Like I Was Saying…
I took me Ma to vote early today. Granted she probably voted for “the other guy,” but that’s okay.
I know Mom would’ve felt bad if she didn’t vote. And of course, it’s what a good son would do. (Take that Eric!)
Mom and I talk quite a bit when we hang out. We talk about everything, our mutual faith, politics, and life in general.
One time my mom came to visit my brother and I, I forgot the reason. Well, Lucy and I pick her up at the airport and mom starts telling us about her trip.
Then mom tells the one antidote, I don’t remember which it was, and then hits us with punchline. Lucy and I laugh.
Of course, when I drop my mom off at my brother’s house, we hear the story again.
The next day, Eric is having a gathering, and when my mom has a crowd around her, and she tells the antidote again.
But, I notice her story has gotten better or more animated. She turned a phrase here and there.
Driving home I mentioned to Lucy about how I’ve heard my mom’s story several times and it’s changed.
“You do the same thing,” Lucy tells me.
I looked at her stupefied.
“You tell the same stories all the time. Honestly, some
Of them can be shorter.”
It was then that I realized that I get a lot my storytelling chops from my mom. I’ve grown up with her telling me slice of stories all my life.
It was like when the ring fell in the Sixth Sense.
My mom has always been the life of the party. She go into a party and start telling stories and jokes.
I have vivid memories of family and friend watching her with rapt attention. Waiting for the punchline.
I even remember my dad laughing, even though he’d often heard the same bit several times.
My mom was a comedian.
She’d hone her bit at home or with us and just perfect it until she had the bit down pat.
I do that as well.
I tell a story over and over again until I’ve got the wording and delivery down as well. Its just a habit with me that apparently I’ve picked up from my mom.
It just never occurred to me until recently how my mother and I are alike.
It’s also surprised that I didn’t realize this until now.
Either way, it’s cool coming to realize that in way, I was my mother’s apprentice in way.
I have to make a conscience effort to record my mom. She’s getting along in her years.
There’s been a couple of times where I’ll have to tell her own punchlines, since I’ve heard her story one to many times.
Three others for me that never get old and can listen to them over and over again.
It’s happened to me as well. Both Marcos and Lucy will tell me, they’ve heard it before and will stop me.