As a citizen of a very senior age I belong to a generation, as are all previous and future senior generations, famous for repeating stories again and again. Even when we soften the blow by beginning “I know I’ve told you before,” we should be grateful that our family and friends smile politely and follow along in their mind with the oft repeated words they have unwillingly committed to memory. You can’t be gracious and tell Uncle Harry that we know John Wayne once came into his drug store and purchased a tube of Preparation H, or tell cousin Hortense we had heard many times before that she was barely beaten out for the role of Harem Girl #2 by a young and unknown at the time starlet, Rita Hayworth.
But I am not one to point fingers as I am perhaps the greatest offender. In fact, while on the subject, did I ever tell you about:
- When Leroy Neiman mistook me for someone he knew in Chicago, (Weird because I was born there)?
- When John Cleese mistook me for someone he knew in Chicago, (not so weird because we met in Chicago)?
- When I spent an afternoon with Ansel Adams and some fellow students at his home in Carmel, CA?
- When I came in 3rd (out of 3) on the TV game show Split Second taking home $220.00 and a leather wallet?
- When I had a crush on Rod Serling’s daughter Jodi in 1969.
- When I spent $50.00 per ticket for 3rd row center seats to take Linda on a first date to see Bette Midler at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion? (Sounds cheap, right? But consider it was 1973 and I was earning $2.35 per hour at The Holiday Inn, Brentwood/Bel Air, struggling to both repay student loans and eat).
If you happen to be the one person to whom I have not repeated any of these stories let me know. I’d be happy to share them with you 5 or 6 times minimum!