The Last Supper List

We all know about the idea of the "Bucket List" - the list of things we want to do or accomplish in live before we "kick the bucket." I wrote about my own bucket list in a post back in February of 2008, and updated it in August of that year. There was even a movie based on the idea of the bucket list, called - appropriately enough - The Bucket List.

There's also the somewhat newer meme (well, newer to me, anyhow) of the "Last Supper List," or "LSL" - the list of 12 people - real or imaginary, living or dead - you would invite to your own Last Supper. I first heard it expressed this way on a recent episode of the TV show Castle, and in googling the term, I found this interesting Last Supper List by author Deborah Busby.

I actually took a swipe at a version of this topic way back in 2007, in a post titled The Ultimate Dinner Party, Part 1. My five-person guest list for the Ultimate Dinner Party was:

Leonardo da Vinci;
Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt;
Dorothy Parker; and,
Will Rogers

I asked for readers to offer their own Ultimate Dinner Party guest lists, and received only one (I had a lot fewer readers back then). Reader Anonymous (actually a work colleague and friend of mine) suggested this interesting list:

Abraham;
Moses;
Vishnu;
Buddha;
Jesus;
Mohammed;
Martin Luther; and
Pope John Paul II.

Now, the whole idea of the Ultimate Dinner Party is to gather together a group of really interesting people for really interesting conversation over a really good dinner. For this reason, I think that a 12-person Last Supper List would generate a group too large for really interesting and interactive conversation. Of course, the original Last Supper guest list was dictated by the number of apostles, and the dinner was held for a very different reason, but that's neither here nor there.

All that having been said, has my Ultimate Dinner Party list changed in the seven years since I wrote the last post? Let's say that I was willing to turn my UDP into an LS (which I probably wouldn't, for the reason given, but let's roll with it, shall we?) ... what would the new guest list look like? Here's Bilbo's 12-person Last Supper List:

Pope Francis (who wouldn't want to meet the pope who is singlehandedly trying to drive the Catholic Church back to its roots?);

Leonardo da Vinci (he could probably count for half the guest list all by himself);

Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt - the greatest president of the 20th century, who led the country through the Great Depression and World War II, and the fascinating First Lady who was his eyes and ears;

Dorothy Parker - the witty, wisecracking lady who was a mainstay of the famous Algonquin Round Table ... I'd love to trade witty commentary with her, although I'd surely come out second;

Will Rogers - if you've been reading this blog long, you know that Will Rogers is one of my most revered heroes ... witty, perceptive, and a keen political observer and commentator with a common touch;

J. R. R. Tolkien - The Lord of the Rings is one of my all-time favorite works of literature ... I'd love to talk to him about how he wrote it, and to compare his thoughts with those of the next guest;

George R. R. Martin - I'd love to pick his brain on how he researched and plotted the Song of Ice and Fire series;

Sherlock Holmes - who needs to play a game of Clue when you can invite history's greatest detective?;

Winston Churchill - statesman, writer, and brilliant orator ... I'd just be afraid he'd monopolize the conversation;

Sun Tzu - one of the world's great strategic thinkers; and,

Niccolo Machiavelli - his insights into twisted politics could provide valuable insights into our current dysfunctional Congress.

If I had to reduce the guest list to five, my picks today would be:

Pope Francis;
Leonardo da Vinci;
Dorothy Parker;
Will Rogers; and,
Niccolo Machiavelli.

So, Dear Readers, who would be on your Last Supper List, and why? Leave a comment and let us all know. It'll be a helluva party.

Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo