Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Who Would You Like To Be?


RHYS. BOWEN: Last week we talked about interviews we had experienced, both as the interviewer and interviewee. I’ve done a lot of radio and blog interviews, as I know the rest of the Reds have too. Sometimes they are excruciating because the radio host as no idea who I am, what I write and has probably never read a book. “So—Miss Brown—you’ve written this, uh…”

Most of the time I get asked identical questions so that I can switch off my brain, open my mouth and the answer comes out.

But just occasionally I get an interviewer who challenges me. On a radio interview a while ago I was asked, “If you could be anyone else in the world for fifteen minutes, who would you like to be?”

                This took me by surprise. I didn’t have much time to think but I said, “I’d like to be the number one tennis player in the world, coming out onto Center Court at Wimbledon for the final, knowing I can win.”



I’ve always been a tennis fanatic. I played for my school and my college. As a teen I had pin-ups of Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall etc on my wall. My friend and I rode our bikes about ten miles to the tennis club after school, practiced for two hours then rode back again. I played club tennis and occasionally league (which I hated. Too serious) until I got a damaged disk between my shoulder blades. I asked if I could still play tennis. Yes, but you’ll have to serve underhand, she said. Hey, I can still beat my son-in-law. I don’t server underhand I said. So I quit.  I still miss it.

                But this week, when I’ve been laid low with a virus, I have watched the tennis channel every day and I found myself wondering would I really have liked to be a top tennis player? I love tennis but nothing but tennis, every day all year?   I’m afraid I’m not very good at doing just one thing. When I lived in a country club in Texas I played tennis with the other women a couple of times a week. Most of them played every morning.  “I should be cleaning my house,” they giggled as they swept the court of leaves. I have friends who after retirement play bridge every day.

I have realized I’m not passionate enough about anything to do it every day of my life. Maybe if I’d been that little bit better at tennis—, one who could win tournaments, perhaps I’d have worked harder. But now when I watch those young women playing all over the world, all year without a break, I wonder if it’s worth it. Ashley Barty didn’t think so. She quit as number one in the world.

Now Reds—who would you have liked to be? Did you have any childhood dreams or passions that were not fulfilled? And I realize as I write this that I write every day. If I’ve finished a book and am supposed to take a break I am jotting down ideas, itching to get back to work. So I do know who I’d like to be after all!

And to update that question about who I’d like to be for fifteen minutes I now have a good answer. I’d like to be Vladimir Putin. I’d take poison that would take twenty minutes to react.

43 comments:

  1. I’ve never thought about being anyone other than myself, but it is an intriguing question . . . .
    I’d want to be an astronaut stepping onto the surface of the moon . . . .

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    1. I’d never thought of you as an astronaut, Joan. How adventurous!

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  2. I think I was always meant to be a writer, and for most of my life I did that in one way or another. It just took me a while to realize I was meant to be a novelist, specifically.

    Not sure about a career in this, but I've always wished there had been a way for me to stick with playing the cello. I quit after four years of school-taught lessons, but to be able to produce beautiful music in my own home would be so lovely. Instead, I listen to Yo-yo Ma when I need a fix.

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    1. I love listening to the cello but what a demanding instrument!

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  3. Rhys, this is very interesting for many reasons. First of all, you really got me with your closing. You'd be Putin and take poison. Hah! You should write murder mysteries!! Lol

    I rarely read biographies but someone recommended Bill Shatner's latest and I listened to the audiobook. In it he discusses his own choice to be an actor then talks about his family and their choices. One of his granddaughters is a talented tennis player and he talks about how much of her normal youthful experiences are being sacrificed in her pursuit of this passion. I know that I never had that passion for anything. So, there is nothing that I ever excelled at doing.

    Who would I be for 15 minutes? Still thinking about that.

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    1. Rhys: I think any passion comes with great sacrifice but kids don’t always make their own choice if they show talent

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    2. Parental support/encouragement, or not, makes such an enormous difference in how kids' talents are either nurtured or suppressed. It isn't easy for parents to know whether to throw all their efforts into helping the child develop, or nudging them in other directions.

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  4. Rhys, your answer about being number one, entering Center Court, knowing you could win--that's so perfect, so you! I would like to be someone like Bonnie Raitt, in the wings, waiting to sing and play for a huge, adoring crowd. Maybe I'd start with I Can't Make You Love Me.

