A few years ago, as my family of four was sitting down to meatballs, it occurred to me that my daughters, then about 10 and 8 years old, had never heard one of the Rosenstrachโs most legendary stories, the kind of yarn has been told so many times (mostly by their grandfather) that we have forgotten where the truth begins and ends.
โGirls?โ I asked as I grated some fresh parm over their plates, โHave I ever told you The Dog Story?โ
I noticed the focus adjust in their eyeballs like the lens on a camera. I had their undivided attention, which, I shouldโve known by then, is whatย alwaysย what happens when you start a dinner conversation with the words โDid I ever tell you the storyโฆ?โ
I started in on The Dog Storyโฆ
Head over to Cup of Jo, where you can hear the whole thing.ย (Illustration byย Kristen Soleckiย for Cup of Jo.)
your book is the first iโve ever pre-ordered, and i canโt wait to get it. thereโs still an open invite for your family to come over for williamsburg pizza whenever you want โ iโll even think of a good dog story for you guys ๐
You rock Leah, thank you!!!!
That is hilarious!
My story is a little Southern Gothic โ in most every southern family, thereโs a wild and crazy streak. My Aunt Ann was that streak. She was very bohemian, having lived in various tropical places, and loved to talk, drink and smoke cigarettes. She was married to a nice guy named Ted. Ted died and was cremated, and his ashes were put in an urn. Aunt Ann took off to Florida, and Tedโs ashes were left in Alabama, in my uncleโs house. Years later, Aunt Ann died, and we all got around to wondering what happened to Tedโs ashes. No one could find them. Well, after my uncle died, family members were cleaning out his backyard shed, and came upon an odd jar-like container. They opened it upโฆ.and found Ted. Now that Ted and Ann have both long been in the hereafter, we all get a good laugh about Ted ending up in the tool shedโฆ
Oh my goodness, thatโs a good one. Poor Ted! Thanks for sharing.
This is such a great example of how stories โ even simple, everyday ones โ can (and should!) be passed down through the generations. My favorite is when I overhear my kids recounting our familyโs stories to their friends.
Itโs so rare these days to have everyones undivided attention at the dinner table. Lucky you! On another note โ that story was hilarious! Iโm certain my family members would have said something sooner but I can see why you wouldnโt want to come off as rude or unwelcoming to the client.
H. Bowden