Wednesday 25 January 2012

Tea with the One, and the Only...

This post is in response for Preeti's creative prompt "If I could invite anybody for 'tea for two' today it would undoubtedly be ..........................." Now as I am already waiting for the book to reach me, it makes perfect sense to participate here and begin a story even before it starts unfolding when I'll have the book in my hands. 


If I could invite anyone for tea, I would invite the one person, author, celebrated wit, self-certified genius (and rightly so), Oscar Wilde. He is one person from whom even an insult will seem like praise. I fell in love with Ernest (Importance of Being Earnest) and Dorian Gray was definitely one true 'gray' character - he was not bad to begin with, only obsessed with his own perfect beauty...but then only Wilde could paint dangerous, fatal obsessions with such subtlety! And his poems! Ah! 


His one advice I have always taken to heart: 


"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” ― Oscar Wilde


Oh and also:


"The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. Resist it, and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden to itself." ― Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray


I would ask him to comment on the 'sensitive' sentiments of our country people who get offended with everything and everyone who does not tow the "normal" line. I wonder what he will tell both Rushdie and our government. [Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious. ― Oscar Wilde]


He would certainly have a unique view on everything - economy, humor, comics, books, blockbuster movies, novels, religion, outsourcing, and maybe even Stephanie Meyer (sorry, I enjoyed Twilight, but...). [One's real life is often the life that one does not lead. ― Oscar Wilde]


He was a lot of things, but never apologetic for living his life the way he wanted. And made fun of his own attitudes too!


To get back my youth I would do anything in the world, except take exercise, get up early, or be respectable. ― Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray


I would also like to invite Osho and Douglas Adams, but I doubt they will be easy or even willing to pin-down. I will have to meet them both in the restaurant at the end of the Universe, they will not come, I'll have to go there.  

5 comments:

Rachit said...

Amazing! Oscar Wilde was one of his kind. I so love his quotes, or maybe everything he did!

Looks like I'm gonna also be there if he's coming. Make it tea for three lady! ;)

Nicely written Prerna. Loved it. :)

Unknown said...

Thanks Rachit, with these words, you are definitely on the guest list. Just don't forget to wear a smile or bring your wit, or else you know Wilde - "It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious." And we wouldn't want to be termed tedious now, would we? :)

Thanks again for your kind words!

Preeti Shenoy said...

Wow!
beautiful.
Oscar Wilde is one of my favourite people too :)
And the visual you posted is just WOW!! :) Sooooo cute those tea cups are and that porcelain cat :)

Thank you for taking part!
Love
preeti

Sushma Harish said...

Yes. Oscar Wilde was one of the kinds best always. Enjoyed reading.

Unknown said...

Preeti: Thanks for reading! See my obsession for cats? I can find them anywhere :)

Waiting for next Tuesday and also your book.

Sushma: Thanks for reading and enjoying it!