Telling Stories

This morning I was telling a story. A rrreally good one, I thought. One that would really make a good friend laugh and be entertained. So I began to tell my story and began, "The other day while driving over that narrow bridge . . . " and then I stopped.

In an instant for her, but what seemed like an eternity to me, I stopped talking in mid-sentence as I realized this story actually took place in 1997.

Wondering if she caught my hesitancy, I quickly changed my story to .. "Nooo, it was longer than that" and went on to tell my delightful story.

Now, later in the day, I think about my fabrication. What IF I said, "Eight years ago while driving over that narrow bridge...", would my story still carry the same impact? Was I wrong in fibbing with the time line or was the story in itself the most important?

It's a story I have told many times to so many people before. It's comfortable and fits me well ..like an old worn sweatshirt. The words spill out of my mouth so easily and each time I tell the story, I imply the situation happened recently.

I can only imagine, one of these days, I will repeat this story to someone who has already been entertained by it from me already. They will look at me and say, "Last year you told me that same story!"

(smile)


(sigh)

I want to be more conscious of the words I choose when I talk. To be okay in saying, "Once, long ago, while driving over that narrow bridge" . . . and then begin my story.

It keeps my words and stories in check.

And, that's important for me.