June 16, 2026

Legendary

One night, many years ago, I was returning home after taking my son to a rehearsal. He was just six years old and was in the chorus of a university production of the musical “Oliver.” I turned into the driveway, only to be confronted by the garage door closed down. So I put the car in park, got out, pulled the door up and was surprised to see a strange car parked there, motor running, with the driver seemingly asleep. I knocked on his window, and as he rolled it down, I said in my best teacher like voice something like, “You’re in the wrong garage. I’ll back out and you can be on your way”. So that’s what happened and afterward, as my husband and I were sitting in the living room reflecting on the event we realized that the guy was probably trying to commit suicide. It wasn’t going to work. The garage is over 100 years old full of holes and cracks and with a back door half open. Nevertheless we were a little shaken and called the police but nothing ever came of it.

Another time I was in the kitchen doing my usual chores necessary to feed , clothe and clean for a family of seven when one of the boys came running in yelling “There’s a dead monkey in diapers, on ______’s bike banana seat! After several moments of disbelief, I went out and sure enough there it was. We buried it in the back yard along with Big Kitty and all the other pets that have died on my watch. We later found out that the monkey belonged to a student who lived nearby and it had been given to her as a way to help her cope when her mother had died .

Alas, so be it. We are all going to die. But the family legends live on. Amen.