, Rudolph Giuliani
Movies - Clint Eastwood, Roger Ebert, Steve Martin, Sean Penn, Natalie Portman, Steven Spielberg, Meryl Streep, Denzel Washington
Other – Norm Abram, Neil Armstrong, Alton Brown, Marie Carnes, David Harp, Bruce McPherson, Bill Nye
Popular Music - Mary Chapin Carpenter, Eric Clapton, Emmylou Harris, Jimmy Page, Audra McDonald, Doc Watson
Radio - Martin Goldsmith, Garrison Keillor, Tom and Ray Magliozzi
Sports - Martina Navratilova, Brooks Robinson, Grete Waitz
Writers - James Gleick, Jon Krakauer, David McCullough, Simon Winchester
Since this list is wishful fiction, why not expand teh list to include those that have pasted on to the hereafter?
Well, I guess I just wanted to keep things reasonable and not make the exercise too open-ended. Otherwise I'd be dining with George Washington, Sherlock Holmes, Bugs Bunny, and Seven-of-Nine.
And who's to say it's wishful fiction? It could happen. (I actually have had dinner with Tom Horton and Bruce McPherson at one time or another.) And I've got invitations all ready to go once I settle on the list. I have an imaginary friend that does beautiful work. I can give you her name for your next event, if you'd like. ;-)
K-
I just thought of another pop musician I wouldn't mind having there: Randy Newman. Thanks for putting me in there.