I just read this after finding your Substack on Twitter and I had to stop reading several times because I was laughing so hard I couldn't stop crying. And then I'd feel guilty because you were a child! My god Jennifer. This is the book you need to write.
Thank you so much for reading it (and this is just the reaction I was going for). This is indeed the book I want to write. I keep getting rejected because “memoir in essays doesn’t sell” and I “need an overarching narrative” Meh!
Every one of these stories is a treasure trove and a chapter. Fuck those haters and self-publish. Did you read, A Girl Named Zippy? One of my favorite memoirs ever and this totally reminded me of it.
I like what I’m hearing here. (I’m going to look for this book and read it immediately, it is not on my radar, which is weird because I’m a memoir seeker outer)
'enormous belly'. There's your overarching narrative. From flat to slightly mounded to large to enormous, and then all the things an enormous belly can do.
It’s great! So vivid. I’m reminded a bit of Priestdaddy by Patricia Lockwood (about another charismatic, problematic dad) and that was a most excellent book. Stick with it!
This is absolutely hands-down one of the best pieces of writing I've read here on Substack.
No wonder everyone loves your dad - he's the person we secretly want to be, apart from the bacon and botulism. And the alcoholism. And some other stuff. But still.....
I am another wanderer who happened by and absolutely loved this. Laughed all the way through and so admire your ability to see the good in all the bad. It reminded me of something my mother used to say- "never lose your sense of the ridiculous"
This is a marvelous piece of writing. I do hope you write that book and I get the joy of reading it 😊
Having married that little brother of yours, some of these stories are familiar but it was definitely poignant to get to know him better through your eyes.
Oh man. This was the laugh I needed. He's not the Dad everybody needed, he's the Dad a lot of people got. He's imperfectly cast as himself in everyone's story.
A great way to remember the best & worst of times with dad. Time brings a soft focus to the crazy mean parts. History is a selective memory of the goofy, fun& terrible times. Remember the best & understand the rest. Great writing! Thanks
I loved the waking up to discover not one raccoon but plural raccoons calmly inside the house helping themselves to cat crunchers. Waking up with tiny fruit shapes embedded on your body. Man, funny stuff.
Night cheese. Month-old sour cream! Balls in the snow. What a legacy.
How did you come up with the idea of writing this piece Jennifer? It's fantastic. Reading it gave me some ideas too, reflecting on my parent's habits and mannerisms.
Hello, just some random stranger hoping you are having a fantastic day, or at least a peaceful one. I was wandering through Substack this afternoon, and this shows up. You are a wonderful, powerful story teller. I laughed to tears. I had a hard-to-survive pop with an overwhelming charismatic personality so your tales about your dad resonate meaningfully for me. I might also be enough of a character myself that this piece will be relatable to my own daughters. I can mostly feel your love for him in spite of it all, like a shining thread through the whole narrative. So, just wanted to say thanks, your telling has made my day better and I certainly won’t be the only one.
I just found this post and the one about your mom’s smoking from your latest post and I laughed so hard that I couldn’t catch my breath. Thank you for sharing these stories with us!
I just read this after finding your Substack on Twitter and I had to stop reading several times because I was laughing so hard I couldn't stop crying. And then I'd feel guilty because you were a child! My god Jennifer. This is the book you need to write.
Thank you so much for reading it (and this is just the reaction I was going for). This is indeed the book I want to write. I keep getting rejected because “memoir in essays doesn’t sell” and I “need an overarching narrative” Meh!
Every one of these stories is a treasure trove and a chapter. Fuck those haters and self-publish. Did you read, A Girl Named Zippy? One of my favorite memoirs ever and this totally reminded me of it.
I like what I’m hearing here. (I’m going to look for this book and read it immediately, it is not on my radar, which is weird because I’m a memoir seeker outer)
And her follow-up, as well -- "She Got Up Off the Couch". Great memoirs!