    Or on the other hand, maybe I should be Lady Gaga, sweeping up to the grand piano in a gorgeous dress, waiting for Bradley Cooper to join me and sing "Shallow"...

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    1. Hank Phillippi RyanMarch 1, 2023 at 8:56 AM

      Oh, I so agree! That was such a moment! Do you possibly remember a million years ago when Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond sang “you don’t bring me flowers anymore”? Same kind of thing, amazing.

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    2. Rhys: or an opera star would be divine!

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  5. I was thinking as I read that line "I have realized I’m not passionate enough about anything to do it every day of my life": wait a minute, what about writing, Rhys? :-) And Vladimir Putin would never take poison. I would like to be the person who GIVES HIM POISON--one that acts so quickly there'd be no time for medical intervention. But the scary thought is, who'd step into power after him? Those closest to him appear to be just as horrible as Putin.

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    1. I had the same thought, Flora!

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    2. Rhys: I did realize that as I wrote it, Flora!

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  6. Interesting question. I don't think there's a person I'd want to be, but I do wish, sometimes, that I'd stuck with sports journalism out of college.

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    1. Rhys: one of my daughters toyed with that Liz. But she’s owned a successful
      Swim club and been a coach so that worked out well

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  7. Hank Phillippi RyanMarch 1, 2023 at 9:00 AM

    Yes, this is such an interesting question. I’ve been asked it, too, and, of course, I totally overthink. There’s just such a downside to being anyone else, and it’s kind of fascinating to think about the trade-offs. One would have to make… Of course, no one would know that if you were young Linda Ronstadt, or young, Barbra Streisand, or young Taylor Swift. I have always thought it would be glorious to have that moment on stage somewhere, singing some thing, fantastically, and having everyone cheer. Or be in a Broadway show, equally fabulous, center stage in Les Mis, or even as Adelaide in Guys and Dolls . But for only 15 minutes, do we get to pick the 15 minutes? I wonder how it would feel to be an author who sees their name as number one New York Times best seller. I would hope that would last longer than 15 minutes, though. The “15 minutes of fame “ always seems so sad. (Told you I was over thinking. :-) )

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    1. Rhys: Hank, that might have been my choice if I’d had time to think! Coming out onto a stage, adoring fans, opening my mouth and beautiful sounds come out! But we are lucky to live that in a small way!

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  8. For 15 minutes? The truth is I've tried out endless personas and pursuits in my life, sometimes two in one day. Through reading. So haven't we all kind of done that all our lives? I've been dozens of different kinds of sleuths, great artists, impressarios, wild women, inventors, explorers, and stuffy barristers in 19th Century England. And I thoroughly agree, Rhys, on not doing just one thing the rest of my life! Far too dull.

    On a more sober note, fifteen minutes isn't enough time to effect the kind of change the whole world needs, alas. The only way would be for every one of us to be a game changer for 15 minutes each. Probably too much to ask.

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    1. Rhys: Karen what wise words! Of course we have as writers and readers!

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  9. No one but me. Elisabeth

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  10. Tough question. No one person comes to mind. But it would be cool to be able to sing to someone (I can't carry a tune in a bucket) or have someone serenade me. I'm picturing the students singing the drinking song to the barmaid in The Student Prince.

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  11. I'm good with me. After all, 15 minutes isn't enough time to change the world or savor a new persona.

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  12. I have no idea who I'd want to be for 15 minutes, but how would I feel after those 15 minutes end and I return to my "normal" self? Would those 15 minutes be enough or would I yearn for more and then continually be disappointed that I am unable to continue the dream? I think I'm stuck with just being me.

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  13. Someone once asked who I would like to be for one day. My reply? Karl Malone. For you non-basketball fans, he was an incredible basketball player, strong, athletic. Why him? Because it game me three opportunities--to be Black for a day, to be a man for a day, and to have extraordinary athletic skill. Oh yeah, and he was also really good-looking.

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  14. What Flora Church said re: Putin.
    Meanwhile, when I first left home and was working my way through school, I sometimes fantacized I wanted to be a legal secretary BUT . . . someone like Perry Mason's secretary, who really solved his cases with a pertinent question here, a pithy comment there. Not that I had any interest in the legal field, lol. It just sounded more exciting than the office work I was doing to get through school.
    What I really wanted to be, though, I did become: A teacher/writer, and I've loved doing both.

