It's a fun but though provoking question: If you could be any person who lived in the 20th century, who would it be? It's a tough question because we assume we'd still be ourselves simply thrust into the role of another. Absent are all the individual traits and mindsets unique to the actual person; present is our perspective and the way we feel about the world. Still, it brings up a lot of interesting discussion. I've narrowed mine down to four people:Howard Carter, Gene Cernan, Edmund Hillary or Geddy Lee.
Howard Carter discovered the past; Gene Cernan lived the future. Edmund Hillary has had an incredibly full and long life (with many great adventures beyond Everest--as we speak he's in Antarctica!) and Geddy Lee has amazing talents that he expresses in a unique and pure fashion. I've toyed with being a famous athlete, a war hero or incredible novelist. Still, outside of old' Ged, being an explorer of the unknown or discovering relics of the past appeal to me more.
Honorable mention goes to Albert Ellingwood, Reinhold Messner, Jacque Cousteau, Brian May, Cal Ripken Jr., Greg Graffin, Sigfried Sassoon, Michael Palin and Wayne Gretsky.
Though ultimately, the role of James Dziezynski ain't too shabby when I think about it!
