The Storyteller | Mary Vee

Photo by Mary Vee, Lake Superior On the shores of Lake Superior, tucked in a harbor, lies a cabin. It's an A-frame with a tiny bedroom facing the lake on the upper floor. Uncles, aunts, and cousins vacation there throughout the summer, each bounding through the back door after a long drive, calling dibs to sleep in the tiny bedroom.  The winner tosses their suitcase on the bed then opens the window b efore they eat, drink, or even use the bathroom. Photo by Mary Vee Few sunlit hours are spent inside the cabin when the kids arrive. They slip into their bathing suits and bound to the water's edge, slipping on the rocks and tumbling under the surface. Their skin seems to have polar temperature protection. It's the only explanation why they can stand the freezing temperatures even in August. Photo by Mary Vee, Lake Superior The best sound is the waves pitter against the shore...unless huge stormwinds rial up the water crashing, billowing waves against th...

What happens when twelve family members, most between the ages of 16 and 24 are accused of being hooligans? It started...many years ago... Read chapter one, where the hijinks began by clicking here:  Chapter One Then on to Hooligans in chapter two by clicking here:  Chapter Two CHAPTER 3 Photo by Mary Vee Flying across the world with ten first time air travelers was much like containing crowds for the winning team at a sporting event. The travel time, including lay overs, would consume twenty-five tedious hours. The first leg, Detroit to New York and was not nearly long enough for Dud to rest after the boarding pass incident. Thank God they had to wear seatbelts. In some cases, passengers landing in New York City had to find a way to get from LaGuardia to Kennedy in time to meet their international flight. Anyone who has traveled in NYC, even if during horse and buggy days, knew getting the earth to stop turning might be easier. The patients...

What happens when twelve family members, most between the ages of 16 and 24 are accused of being hooligans in an airport? It started...many years ago... Scroll down to read chapter one, where the hijinks began. CHAPTER 2 Photo by Mary Vee The following moments in the airport must have been the inspiration for the opening of Home Alone. The family collage contained a myriad of ages from five months to twenty-four years plus an overwhelmed patriarch and a matriarch who knew to stay out of his way at this moment.  Although the packing limit allowed each person to take one suitcase, the chaotic moment resembled a failed football scrimmage after the whistle blew. The whys and wheres had not been explained, or maybe they had been, but the thrill blocked the tribe’s ears, especially since all, except two, had never flown on a plane, much less visited a foreign country. The patriarch was affectionately called Dud, even when he was in a frantic, sour mood.   His s...

Happy New Year This year starts with a tale, one that may last the year, I'm not sure. But I think you will really enjoy it. AND if you do, please invite others to read this story as well. Where Good Memories Are Kept It started once upon a time. Dud began his story this way because at times you, reader, might find portions of this tale highly impossible. But in full disclosure, this 1970's story was proven true. Not in a history book or even in a diary. The words had been hidden in the secret place where good memories are kept to cherish. Two months had passed since Jane and her husband said their wedding vows. They had the typical basic apartment furniture, a dining room table, recycled chairs, a hand-me-down sofa, and a bedroom set. The kitchen cupboard contained the usual minimal married-couple-in-college ingredients. On this crisp October day, they longed for a delicious big meal, no dessert required.  This was not the first time they'd popped in at ...