Creative Bend

As one who lives vicariously through the stories and imaginations of others, I felt compelled to respond to the following meme.  The main problem: limiting the list to fifteen!  Thanks to Lisa [click title for her link] for the inspiration!Don't take too long to think about it. Fifteen fictional characters (television, films, plays, books) who've influenced you and who will always stick with you. List the first fifteen you can recall in no more than fifteen minutes. Tag at least fifteen friends, including me, because I'm interested in
seeing what characters my friends choose.
Ready?

1.  Mr. Herriton, Where Angels Fear to Tread.  "I don't die, I don't fall in love...and when others die or fall in love, they do it when I'm just...not there.  And so it goes..."  Ah, yes.  Suburban Angst, circa 1908.  I loved him immediately.

2.  Suzanne Vale, Postcards from the Edge and The Best Awful there is.  Or, for those interested in the truth: Carrie Fisher writing Carrie Fisher.  Addiction, dysfunction, and a child borne in bizarre circumstances.  What's not to love?

3.  Sinner, from Sinner: A Novel by Sharon Carter Rogers.  I mean, come on!  He's an undead vigilante!  What's not to love?! [Seriously.  This is one of the most amazing books I have read in a while.  I loved it.]

4.  Jane, from See Jane Run by Joy Fielding.  I wanted to find her and protect her while reading this story.  Wow.

5.  Delores Claiborne.  I mean the book, not the movie.  I was single, in college (and childless) when I read this book.  She was an imperfect mother, but she did the best she could.  My favorite line of all:  "A mother's love is the strongest love there is in the world.  It's also the deadliest."  Shudder!

6.  Scout Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird.  I must confess that I am still reading this book...for the first time ever.  I disliked Scout initially, but am growing to love the little imp more and more with each passing page!

7.  Sam Ashe, Burn Notice.  I love Sam's snark, sarcasm, brilliance...and Hawaiian Shirts.  Oh, yes.  I mostly love him beause he's played by Bruce Campbell.

8.  Stephanie Plum, from the Janet E. series.  A female bounty hunter that always gets her man/woman!  Well, after forgetting her gun, having her car bombed/run over by a trash truck/skunked/stolen by her target...and being best friends with a gal who freely admits to being an 'ex ho'.  Again, what's not to love?

9.  Anne Shirley.  Until about a year ago, I had never set eyes on the gal from Green Gables.  I love her creativity, kindness, and penchant to put people to rights when they desperately need it.  I also confess to having a soft spot for orphans.

10.  The Boxcar Children.  All of them, from the original series "back in the day".  I loved their ability to fend for themselves and take care of business.

11.  Mrs. Slocombe, from Are You Being Served?  Seriously,  I covet that hair, in all of its varied stages and shades!

12. Diana Trent, from Waiting for God.  She's Murphy Brown, only British...and sassier.  I loved her interaction with Tom Ballard, who served both as her foil and her conscience.

13.  Cher Horowitz, Clueless.  Who says that dizzy rich girls can't be kindhearted?  I have seen this movie countless times, and still stop to watch it now.  I confess to knowing many of the lines.  [Seriously.  You have to adore a character that falls for Paul Rudd!  I mean, really!  There's, like, a LAW or something!]

14.  Hawkeye Pierce, M*A*S*H.  I feel like I'm copying Lisa on this one.  I love his snark, his sarcasm, and his creative ability to nurse bathtub gin through a sweatsock...all while in a war zone.  His ability to find dark laughter in terrible times is admirable.  This character has also created a lifelong love of the guy that played him - Alan Alda.

15.  Marjorie, Extremities.  This character was famously portrayed by Farrah Fawcett back in the 1980s.  A would-be rape victim escapes her attacker, but leaves her purse behind.  When he tracks her down, she turns the tables and takes him hostage.  I had the opportunity to play this character back in college.  And can I tell you?  WOW.  Frightening, empowering...and eye opening.  You have no idea what you are capable of until you're hedged in...

I freely admit that this took well over 15 minutes.  I had most of my list entered and my computer froze up.  And, since I don't always draft save while typing, I had to start all over again.  I also admit that some characters on my initial list didn't make the cut the second time around. 

That said, what characters have stuck with YOU?