Thursday, June 5, 2014

In the presence of greatness


The man, a transient resident in our building, flushed as he entered the foyer and excitedly told everyone within earshot that St. Louis, Cardinal baseball great, Joe Garagiola was visiting three doors down.
I had no interest in hometown baseball and no idea who Garagiola was. I gazed out the door at two Italian men, one middle age and one elderly. They sat in metal lawn chairs in bright sunshine conversing animatedly, wiping sweat off their brows and gesturing with their hands. What I remember most about that summer day on my 11th birthday is the laughter, but it wasn't just Joe Garagiola's and his old uncle's.

The memory connected to that day was a ten cent one. I waited for my turn to use the pay phone in the stifling hot, dingy hallway of the old brick rooming house on North Market Street. Before I could insert the dime in the slot and dial my grandma, the coin slipped from my sweaty palm and rolled across the dusty floor. A teen boy on the staircase watched me as I bent over and chased my dime. He looked down my blouse at my pre-pubescent braless chest and taunted, "Ha-ha! I see your titties."  My face burned with embarrassment as he ran laughing hysterically up the stairs and slammed his door.
Behind every door in that old turn of the century building, a story resided. My story was unfolding chapter by chapter, character by character and it was no fairy tale...
Friday is my milestone birthday. I am toying with writing my memoir.

 


 

18 comments:

Kim Lehnhoff said...

Go for it! I know you have compelling stories pouring from your pores, just waiting to be put down on paper!

noexcuses said...

DO IT!!!!!!! Sharing your story would be the greatest gift!

Connie said...

You're off to a great start. You should do it! :-)

Mevely317 said...

Oh, I hope you will!

Sioux Roslawski said...

Toying with it? Why don't you just do it? You've got poignant stories and you have pee-in-your-pants tales, and everything in between.

Tammy said...

DEFINITELY do it! Your Alaska stories alone are priceless!

Bookie said...

I agree with all the above, Miss LInda!!!

D. U. Okonkwo said...

I agree with the other comments here. You have a good premise for a memoir, and your voice is very soothing too.

Musings, Tea, and Me said...

Oh my gosh, don't wait another day to begin your memoir! I recently published mine and it was worth every bead of sweat. If you are interested, I also just wrote "Twelve Reasons You Should Write Your Memoir - Starting Now! Besides, not on that list is this: YOU are a terrific writer!

Musings, Tea, and Me said...

I almost forgot: Happy Birthday! 29th,right?

Dianna Graveman said...

Go for it, Linda! And have a very happy milestone birthday. :)

Debra Mayhew said...

Write it, Linda! I would love to read your story!

Donna Volkenannt said...

You have such inspiring stories, you should write a memoir!

BECKY said...

Happy Birthday, Linda! Yes, you should certainly write your memoir!

Shelly said...

I would love to read it!

And just wanted to let you know I will be closing my blog for a while, but will be checking in on my favorite blogs (like yours!) periodically~

Cathy C. Hall said...

With your gift for recall--and details!--it'd be a cinch, Linda. I hope you write it. I have a feeling that you have a remarkable story to tell.

Val said...

Not to sound pushy, but...stop toying and get 'er done! I'm sure you can still squeeze out 20 or 30 Chicken Soup stories in your spare time. ;)

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Linda -

Keep mulling over scenes and stories. Just because they're not on paper yet doesn't mean you're not writing.

You'll know when the timing is right.

Susan :)