If You Could Have Lunch With One Person, Alive or Dead, Who Would It Be?

Editor’s note: This article contains mention of sensitive topics, including infant loss, that may be difficult for some individuals.

This is not an original question and, in fact, had been asked and answered in this column four long years ago. I liked the answers back then and was curious to know how our responders would think about their answers at this juncture.

In this column, adopted from the familiar “Heard on the Street” format, we offer our responders a chance to answer the question posed in the title. These are their replies reported verbatim.

Table for Two, Please

As a lifelong Beatles fan, I would have to pick one of the Beatles. Since I can choose from living or dead, I am going to go with dead, as that would be slightly more remarkable. That leaves me with two to choose from: John Lennon and George Harrison. Since this is a fantasy question, I would like to eat my main course with John and have dessert with George.

Leslie Woodward
Fairview Fittings
Oakville, Ontario, Canada

Both my grandparents had passed before I was born, so I think if I could, I’d love to have a meal and an opportunity to gain some wisdom from my grandmother.

Judy Taranovich
Proctor Gas Inc.
Proctor, Vermont

Moe Howard, of the comedy trio The Three Stooges. He was a pioneer in the early days of comedy. Amazing one-liners which stood the test of time. Interesting person who had a gift of entertaining through good and bad times.

Richard Strycharz Jr.
Walter’s Propane
Sunderland, Massachusetts

I was asked this question in my very first job interview when I was finishing college, and I answered, ‘My boyfriend’s mom.’ That boyfriend is now my husband and until 10 years ago, that was always my answer. I want to know her, I want to ask her questions about her life, and I want to ask her all the mom stuff about Dave, my husband, when he was a baby and little kid. Ten years ago, I changed my answer to Chaz, my son who only lived 23 minutes. I don’t know if he would be a newborn or a toddler or a 10-year-old at the dinner, but even if he were just an infant who couldn’t talk or eat, I would choose that time with him to hold him and snuggle him for as long as the dinner would last.

Lauren Clark
Bergquist Inc.
Toleda, Ohio

I would like to have lunch with my daddy! We would talk all things propane. He started our business in 1960, which is now carrying on into the third and fourth generations. So many things have changed over the last 64 years that I’m sure he would be shocked to hear of many of the changes, both good and bad. The greatest changes would be all the technology that has been implemented to help our industry run more efficiently. I’m sure he would say, ‘A tank monitor?? What the hell is that and how can that work?!?’ It would have to be a really long lunch to talk about all the changes that have taken place. Hopefully by the end of lunch, Daddy would be proud of what we are doing here with the company he started all those years ago.

Paula Moore
Blackburn Propane Service Inc.
Durant, Oklahoma

Without a doubt, the person I’d most want to have lunch with would be Jesus. Certainly, the most influential person in Western civilization history, there are no known writings authored by Jesus. Others’ writings came afterward, the earliest known having been written decades after he lived on earth. Scholars have long analyzed those writings, and Thomas Jefferson even edited his own personal Bible to what he thought were the essential messages that Jesus intended, with the supernatural events (miracles) excluded. Wouldn’t it be nice to hear it straight from the man himself? Well worth the price of lunch and a healthy tip!

Bruce Swiecicki
National Propane Gas Association
Tinley Park, Illinois

If I could have lunch with my grandfather, it would be awesome. He was a major influence in my entire life. He guided me morally, spiritually, musically and socially. As the son of Irish immigrants, he instilled the value of the simple things. We never talked about being rich financially. Family was his focus. He worked long hours and provided for his family. He also made sure he took his downtime seriously. We would go to lunch or coffee, and he always wanted to know what was going on in my life. He used to sneak into venues to see me play saxophone in various bands. He was very proud of his family. If we were to go to lunch, I would let him know how much I appreciated his mentoring. I would love to share stories about my family and grandchildren that he was not able to see. It would be great just to have one more cup of coffee with him.

Ed Varney
Topline Management
McKinney, Texas

I would love to have lunch with retired Alabama head coach Nick Saban. I always admired how he was so influential with highly talented high school football players who wanted to come play for him, and how he was so highly regarded and respected by others in his industry.

Sam Fung
Emerson Fisher LP Gas
McKinney, Texas

I would like to have lunch with Jesus. I would be interested in learning about his challenges working in his family business. I would hope to get advice for dealing with government oversight and family dynamics. The Bible is full of wisdom; however, sometimes I am unsure how it applies in the 21st century. I would also like to make sure I am doing a good job living my life and serving others. You know, put in a good word for me!

Julie Johnson
Ted Johnson Propane
Baldwin Park, California

Fantasy Meals Delight Our Souls

These perspectives affect my thinking about a personal answer to this question. The notion of having a few hours to linger over lunch with any of the truly important and memorable people who have passed away during my life makes me smile. I especially like the rich quality of this fantasy visit being one on one where two people have the opportunity to share from their hearts. Small talk is not my strength — give me an uninterrupted, two-hour-plus lunch and a friendship has been nourished.