Rick Liblong: Someone I’d like to meet

Sometimes it’s fun to ask other people for their input on a subject for my column.

Readers, I’m sure, get tired of hearing me pontificate about this or that. This week I asked friends the question “Who would you most like to meet?” I didn’t specify whether the person had to be living or not. The responses ran the gamut.

Friend David went right to the top. No subordinates or middle men. “I’d love to meet up with God. I have so many questions for Him. Why did I lose my parents six days apart? Why did I end up staying in the little town I swore I’d never stay in, when my family moved from a much larger town? Why did you take other loved ones from this ole earth before I could grow older and appreciate them more? I know it is all his will — but still, I have questions.”

I assume Dave means he’d like to meet God now, here on earth, before he’s passed through the pearly gates. I’d love to be a fly on the wall eavesdropping on that conversation. What would God look like? A burning bush? Like George Burns in the movie “Oh, God”? What would he sound like? Would he speak English? How would you address him?

A couple of people mentioned that they’d like to meet Jesus, (again, before the big meeting up yonder). Frank said, “So many questions. What did he intend? Is this what he wanted? Is there a heaven or hell?”

Richard also said Jesus. “I’m curious about what he really taught and what he really intended by it.” Guys, if you get these meetings, please report back to the rest of us.

Keith, a rock and roll drummer, who played for some of the greats, said he’d like to meet John Lennon. He met all of the other Beatles but not John. Can’t argue with that choice, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Judy had interesting choices in Great Britain. Princess Kate, who is in her forties and Helen Mirren, who is in her eighties. Steve wants to meet Ali Hoxie, WXYZ-TV reporter.

Two friends, Bob and Rick, listed President Barack Obama as their choice. That may be doable. Good luck, fellas. Might as well meet George W. Bush, Clinton, Biden and Trump.

Family members, as expected, were on some lists. Bruce said he’d like to meet his great grandparents. Ellen wants to meet her grandmother.

“She died the year before I was born. She immigrated from Denmark in the 1890s at age 12 and joined family members around Boston. She ended up graduating from Wellesley College in 1904. I’ve read some of her journals, but I have so many questions about her experiences moving to America.”

My grandfather was on my short list also. I have lots of questions for him and this time, I’d take notes. Historical figures got some notice. John W. mentioned Thomas Jefferson. John F. said Abraham Lincoln. They would be on my short list as well.

Tim, a pilot, said he’d like to meet General Jimmy Doolittle who led the B-25 bombing raid against Japan on April 18th, 1942.  “I have been in the presence of him and other crewmen who survived the mission but was just a youngster at the time and just stayed in the back and listened. He did a lot to advance aviation and had quite a life.”

My own choice would be George Washington. He could tell me about the Revolution, the creation of the Constitution, being the first President who set the precedents for the office and volunteering to give up power.

So, who would you like to meet?