Saturday, May 26, 2007

Story tellers in my family

Who are the storytellers in my life?

Dad
In my family my dad liked to tell stories. They weren't stories of aunts & uncles, they were stories of criminal activity in the casinos... the Purple Gang, Frank Sinatra, Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald owned a casino called the Nevada Club in downtown Reno. I think Dad met my step-mom Marie there. Fitz also owned the Nevada Lodge in Crystal Bay (Tahoe). I met my husband while I was working as a waitress @ the N.L.

Dad told how someone (from the Purple Gang maybe?) shot F. and he spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair. He had his own personal elevator in the Nevada Club that no one else ever rode. I vaguely remember F's wife. After he died, she would come to the N.L. during the time I worked there.

The other stories I remember my dad talking about usually involved a farm he grew up on in Oregon. He would talk fondly of his father. Grandpa was gentle and quiet. He died of emphasema when I was 4 or 5.

Marie
My step-mother would tell me interesting stories of her childhood. She was the youngest of 8 (I think) kids raised on a sugar cane farm in Hilo, Hawaii. Her stories involved siblings-both good and bad; playing on the farm; and a previous marriage & miscarriage.

Mom
My mom is a pretty good story teller. I've only heard her stories for the past 15 years or so since I didn't grow up with her. I'm not in many of her stories since I wasn't there.

2 comments:

queenofthebossy said...

"Do not save your loving speeches for your friends when they are dead; do not write them on their tombstones, speak them rather now instead." a quote by Anna Cummins

As I listen in on the memories that have been blanketed in you. I am filled with a sense of how important it is that we share our stories. The trickling effect they have all the way down from you, to me, and then to my daughters is impactful.

I'm so glad that your started this blog. I really like your lay out- it reminds me of my mom, (believe me that's a compliment.. Oh, gorgeous one!) The black back drop really gives it that clean, crisp look! Have you ever considered scrapbooking? ;)

Love, your biggest and bossiest fan.

queenofthebossy said...

Would you please write another page soon? It's like the season finale of Grey's Anatomy here! ok then, Goodnight.