Summary

The author of the article has contemplated the hypothetical scenario of hosting a dinner party with a list of seven guests, comprising influential women, a younger version of themselves, and their future partner, to share an evening of wisdom, inspiration, and connection.

Abstract

In a reflective piece titled "The Dinner List," the author addresses the classic question of whom they would invite to a dinner party, given the chance to dine with anyone, living or deceased. The article reveals a carefully curated guest list that includes six accomplished women from various fields, such as modeling, literature, activism, and music, alongside the author's younger self and future life partner. The author expresses a desire for a meaningful gathering that would be both memorable and transformative, despite their usual aversion to hosting. The dinner is envisioned as an intimate event with a vintage theme and a relaxed dress code, aiming to foster an atmosphere of "pure good vibes." The author's selections reflect their admiration for strong, inspirational figures and a longing to connect with their past and future selves, suggesting that such a dinner would be a profound experience.

Opinions

The author views the idea of hosting a dinner party with enthusiasm, despite typically finding the prospect of hosting to be unappealing.
Ebonee Davis is admired for her multifaceted talent and daily inspiration to connect with one's higher self and embody divine love.
Ntozake Shange is remembered posthumously as a symbol of fierceness and a source of revolutionary wisdom in literature and poetry.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is revered as a feminist icon, and the author is eager to discuss her creative process and the nuances of her work.
Adriene Mishler's impact on the author's daily life through yoga and self-improvement is acknowledged with gratitude.
Taylor Swift's music is credited with helping the author through heartbreaks and is appreciated for its brilliance and versatility.
The author's younger self is included as a guest to honor their strength and resilience, indicating a deep sense of respect and appreciation for their own journey.
The future partner is invited to the dinner to preemptively foster familiarity and ensure compatibility, with an emphasis on kindness and a shared interest in the arts.
The author expresses excitement about the potential of the dinner to be a life-changing event, while also humorously acknowledging the stress of planning such an occasion.

WRITING CHALLENGE

The Dinner List

Réspondez s’il vous plaît

My God, these kinds of questions take me by surprise, especially in interviews… you just blurt out a name (of course someone outstanding) so you get props for being a fast thinker and improve your chances of being hired.

If I could invite anyone to dinner, dead or alive, who would it be? I finally had the time to think of this question and answer it genuinely. I have to state that I don’t think I’d be a great host and the idea of hosting people makes me cranky but for these seven people, I can manage. It might be the most fun (and only) dinner party I’d ever host so maybe I should enjoy it.

The dinner invite would be something fancy in a scroll with pure vintage vibes (I’ve always thought I was born in the wrong century) and no dress codes, be as comfortable as wish…

Now to the dinner list, I’d be inviting seven guests, six powerful women in their own right, and an unexpected guest! I am beginning to muddle fantasy with reality because someone is getting a little too excited right now.

Ding Dong!

Guest number 1.

Ebonee Davis. (yes, go on take a long pause after reading that name). Ebonee is a multi-talented beautiful brilliant black woman who I am in awe of. She reminds me daily to strive to connect with my higher self, to explore spirituality, and to be a representation of divine love every day of my life. She’s also really cool and fun to be with (I can tell from her Instagram stories) and I know her presence will be nothing short of pure good vibes.

Guest number 2

Ntozake Shange. I never got to meet her so now is my opportunity right? Fun fact, she adopted the name Ntozake Shange, Ntozake means ‘she who comes with her own things’ and Shange ‘she who walks like a lion’. It’s no surprise whenever I hear the word ‘fierce’ I think of her. She was a playwright, novelist, and poet. Her work can be considered revolutionary and I am sure she’d grace my dinner table with her wells of wisdom.

Guest number 3

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. If you’re still reading this, you already know I am feminist. The love I have for this woman is beyond me. She’s such a phenomenal woman (and oh I love phenomenal women). I am ready to listen to her talk about her creative process, how she found her voice, and most importantly why she ended her book ‘Americanah’ that way.

Guest number 4

Adriene Mishler. Oh my dear Adriene, watching you every morning is probably one of the highlights of my day. The love you share with me every day at yoga brings tears to my eyes daily. You inspire me to be the best version of myself, to always find what feels good and it sure does feel good to have you at dinner! Namaste.

Guest 5

Taylor Swift. Bet you didn’t see that coming. Taylor Swift and I have journeyed through my heartbreaks together. Her music has helped me heal and ‘Lover’ is such a great workout album too. Taylor Swift is brilliant and I don’t think she gets enough credit for it. She’s a badass and yes, bring your cats!

Guest 6

My younger self. I still haven’t decided if she’d be in spirit form or human or whether the other guests would be able to see her or not but I want her there. To say thank you, to honor her memory because she’s so strong, I’m in complete awe. I want her to see me glow with pride when I speak about her to these wonderful people. I want her to know that I love her and she was just enough. Okay, she’s coming as a spirit, I need to be seen smiling awkwardly at space just to let everyone know I’m a weirdo.

Guest 7

My future partner. Yes, I am nosy and no, I don’t like surprises. So come as you are, I want to meet you so when we meet I can say ‘it feels like I have known you before’ and be kind of right. I do hope you’re into the arts and you have hair, lots of it! but most importantly, I hope you’re kind, to yourself, to others and to the planet.

My dinner list is ready and invites are rolling out as I type! I’m excited to have all these people over and oh boy, I can feel the power in the room, It’s going to be life changing, I can’t wait!! What am I going to wear, what are we going to eat? Do I need to hire an event planner? I’m getting stressed! (Told you I hated hosting).

Thank you, Eli Snow and Timothy Key for bringing this prompt to my table! I hope I did justice to it like you both did.

Eli is looking to holiday in Mars as told in her piece, you can trust me to tag along!

For Whom the Dinner Bell Tolls

Who would I invite to dinner, if I could invite anyone?With how often this little thought experiment comes up, you'd…

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Timothy’s piece is definitely not the response you’d expect but it’s worth the read!

When the Dinner Bell Rings, Who Will be at Your Table?

This is a response to a challenge offered by B. A. Cumberlidge. a few weeks ago. I am catching up on my writing prompts,…

link.medium.com

Let me see you get in formation, prove to me that you got… (i honestly dont know the lyrics). I really want to know who you all would invite, so calling on the crew to participate!

Daniel G. Clark Keno Ogbo Tree Langdon ♾️ Eashan Reddy Kotha Paroma Sen James G Brennan