We all have "why me?" days and wish we’d stayed in bed. Then, we have those marvelous days that make life special. An old proverb tells us, "life is like a Zebra. One day a white stripe, the next day a black stripe, and it is always in motion."

When life seems parked on a black-stripe day, the heart-warming stories in this book will remind you that a white stripe is not far off. Then when you get there, celebrate with another story. In minutes, you will find yourself shaking your fists at the heavens and joyously proclaiming "This is my day and I’m unsinkable!"

This book is rooted in America’s Great Depression. In such times, life is powerfully hard, but unconditional love can overpower it. This is when a young girl from a struggling immigrant family in New York learned that no depression imaginable, can trump the magic of unconditional love. These are the joyous and life-affirming stories of her childhood.

[DOI: 10.1572/yowbooks.when]

Mamma and Papa belonged to a benevolent society, usually organized by people who came from the same town in Europe. Money was raised through dues, which were $6.00 per couple per year, and through theater and dinner banquets. I was usually the only child present, because Mamma and Papa took me everywhere they went. I remember the excitement of new clothes, and also remember how Papa threw me over his shoulder when it was time to go home. At one of the banquets, someone asked me whether I spoke any foreign languages. I answered that I spoke eight languages. They wanted me to say something. "In all eight?" I questioned. "Yes," was the reply. Well, I set my feet apart, put my hands on my hips, inclined my head, and with a twinkle in my eyes spun off phrases in eight different languages. As I spoke each one, more people joined, and the laughter got louder and louder, but I did not see Mamma get madder and madder. Usually when we got home, Papa dumped me into bed and other than removing my shoes, I was permitted to just sleep through the night. Not this night. This night, Mamma had Papa dump me into a hard wooden chair, and while I was still half asleep, I came to life very quickly when I heard Mamma say she was going to wash my mouth out with Octagon, this horrible brown soap. Boy, I remembered when my cousin did that to me, so I opened my eyes wide and listened. "But, Rose," Papa was saying, "the kid didn't know what she was saying."' "What do you mean she didn't know," Mamma said, "she said it, and everyone else knew." The argument went back and forth, with Mamma running back and forth to find the horrible brown soap. Then Mamma turned to me and said, "Well, what do you think you were saying in eight languages?" "I love you," I said. "I love you!"' Mamma screamed, "where did you get that from?" "Well, Mamma, every time Papa goes by you he pinches you or your bushy, and you always look at him with a twinkle and say one of those things." Papa was convulsed with laughter. Mamma didn't want me to see her laugh, and sent me to bed. I was just happy that I didn't get the Octagon treatment. As I was leaving, I heard Papa say to Mamma, "See Rose, when you say 'kiss my ass' in eight languages, even the kid knows you love me."

 

There is an old saying; "Life is like a zebra; one day black, one day white. And it always changes." During the white stripes of my life, my mother's stories were always a wonderful way for me to share love and laughter. Likewise, they were especially helpful when those inevitable black stripes came along (as they always do). Is your life going through a white stripe right now? Read this book, and share in the joy that comes from unconditional love. Is your life going through a black stripe right now? Read this book, and share in the nourishment of unconditional love. —Marshall Masters, Co-author and Son

Welcome to the Family More About Laurie The Goose of Peace The More Expensive the Damage, the Greater the Luck My Kid's a Genius - You're the Dope Love Is Not What You Say, But? If a Little Is Good, a Lot Is Better Challenge and the Underdog Don't Hold Hands...You'll Get Pregnant Rainy Hooky Gilly, Golly, Gooly Long of Hair and Short of Sense Experts Don't Tell Mama - It Is Our Secret Who Was Scared? I Was Just Worried If the House Smells Good, Let It Be Dirty Businessmen Don't Make Good Friends Sometimes Florida Water Is Bitter Run with the Horse A Piano Doesn't Mean Piano Lessons Books Have Other Purposes If You Want to Teach, Reach the Student Stealing Can Mean Healing Fire, Police, Ambulance Two Pocketbooks and the Third Was God's Don't Worry - I'll Hold Your Hand Doctors, Butchers, and Dishes If You Are Going to Drink-At Least Enjoy It So You Can't Remember Dates? Who Wants to Be Alone? Caution: Man Cleaning House Who Eats Pets? The Longer the Beard , the Bigger the Crook You Call It Boxing - I Call It Dancing New Country - New Name - New Luck Who Has Time for a Heart Attack? You Gotta Finish It When They Invite You to Dinner - Eat First If He Likes What You Make - Love Him For It Men Need to Louse Up in the Kitchen Too The Junk Man's Dream It's Not Goodbye Legacy of Love

Laurie Burns Hennicker (1917–1998) was born to an immigrant family in 1917 in New York, and came of age during the difficult years of the Great Depression. Before World War II, she tutored French and worked as a successful fashion model. After Pearl Harbor, she enlisted in the Marines only to learn that she was pregnant with her first child. Undeterred, she went to work for British Intelligence in New York City. Following the war, she held several key executive positions, until moving to the West Coast in 1950 to raise her children. An incurable optimist, she shared her empowering childhood memories (which appear in this book) with her three children and many friends.

 

 

When They Ask You to Dinner -- Eat First by Laurie Burns Hennicker
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