Turn them.into short stories, don't say 'my dad', and there you go! Send me a signed copy of the first edition, please, I love short stories.
I just lost my dad, and he wasn’t as funny, but I wish I had written him a eulogy of apprecibefore he passed.
'enormous belly'. There's your overarching narrative. From flat to slightly mounded to large to enormous, and then all the things an enormous belly can do.
It’s great! So vivid. I’m reminded a bit of Priestdaddy by Patricia Lockwood (about another charismatic, problematic dad) and that was a most excellent book. Stick with it!
Thank you! I love Patricia Lockwood, she’s an amazing writer.
What was it with adults in the ‘70s and tickling? ( And how is this my take away?)
It’s such a valid point! Does anyone actually like being tickled? Is it ever appropriate? No thank you. 😂
This is absolutely hands-down one of the best pieces of writing I've read here on Substack.
No wonder everyone loves your dad - he's the person we secretly want to be, apart from the bacon and botulism. And the alcoholism. And some other stuff. But still.....
What a life. Thank you to you both
Thank you so much for saying so! This made me laugh.
Honestly you made me laugh and cry throughout… I’m going to read it all over again tomorrow!
🥹🥰
I am another wanderer who happened by and absolutely loved this. Laughed all the way through and so admire your ability to see the good in all the bad. It reminded me of something my mother used to say- "never lose your sense of the ridiculous"
This is a marvelous piece of writing. I do hope you write that book and I get the joy of reading it 😊
I'm so glad I found you too. You are the writer I aspire to become.
I’m so glad you found me! And thank you 😊
And THIS is why you are a writer.
Did any writers have normal childhoods?
We have to do something with these experiences so we become story tellers 😏
Having married that little brother of yours, some of these stories are familiar but it was definitely poignant to get to know him better through your eyes.
❤️
Oh man. This was the laugh I needed. He's not the Dad everybody needed, he's the Dad a lot of people got. He's imperfectly cast as himself in everyone's story.
A great way to remember the best & worst of times with dad. Time brings a soft focus to the crazy mean parts. History is a selective memory of the goofy, fun& terrible times. Remember the best & understand the rest. Great writing! Thanks
Thank you so much for reading. xo
I literally howl-laughed reading this, and also deeply feel for what you grew up dealing with, because my dad was like that minus the fun.
Thank you for reading it, and I’m sorry you went through the hard stuff. Solidarity. xo
ROTF Jennifer, your dad is one hell of a guy! And this is one of the best, most reverant tributes I've read. Am sending you a hug. xx
Thank you so much!! My dad…. Is a character.
I loved the waking up to discover not one raccoon but plural raccoons calmly inside the house helping themselves to cat crunchers. Waking up with tiny fruit shapes embedded on your body. Man, funny stuff.
I have to agree with the others, this is a book in the making!
Well, I would like that!
Night cheese. Month-old sour cream! Balls in the snow. What a legacy.
How did you come up with the idea of writing this piece Jennifer? It's fantastic. Reading it gave me some ideas too, reflecting on my parent's habits and mannerisms.
Hello, just some random stranger hoping you are having a fantastic day, or at least a peaceful one. I was wandering through Substack this afternoon, and this shows up. You are a wonderful, powerful story teller. I laughed to tears. I had a hard-to-survive pop with an overwhelming charismatic personality so your tales about your dad resonate meaningfully for me. I might also be enough of a character myself that this piece will be relatable to my own daughters. I can mostly feel your love for him in spite of it all, like a shining thread through the whole narrative. So, just wanted to say thanks, your telling has made my day better and I certainly won’t be the only one.
This is all so lovely, thank you!
Amazing! I had to drop everything at work this minute so as to read this right away! Well worth it!!
Oh, Heidi, I love hearing this. Thank you so, so much. 🥰
I just found this post and the one about your mom’s smoking from your latest post and I laughed so hard that I couldn’t catch my breath. Thank you for sharing these stories with us!
😀