Saturday, January 20, 2007

Story Telling

Last night, as I was partying like a rabid dog all hopped up on caffeine, I experienced the power and joy of story. This party consisted of me sitting on the couch at my in-laws, my wife is sitting in a chair to my left drifting in and out of sleep. To my right, on the couch with me, sat my mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law, both also drifting in and out of sleep. I sat amongst this inspired group watching the Detroit Pistons tangle, and literally fight, with the Minnesota Timberwolves while our Clover Bar pizza digested within us. Now, I will give you a minute to shake your very envious fist at the computer screen, as you think back to last night with only dreams of being in my old man slippers. Not everyone can live a charmed and high profile life, so please, let the chip crumble off your shoulder. I jest because I love my family, and it was actually just what the doctor ordered. I really wanted to have some good pizza, watch the Pistons, and just lounge with the fam.

But amid our lounging, my sister-in-law and her boyfriend return home after a special dinner in Holland, and they announce that they have gotten engaged. The women cackle, yelp and slobber over the blood diamond (Good movie, but I have no basis to think that this diamond is a blood diamond, except that I think all diamonds are excessive and ridiculously overpriced). I am found nodding my head and saying congratulations, all while watching the game out of the corner of my eye (I mean really, we're in overtime people.) After forcefully peeling their eyes off the ring, the women start clamoring for Barb, my sister-in-law, to "tell us the story!!" She talks of a romantic dinner, then a drive out to lake Michigan and a get down on one knee proposal. While they all smile, coo, and giggle over the story, they take turns trying on Barb's new ring. I continue to peek at the game as it is now in double overtime. My dad-in-law is currently in Denver for work, so she calls to share the story of what transpired. He sits in his hotel room listening to Barb on the other end of the phone tell the story, all while he watches the Pistons game (well done pops). Then Barb calls her brother out in California and she shares the story with him. After making short work with him, Barb quickly calls some of the female cousins and after announcing the engagement, they all scream, literally you could hear them yelling in the phone, then Barb would launch into the story. Barb then calls some girlfriends and the cycle of, "I just got engaged...shriek, yelp, scream... well he took me out to a romantic dinner and then..." continues to entertain all no matter how many times the story is told.

Story, it is such a powerful and amazing thing. The perfect mix of what is told and how it is told, and we find ourselves brought to the same moment in time, experiencing life change. I love great storytelling and I love telling a great story.

So with that, I say congratulations Barb and Troy!! (And by the way, the Pistons did win in double overtime).

Just passing on the story
Wallace D.

3 comments:

Sara Maria said...

I want to get engaged at a fire station. hehe

KayMac said...

Congrats on new family and the Piston's win.

C-Man said...

dude that was awesome
i am still letting the chip crumble
CC