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  15. I’d like to deliver one more baby. Maybe in a Chinese restaurant. Might need more than fifteen minutes, depending on where we’re starting from.

    Can you tell I just finished watching Call the Midwife?

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    1. Deliver a baby in a Chinese restaurant? The mind boggles!

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    2. Yes. A Chinese restaurant. The last one I delivered was in a car parked in a no parking zone in front of a hospital. No ticket was issued

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  16. I have to laugh and laugh at myself now, but many years ago, after reading a particular novel, I imagined I would like to someday be First Lady! That idea did not last long at all!

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  17. What fun, Rhys! Interestingly, none of the things that popped into my head included being center stage. And since I seem to prefer being behind the scenes, I think I'd like to be Steven Spielberg for fifteen minutes, directing a scene in a movie. Of course this is pretty much what writers do, only we don't get to use real people and real sets!

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  18. Over the years I've often sung in choirs, and it's lovely to get the applause and appreciation for our music. But twice I experienced the amazing joy of sheer adulation. Once when our choir Song Cycles -- Toronto's Choir on Bikes -- was performing at a huge anti-war rally, we sang Ring Like a Bell -- one of Pete's many songs for peace -- and the crowd was crazy generous with their cheers and applause. In those few moments, I had a glorious taste of wow, so this is what it feels like to be a star.

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    1. That is a wonderful feeling, isn’t it? I’ve also experienced that with choirs

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  19. If you had asked me that question when I was an adolescent or young adult, I might have been able to answer it, but I’m not even sure about that. But now I don’t want to be anyone but myself. Maybe I would wish to become a better version of myself? As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more comfortable in my skin. I have a birthday coming up next Tuesday. My birthday wish, now that I think of it, would be to be someone who has a positive influence on other people, but not for only fifteen minutes. (Hank, maybe I’ve joined you in the Overthinking Club?!)

    DebRo

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  20. Rhys, I was laughing as I read this, because I know you write every day! So maybe the question is: what are you SO passionate about that you'll do it every day?

    Quitting after your disc gave out resonates with me - I was an extremely keen alpine skier from the age of 12 until having two babies in a row kept me at home for several winters. Now I have traumatic arthritis in one knee, and am unable to ski no matter how much time I have. I miss it particularly on weeks like this, when we've had an amazing powder snowfall combined with temperatures right around freezing - just ideal for a day on the slopes.

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  21. I am not comfortable in the spotlight at all but maybe my 15 minute persona could be. I think I’d want to be a pitcher, specifically a closer for my Atlanta Braves. Coming out of the bullpen, Seven Nation Army blaring, about to close out Game 7 of the World Series. That would be amazing.

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  22. What a delightful post, Rhys! I think I would like to be Jeff Bezos (or any bajillionaire) just long enough to give away all of their money to teachers, nurses, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, sanitation workers, grocery store clerks, etc. -- you know, the real heroes. 15 minutes should do it ;-)

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    1. Jenn, you win! What a great idea!!

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  23. I think the answer to who I'd want to be for 15 minutes would vary at different times, but since I went to our local performing arts center last night and saw The Simon and Garfunkel Story (part of the Broadway series I subscribe to), the answer is easy today. I think that there would be few highs as high as singing on stage with a band and another singer who is as passionate about the music as I am. I loved the harmonizing of Simon and Garfunkel, and that would be my happy zone, singing with someone who shares the passion. Just from being in the audience and standing up during the last song, I can imagine how amazing it would be to give myself over to the emotions of the music and the love from the audience.

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  24. This is great fun to think about ,Rhys, but I'm having trouble with the fifteen minutes. I enjoyed reading how many of you other readers have solved that, though, with fifteen minutes just before a great moment. Like the pitcher. But Edith mentioning Yo-Yo Ma gave me another idea. I think I'd like to be someone sitting in a room alone with Yo-Yo Ma, and he's playing the cello just for me. Actually, let's have him play ten minutes, and then I'd get five minutes to talk to him! I could say that about lots of wonderful performers--or maybe I'd take fifteen minutes to talk to my favorite writers.

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