30 Things My Kid Should Know About Me: Number 25

(Skipping 24 for now because it asks about my favorite and least favorite thing about parenthood and I don't know yet)

If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?

I'm really, really horrible at these types of questions.  I don't have many "favorite" people in history, so I don't think about who I would like to meet. I like history, but I like it more for the stories than the individuals. So I'm going to take a little different direction on this one...and I know you are shocked because I don't always follow the rules. :)

I would choose to have dinner with Madeleine L'Engle, the author of A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door, and A Swiftly Tilting Planet, along with many others. I have read a little bit about her life and think that she is fascinating. For those of you who are unfamiliar with her work, A Wrinkle in Time is one of the first science fiction books with a female main character. Prior to that book, all of the main characters in science fiction were male because science fiction was written for males. There was not a common belief that women were interested in science fiction. L'Engle wrote this amazing book and had a very hard time getting it published because it was such a different book that was hard to categorize. It has elements of science fiction, but is about people with families and real emotions and love. Even after all of her challenges in getting published, she stuck with it and continued to write.

I met her very briefly during a book signing when I was living in Connecticut, but I didn't have a chance to say much to her other than that I love her writing and thank you for the autograph.

She would be great to have dinner with because she is so well spoken and has strong opinions. We wouldn't run out of things to talk about. We share many of the same opinions, but aren't exactly alike so we could have some debate as well. I, at many different times in my life, have wanted to be a writer and would love to hear her advice and suggestions. I just think it would be one of the best evenings of my life.

Now, what would we eat? I have absolutely no idea. That is something that I haven't read about her. I don't know her favorite foods. Probably something that wouldn't be too messy or too fancy because we would be talking as we eat. I would be tempted to have a lot of courses because then the dinner wouldn't be over too soon. I wouldn't want anything too spicy or heavy because I would hate to be gassy with someone that I admire that much. So maybe a tasting menu kind of meal with lots of small dishes. That's the best I've got for the meal.