My dad, who died in 1996. There’s so much to tell him - about my husband and my daughter, my brother’s family, what my mum’s been doing - lots of news. I miss him every day.
Sorry to be unoriginal, but I also thought immediately of my Dad, who died when I was 14, just before I was old enough to want to actually know about him and his life, and what he thought about things.
There are a couple of friends from childhood I haven’t managed to track down, but I probably wouldn’t find them to be very interesting people to talk to.
I know who. We split up many years ago, and it wasn’t nasty as these things go. No kids, amicable really. People change, move on, blah de blah. So, it’s ancient history. We keep in touch, email mostly, I like her art and photography, she tolerates me sending her Youtube clips of 1980s indie bands. We’re all grown-ups with quite a few relationships under our belts, although I suspect that I haven’t grown up quite as much as some of my contemporaries.
And yet, and yet. Sometimes I think I’d give up a half my remaining life to be sat opposite her chatting away, eating a nice meal, like we used to do. Even for just one hour.
By whatever means I wish???
I go back in time with some cash, and talk to a stockbroker long enough to say, “Nice to see you, STFU, buy stocks X, Y and Z for me.” If you insist, I’ll chat about the weather for another 59 minutes before returning to today.
No, not that certain lady novelist I used to know . . .
I’d pick my maternal grandfather. I was 8 when he died, and he lived in Miami, so the only real memory I have of him is when he used to give me a kind of candy I liked.
But I’ve learned a lot about him through my mother and other relatives. He was a remarkable man. He came from an area that was sometimes Poland and sometimes Russia, depending on who had won the last war. When he was 18 he got drafted into the Czar’s army, and he became a draft dodger, finally winding up in the U.S. Over the next several years, as he could afford it, he brought over all of his brothers and their families, and his mother. All the other relatives (huge extended family) remained over there, and every one of them was murdered in the Holocaust.
Only 2 of his kids are still alive. One’s 80 and the other’s 90. When they go, there will be nobody left who actually remembers him.
I do have one thing that belonged to him: his cane, made from a goat’s horn and hoof.
This is a bit hard. I think I’d say my grandmother as she died when I was in my early 20s, but I never talked to her about her family. On the other hand my grandfather I only remember bits and pieces about as he died when I as 9. I think I’d have to go with my grandmother though, as she would know more of the family history that I’d want.
that’s too easy.
I’ll talk to my wife (anytime before the bike accident) and tell her how much I treasure her… snif
My old English professor, to get her advice on going to graduate school and continuing a career in her same field. She was one of the most fascinating, brilliant, inspiring people on the planet and I miss her sorely. She passed away about a week ago and I’m still pretty heartbroken about it.
If it must be someone currently alive, the boy I had a crush on in high school. I still think of him sometimes. I’m pretty sure he married the girl he was dating as a senior, but I’d like to show him I’m not as much of a pain in the ass as I was then and let him know that I, at least, crushed on him like mad. 
My mother, I guess, who died when I was 7, and was sick for so long before that I only vaguely remember her. I want to know what she was like.
Or my father’s mother, who fled Austria as an orphaned teenager in 1914. She died months after I was born, so I suppose she counts. I want to know her story.
I would only end up yelling at my father, and I don’t want to see my sister any more than I did when she was alive.
Nothing really major here. I’d talk to my ex-wife. She’s not dead, and some of my friends occasionally see her out and about. We haven’t spoken for about a decade, and I have no idea how to contact her anymore. I’d like to apologize to her for a few things from our marriage (primarily for my then-undiagnosed depression, which made my personality a tad bit difficult to bear), let her know I’m doing okay, let her know I’m about to graduate school. I’d like to find out how she’s doing, too, and make arrangements to stay in amicable contact. I miss her as a friend, really.
My mother. To get the details on my conception and who my daddy was.
When I was a kid in Michigan, there was a rich Muslim doctor in our community. This guy was the most wonderful kid-friendly guy. We used to call him “Doctor Uncle” or the “Birthday Uncle.” When you had a birthday, he would make SUCH a big deal out of you. He’d sit with the kids and help them open presents, and make more of a fuss out of them then the kid, sometimes. Everybody adored him.
He died in a car accident and I was not permitted to go to the funeral, though I wanted to.
Every now and then I think of him and it gives me a little strength. He wasn’t a huge part of my life but his was a totally unconditional, accepting love, and it helped my growth. I would like a little time with him to say thank you, and I will always love you and remember you.
An ex-boyfriend of mine committed suicide many years ago.
I’d talk with him. See if there’s anything I could do.
I probably couldn’t, but maybe. Just maybe.
Is it against the spirit of the OP if I want to go back and talk to myself? I’d love to sit myself down in 1996 for an hour long chat. I’m not sure how Munch1996 would deal with Munch2010 not believing in God, not being married and not being a father. I don’t think I’d even bring it up. But I would definitely bring up Munch1997’s issues with alcohol and career choice. I’d also love to have him rub off some of that charisma and over-abundant self-confidence that I’ve let tarnish.