Thursday, April 14, 2011

Who Would You Meet and Why?

I find that some of my most lasting memories are ones where I somehow embarrassed myself. Do you find that's true, or is it just me? Like, I remember all these random conversations just because I said something dumb in them. I remember so many times when my parents corrected me and I felt stupid about it, even though I know that the times they were supportive and forgiving were far more frequent then the times they scolded me.

Or I can't stand to listen to "I Love You Always Forever" by Donna Lewis because I once wrote out all the lyrics to give to a boy I was "going out with" (we were 12, by the way) then dumped him the next day when I got no response. That still makes me feel so stupid. I hate that song. Doug Howard, if you're out there, I'm sorry. I was 12, though, so I should get some slack, right? Not from myself. I still blush and feel ridiculous just hearing that song. Here it is in case you don't know what I'm referencing:



And I think about these episodes a lot. Try to redo them, I guess. Like, the one I really want to talk about today -- it was senior year. AP English. Probably the first week of class, and we'd been given the assignment to interview a classmate and prepare a presentation to give to the class about that person. Our teacher gave us all the same 5 questions to ask each other.

One of the questions was a pretty classic, cliche type question that you often get asked: If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

At the time, I just couldn't think of anyone at all. I was pretty shy, and I couldn't imagine myself having a conversation with anyone famous. I mean, what would I say?

So, at the time, drawing a blank, I said Chris Martin, lead singer of Coldplay. Yeah I know. Lame, huh? And what's lamer is that I still feel stupid about that. I mean, this was 9 years ago and I know, I know, nobody cared who I would hypothetically meet. But I still feel like I should have--and could have--come up with something a little more meaningful. You know, like one of my grandfathers who passed away before I was born. Or I don't know... Gandhi.

I think about that a lot, though. And I have realized that who my 17-year-old self really wanted to meet, living or dead, was the prophet Joseph Smith. I would say Jesus Christ, but I don't think my 17-year-old self was really ready to meet Jesus. But Joseph Smith . . . now I could have learned a lot from him. I was having a lot of doubts about the church, which I eventually figured out, but getting a read on the boy prophet would have been awesome. That would have been a much better answer.

Definitely more true than "Chris Martin". I mean, honestly, I'd have nothing to say to that guy except, "Your album Parachutes replaced REM's Automatic for the People as my go-to album when I'm in a teenage angsty mood." And I don't think he'd really care to hear that, anyway. And I'd have nothing really to ask him, either. It's not like I was really a big fan or anything. I just really liked that album. It's pretty weird that I still think about that and think dumb dumb dumb, huh?

Now, I definitely have a better answer to that question. I have lots of answers to that question, in fact. I'd love to meet the aforementioned grandfathers. I'd love to meet my mom and dad 30 years ago (come on, that would be cool). I'd love to meet Paul (New Testament guy) - you know, get some clarification on some of those epistles. I'd love to meet a peasant from the middle ages - find out what life was like there and then. I'd love to meet Joseph Smith, and that is true.

What about you? Who would you meet and why? And if it's Chris Martin, well, I promise not to think you're dumb.

5 comments:

Heidi said...

I remember one of those dumb moments when I was in class and the teacher asked all of us to say our name and our favorite band. I'm pretty sure I didn't have one because I couldn't afford to buy cd's, but there were a few singers I liked. My older brother always told me the music I listened to was lame, so I couldn't share that with my class. I chose to name the Cranberries. My brother gave me one of their cd's for my birthday, but only so he could listen to it. I liked them okay, but they weren't my favorite. So, I still think about it and how dumb I felt not being honest.
On your other topic of who I would like to meet, my answer would have also been Joseph Smith. Now I think I would like to meet Marjorie Hinckley. She must have been an amazing woman and might have some advice for me for when I feel overwhelmed.
Anyhow, thanks for the thought provoking discussion.

Shirley said...

I've always hated those kind of questions. I've never been one to be a big fan of anything. And really, I don't know who I would want to meet. I've been thinking about it for a couple minutes and I still don't know! :) I think the question should be who would you like to know... because meeting someone for just an hour can be so short or so superficial. You just can't get to know someone in that amount of time, it's just the excitement of saying you got to meet them right? i would love to know my mother in law. She got sick while we were dating and passed away 7 months after we got married. She was an amazing woman and I wish I could say I knew her. And going by this, there are people that would be cool to meet, but I'd be scared to know because then it would ruin my perfect perception of them. :) Is that bad? :)

Unknown said...

you know, reading your post I was thinking "the Prophet Isaiah"

but usually when faced with that question I just shrug, I'm really happy with my life and don't have anyone one I desperately want to talk to but have never had the opertunity. if we're doing time travel my parents would be awesome, Myself in the future I'd love. and frankly I'd love to meet my husband.

Can I pick Wonderwoman circa 2004? because She would be one fantastic interview.

Evan and Holly said...

Emma Smith or Sister Hinckley--but this is probably because I have been thinking about whether they were always such wonderful women or if they had to develop those traits over time.
But I feel like I wouldn't be that upset if I never met anyone who is dead or inaccessible to me. I never gave this question much thought and never had an answer.

Unknown said...

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who experiences "dumb moments." And I'm glad I'm not the only one with a music-related one. Thanks, Heidi. :) Thanks to everyone who joined this discussion. You made me laugh and you made me feel like I had some company out there.

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