For years I\u2019ve been saying that my fantasy trip would be a very long \u00a0train ride\u2014perhaps across Canada\u2014with a stack of books I\u2019d been meaning to read.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I was musing about that a while ago and decided to take it to the next level. Since another longtime desire has been to ride the Orient Express, I got thinking about that and who I would want to have on the train with me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I went to the Orient Express Web site and chose the Venice-Prague-Paris route. Now, I just had to fill up the train. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n
My list was quite long, but here are some of people I\u2019d want along:<\/p>\n
My family\u2014because they\u2019re great travel companions despite our different interests; Zoe and Zachary would liven things up, of course<\/p>\n
Anne Lamott\u2014 because she\u2019s a rare combination of wise and funny<\/p>\n
Jon Stewart\u2014because I owe my sanity to him<\/p>\n
Bill Bryson\u2014because he\u2019s a brilliant storyteller who makes me laugh out loud<\/p>\n
Richard Branson\u2014because an entrepreneur whose motto is \u201cFun is Fundamental\u201d belongs on this trip<\/p>\n
Whoever writes the copy for the Innocent Drinks Web site\u2014because they\u2019re wacky<\/p>\n
Elizabeth Gilbert\u2014because she might be ready for another trip and she speaks Italian<\/p>\n
Guy Laliberte\u2014because I suspect the founder of Cirque du Soleil is a genius<\/p>\n
Billy Collins\u2014because he turns stories into poems that I love<\/p>\n
Rick Steves\u2014because he could fill us in on what we\u2019re seeing<\/p>\n
Philip Pullman\u2014because he\u2019s one of the best storytellers alive<\/p>\n
Bill Strickland\u2014a man who understands how telling his story has contributed to his success<\/p>\n
I realized as I was making out my list of fellow passengers that every one of them was selected because I wanted to hear their stories. You\u2019ll also notice that there are no politicians or\u00a0overexposed celebrities on the list.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In fact, even though many of the passengers are quite well known, they each have a bit of mystique about them. Imagine what five days on board with this group would be like.<\/p>\n
If you were filling up a train or a yacht or a retreat center, who would you most love to have along? Make out your list and then don\u2019t be surprised if you find yourself in their presence someday.<\/p>\n
After all, genuine admiration is wonderfully magnetic.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
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For years I\u2019ve been saying that my fantasy trip would be a very long \u00a0train ride\u2014perhaps across Canada\u2014with a stack of books I\u2019d been meaning to read.\u00a0 I was musing about that a while ago and decided to take it to the next level. Since another longtime desire has been to ride the Orient Express,…<\/p>\n