The meme that is not a meme

Jean-Luc last week asked this question on his blog: "Name a group of people you would choose as guests in a dinner party and why. Choose as many as you wish." Now, unlike other memes which I do and then forget within moments, this question actually stayed with me for days. Perhaps because this is such an 'old-school' question and I've pondered it many times over the course of my life. This is how my answer would read this week. Next week it could be completely different. 1. Shakespeare - to see if he was as brilliant as his words are. 2. Winston Churchill - to revel in his oratory (although he may dominate the conversation, rather). I'd be interested to hear him talk about his 'black dog' depression. 3. Jack the Ripper (wheeled in bound and muzzled, like Hannibal Lecter) - just to see who the hell he was. Then he can be wheeled out again. 4. Bono - Because he's one of the most dynamic people around right now. 5. Helen Garner - We can huddle together and gossip and talk about writing while the boys carry on. 6. Lord Byron - To see what the fuss and swooning was all about 'in the day'. 7. Casanova - Ditto. 8. Bill Clinton - To enjoy his charisma (come on, you know he's pretty sexy.) He's always enormously interesting to listen to. 9. William Shatner - To see if he's as pompous in real life as he's rumoured to be. Plus I love him. Plus, I want him to talk 'Esperanto' to me!! 10. Angelina Jolie - She's gorgeous. 11. Cate Blanchett - Ditto 12. Errol Flynn - Because I've always had a bit of a 'thing' for him. 13. Ernest Hemingway - To hear him talk about his adventures AND his writing. A two-for-one bonus! What do you think?