At my dinner table...

Question to self...

Suppose you were hosting a dinner party in one of the grandest and largest of banquet halls, attended by a capable and experienced staff, who serve your guests only the finest wine and delicacies.

Suppose you could invite any number of people to this dinner party...and they would come. Any person at all in the world, living or dead, real or imaginary. The only requirement is that they add something to your dinner party, that they have some experience, some quality, some accomplishment, that interests you. You cannot invite people soley for filial connection or just for being nice.

So...who would you invite and why?



And in no particular order, here goes...



PROFESSOR DR. ALBERT EINSTEIN

Quite simply he was one of the brightest minds of the 20th century. He was a brilliant mathematician and intellectual who completely revolutionized modern physics. He out-thought the thinkers of his day, outsmarted the established veterans of his field. But more than that...he had absolutely no respect for the status quo. He knew he was brilliant and despised those who considered themselves experts but refused to engage in innovative, forward-thinking to solve the pressing problems.

Throughout his life, Albert Einstein was a nonconformist. In school, he rarely attended classes, made fun of his professors, and flagrantly violated school rules. After insulting the very professor whose recommendation was essential to getting the university post he wanted, Einstein dropped out of gymnasium. His failure to graduate school should have made it impossible for him to obtain a university post. It took Einstein years to do it, but he eventually found a way to be admitted to the university anyway.

A native-born German, Einstein got himself expelled (yes, expelled!) from his country for his contrary beliefs. He became stateless, even though this was not permitted and there was no such thing as a stateless person.

Einstein carried this individualistic thinking into the laboratory with him and it helped him succeed where his colleagues had failed. He didn't consider proposed limitations invoilable, so he was able to look at the relativity problem from a whole new angle. He also had the confidence in his work that was necessary to grow his theory in spite of his detractors. One time Einstein was asked what he would have done if experiments had not confirmed his theory of relativity. Einstein responded, "I would have been obliged to pity our dear God. The theory is correct."

Einstein was a genuis, not just because of his IQ, but because of his innovative, individualistic thinking and his refusal to impose (or have others impose) unnecessary limitations on him.

It is this, that I respect in Dr. Albert Einstein. As a guest at my dinner table, I believe that he could teach me, not only about the intricacies of physics, but also about living life. About having the confidence to go after one's dreams, to boldy do the things that scare you, that are not expressly allowed but that you know are right, about taking a stand for what you believe in and ignoring your detractors.

Ahh...but here is a knock upon the door. Gently, I open it...Professor Dr. Albert Einstein has arrived!!!

I curtsy respectfully to him, while he removes his hat and coat. I notice his hair is a little mussed as usual, but I don't care. I shake his hand and embrace him. I also cry a little.

He puts his hand underneath my chin, "Ah, M., my most special friend", he says, "I have come to your dinner party. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"It is my honour that you have graced me with your company, dear Doctor," I say. I lead to him to his place at my table. He is my honoured guest.