By Staff
Leada Gore, Editor
Do those things you write about really happen?
I’ve been asked that question a lot since I started writing this column 14 years ago. And, with a couple of exceptions (interviewing a Thanksgiving turkey or Big Foot) the answer is yes.
Amazingly, yes.
Case in point. Just last week I wrote about how our family has been selected as a Nielsen family. I mentioned I would be the one filling out the forms because my husband has no idea what night shows come on or even their correct names.
Just hours after writing that, my husband and I were eating dinner when he asked me “Does the Denny Crane show come on tonight?”
I started laughing and told him about what I had written that day.
It’s been these everyday kind of things I’ve written about through the years, all the weird and wonderful occurrences of daily life. I get chided sometimes for not being more political or controversial but my simple theory is there are places in the newspaper for those type of things. There isn’t always a place where you can celebrate the fun of daily life.
Through the years, I’ve written about such earth-shattering topics as panty hose, my nephew sticking a piece of corn in his ear and how I received a speeding ticket despite the fact I was the last in a line of cars, something that burns me some five years after it happened.
My favorite comments about these columns are from people who tell me they have experienced similar things and thought they were funny, too. Sometimes, they will add a story of their own and their stories are always better than mine. Maybe they should write them down.
Still, these stories are true, even those that seem too amazing to be factual.
Case in point: I was having dinner with some friends last week when I brought up the story of my grandmother walking down the road in a sweatsuit and a fur coat. It was snowing outside and she didn’t want to drive so she decided to walk a block or so home, despite not being dressed for the weather.
A friend of mine called to say they had seen my grandmother walking down the road and when I asked how they knew it was her, they replied they didn't know anyone else who wore a sweat suit and a fur coat.
You know, I really should.