Weird People

Often I hear assurances being given that "we are all weird in our own way". This is not always to assure me, I hope you understand. I am not "that" weird. I think.

It is comforting, though, to discover that famous, successful people, also have certain...idiosyncrasies.

I recently heard that Hans Christian Andersen had a very odd behaviour. He is well known for having written "The Snow Queen", "The Ugly Duckling" and "The Emperor's New Clothes".

He is less well known, however, for wearing a note attached to his body, asking that should he be found dead, that he be checked twice. His great fear was that he would some day be buried alive.

Another writer, fairly well known (!), is Charles Dickens. To improve his writing, he made a point always to sleep facing north. If my blogging suddenly improves, you will know why...

Most people have heard of Angelina Jolie (pre Pitt) doing some pretty strange things. When she was with Billy Bob Thornton, they both had a vial of each other's blood. Why? Oh, the power of love. And then there was her kissing James Haven...who is her brother...

Salvador Dali, the surrealist painter, was so hungry for attention, he would walk up and down streets ringing a bell, so as to draw crowds. He was known to deliver lectures, wearing a deep sea diving suit.

He was also reportedly quite taken with Cher, the singer and actress, and attempted to "get fresh" with her at a dinner party. This was in front of his wife. She, of course, was quick to discourage his advances, in typical Cher fashion...

Barack Obama did drugs! This perhaps isn't entirely "fitting" for this post, as it isn't an eccentricity I'm talking about. But I was taken aback when I read this, and felt I had to mention it.

In his book "Dreams From My Father", he talks openly about mistakes he made as a young man, including experimenting with cocaine and marijuana. This book was written before he entered the political world. I think it is refreshing that someone who is now the President of America, could have felt so comfortable with himself and his choices in life, that he can be this honest. Again, doing something that gives people hope.