Lilly Sullivan

Anita was against this.

Anita was against this.

And then, did you ask Mom out?

And then, did you ask Mom out?

What did she say?

What did she say?

This recording is from 14 years ago. I haven't really heard his voice in 10 years, since he died. I hadn't forgotten, but I sort of had forgotten, how much fun we had just talking to each other. And my dad told the same story as Anita and Manuelita. This story my dad tells about their meeting. It was not news to my mom. She says, yeah, we always disagreed about that. Of course he said that.

This recording is from 14 years ago. I haven't really heard his voice in 10 years, since he died. I hadn't forgotten, but I sort of had forgotten, how much fun we had just talking to each other. And my dad told the same story as Anita and Manuelita. This story my dad tells about their meeting. It was not news to my mom. She says, yeah, we always disagreed about that. Of course he said that.

He's got it wrong.

He's got it wrong.

I've thought a lot about why my mom prefers her version, where he's walking to a bus stop and not hitchhiking. And the main thing I keep thinking about is, in my dad's version, my mom's people make the first move. Their meeting is kind of random, a split-second fluke. But in the version my mom likes, everyone's on foot on this rainless, beautiful day, and my dad sees them and approaches.

I've thought a lot about why my mom prefers her version, where he's walking to a bus stop and not hitchhiking. And the main thing I keep thinking about is, in my dad's version, my mom's people make the first move. Their meeting is kind of random, a split-second fluke. But in the version my mom likes, everyone's on foot on this rainless, beautiful day, and my dad sees them and approaches.

He makes the first move, which is maybe more romantic. Everyone wants to be chosen. I run my hypothesis by her. She kind of blinks at me blankly, slightly impatient. Nothing. The day after I found that interview with my dad, I woke up early and the mismatched memories, it all started clicking together. Okay, this is just me in my room. It's Wednesday.

He makes the first move, which is maybe more romantic. Everyone wants to be chosen. I run my hypothesis by her. She kind of blinks at me blankly, slightly impatient. Nothing. The day after I found that interview with my dad, I woke up early and the mismatched memories, it all started clicking together. Okay, this is just me in my room. It's Wednesday.

Last night I listened to that recording and dad said it was in Rio Del Mar right by the bridge. So I think... I think I just figured it out. I think their car was parked on the street a little ways from the Jackson's house, and they had to walk to the car from the house. So my mom remembers that walk. And then they got in and had just started driving when they hit that bridge and saw my dad.

Last night I listened to that recording and dad said it was in Rio Del Mar right by the bridge. So I think... I think I just figured it out. I think their car was parked on the street a little ways from the Jackson's house, and they had to walk to the car from the house. So my mom remembers that walk. And then they got in and had just started driving when they hit that bridge and saw my dad.

That's like a block away from the Jackson's. No time at all. Easy for my mom to forget. And there he stood, not at a bus stop, but hitchhiking. Okay, here's me explaining my theory to my mom. And you had barely gotten in the car, you went around the corner, and dad was right there.

That's like a block away from the Jackson's. No time at all. Easy for my mom to forget. And there he stood, not at a bus stop, but hitchhiking. Okay, here's me explaining my theory to my mom. And you had barely gotten in the car, you went around the corner, and dad was right there.

Maybe because what dad said, and dad has a really good memory, you know?

Maybe because what dad said, and dad has a really good memory, you know?