The Book of Me - Prompt 14 - Dinner Party for family

If you had to hold a dinner party and could invite a maximum of 12 family members, who would you invite?

My paternal Grandfather would be the first guest on my family dinner party guest list.  He is the only grand parent I never met so this would let me know him.  My Dad rarely spoke of his father; his death while my Dad was in college effected my father immensely   and was difficult for Dad to talk about.

Next is my maternal great-grandfather. When his daughter was very young (5 or 6), he took her to live with aunts, telling his daughter her mother had died. But he didn’t take his 2 yr old son.  Some 25 years later, my grandmother learned that her mother was alive and reconnected with her.

Also on the great-grandparent invite list would be a paternal great-grandmother.  She died from complications at childbirth and left 4 children under the age of 3. I think it would be interesting to learn her family story (lots of Civil War vets with her uncles).

Big Gram, a maternal great great grandmother would be invited - she had claimed she was part Native American and I’d like to find out where on her tree this claim came from.  My family was blessed in the Big Gram lived long enough to see her first great great grandchild (I love the photo my grandfather took of the five generations of women.)  As you can tell by the photo, Big Gram got her nickname, not from her physical size, but by her stature as family matriarch.

A paternal great great grandfather served during the Civil War and was injured in the Battle on Fort Wagner (same battle and fort from the movie “Glory”).  He lay injured in a swamp for a day before he was found and ended up having a leg amputated.  Some how he was able to rejoin the war efforts.  What I’ve really found interesting about this relative are some of the beautiful poems he wrote throughout his lifetime.

I’d also pick a couple of my relatives who served during the American Revolution to learn what it was like to live in a place trying to separate themselves from British rule.

Finally, I’d select two or three of the ancestors who immigrated. I think it would be fascinating to find out why they chose to leave their homelands to start anew in what is now the United States. 

Book of Me - Promt 13: Special People / Iconic Figures

If you had to hold a dinner party and could invite a maximum of 12 special people who would you invite?

You can NOT include family in this – the special people could be famous or historical people.

What meals would you serve and why.

I enjoy having dinner gathering for groups and have found my favorite meal is a potluck.  I would ask my guests to bring something that reflects their heritage so we all can try different food servings.

Since I am not allowed to invite my family, this special people / iconic figures dinner party guest list would include:

Margaret Mitchell - Gone With The Wind is one of my favorite movies and I would like to know what Ms. Mitchell thought of how her story was transformed into a cinematic masterpiece.  I also want to know where she got the concept for the character Scarlett O’Hara, especially the hutzpah the character showed. I want to know how Ms. Mitchell saw the character’s life continuing after the story ended.

Pocahontas and Sacajawea : These two Native American women both held important positions in the formation of the United States. Pocahontas with her work with the early settlers, and Sacajawea with the explorers Lewis and Clark.  Considering the importance they both played during their lives in light of their implied weaknesses (based on general thinking during their day) of being women and Native American, these two ladies welded some great power.

I would invite Queen Elizabeth II and her mother to my dinner party.  I think it would be interesting to learn from them what it was like to live in England during the period leading up to WWII and thru the war.  Both ladies, especially the late Queen Mother have been portrayed with the ultimate of class and grace, especially in light of all the turmoil the family was going through.

An invitation to join the dinner party would be extended to another living person, who for her privacy I will call E.  I first met E when she applied for a ministerial position at the church I attended.  She helped me with some of my tougher spiritual issues, and re-awakened a desire of mine to preach the gospel.  E also helped many at the church in finding new ways to minister to the community and world through participation in mission trips and working with housing improvement programs.  Both E and I have moved away from the church we met at and now live at opposite points of the country from each other.  Her spirit and enthusiasm for all is missed.

Another guest on my list is Black Elk, a Native American Elder.  After my father’s death last year, I found personal strength and calm in the words and insight of Black Elk and other Native American leaders.

Albert Bullard Jr. would make my list.  Shortly after his wife gave birth to their only child, Albert left the U.S. to go trapping in Canada and abandoning his family.  I know nothing more on him and would like to learn why he left and what happened to him.  He is not a relative of mine, but is related to my step-children and I would like to fill in some blanks of their family tree.

Sir Elton John makes my guest list. I have enjoyed his music since my teen years and also have found his philanthropy to be well placed.