Stephanie: My dad and I are going to the lighthouse museum. I’m a
volunteer there, so we can get in for free. Do you and Primo want to go with
us? The kids don’t want to go.
Me: Yes! I love lighthouses. Primo and I have wanted to see this one and just haven’t gone yet. We’ve been too
busy doing Sly and Doris’ chores. Primo, do you want to go?
Primo: Are you kidding? I need to
spend time with my mom and dad. If I leave them to see Stephanie's dad, I’ll never
hear the end of it.
Me: How about if I go? Then they can
have you all to themselves.
Primo: You know they’re going to
complain that you’re avoiding them.
Me: And so? They’ll complain if I
stay, too.
Primo: Go. We don’t both have to
be miserable.
Stephanie and her dad ring the doorbell
half an hour later.
Stephanie'sDad hugs Doris: I had to say
“hi” to you. How are you, dear?
Doris smiles and hugs back.
Stephanie'sDad barely makes eye contact
with Sly as he shakes his hand.
Ha. Stephanie'sDad knows.
Stephanie turns on the car radio: Oh,
Frank Sinatra! I love Frank Sinatra!
Stephanie'sDad : Wonderful voice.
Stephanie: Do you know what Sly said to
me once? He said that Sinatra had no talent! None! That he was crap!
Me: He told Primo that Paul
McCartney can’t sing. And that Olivia Newton-John has a pleasant enough voice
but she is too “breathy.” He can’t bear for someone else to be recognized.
Stephanie: He is envious of everyone. He
has to be the big cheese.
Discovered your blog via CaptainAwkward and the archives have been my exclusive reading because 1) it's a good story 2) well-told and 3) the degree of familycrazy is familiar to me. I am particularly enjoying the introduction of Stephanie'sDad as I (Midwesterner) married into a family with South Philly roots and thought the same thing about "gravy" the first time I heard it in that context.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words, SamKD, although I am very sorry that you know this familycrazy stuff. But I am glad that I am not the only one in the world who didn't know "gravy!"
DeleteSo what do they call actual gravy?
ReplyDelete