Dear Reader,
Yes, Again: (Mis) adventures of a Wishful Thinker is the debut memoir of today's guest author, Sallie Weissinger. A New Orleans-born, military brat-raised, Berkeley/Portland resident, Sallie grew up with parents who imparted their Southern heritage to her, but she speaks with a Yankee accent.
Sallie has lived in Germany, Ohio, Japan, Michigan, Louisiana, Spain, Portugal (the Azores), California, and Oregon. When she's not hanging out with her family and friends, she's pruning roses and walking her two rescue dogs, McGee and Tillie. Sallie makes a great jambalaya and loves rock and roll music.
Kirkus Reviews says Sallie's new book is, "A funny, touching, and ultimately uplifting story of a woman searching for love and purpose."
You could win one of two copies of Yes, Again. Simply email, yesagainmemoir@gmail.com to enter the drawing.
WHERE A SOUTHERN ACCENT GETS YOU
By Sallie Weissinger
Twenty-some years ago, a girlfriend and I were leaving work in San Francisco to have dinner and catch up on each other's lives. As we crossed Market Street, I saw an "older" couple (probably no older than I am now, but then I was barely AARP eligible) standing at the corner of the intersection we were crossing. They seemed perplexed, looking at the city guidebook and a map the woman held in her hands. I asked if I could help them locate a destination. She answered in a distinctly Southern accent, "We're looking for a Mexican restaurant. We hear it's very good, and it's our anniversary."
I explained that the restaurant they were pointing to in the guidebook was part of a chain, and it was fine but nothing special. I gave them suggestions they might prefer for their celebratory event: my personal favorite was an Italian trattoria with linen tablecloths and subdued lighting. Their eyes lit up. As we were parting, my girlfriend Susan, knowing I'm from New Orleans, opened her mouth. I could tell she was going to ask, "Where are you from?" and gave her the stink eye and wrinkled my forehead: "NO! Don't ask them!"
Ignoring me, Susan inquired, "Where are you from?"
"We're from Looz-i-ana."
I repeated my grimace and frown. Again Susan blew me off, exclaiming, "She's from Louisiana--she's from New Orleans."
"You're from New Orleans, where are you from in New Orleans?"
The Q & A ensued: A: I'm from Uptown, near Tulane."
Q: "Where Uptown?" A: "Near Audubon Park."
Q: "Where near the park?" A: "State Street."
Q: "Where on State Street?" A: "Between Perrier and Coliseum, on the downtown side of State."
Q: "Who's your mama and your daddy?" A: "Steve and Virginia Weissinger," I answered, thinking they would head for their restaurant and we'd go on our way.
Q: "Do you mean Ginnie and the Colonel? Are Ginnie and the Colonel your mama and your daddy? We were with them last Saturday night."
I was gobsmacked and delighted at the serendipity of meeting friends of my parents on a street in San Francisco, two thousand miles from my hometown and my parents' home on State Street. Life offers us an array of coincidences, chance meetings, lovely interactions. In this case, it was because of a Southern accent and a dear friend who wouldn't take "NO!" from me.
-- Sallie Weissinger
Email Sallie at yesagainmemoir@gmail.com and when you do, you'll be entered to win a copy of her new book, Yes, Again (Mis) adventures of a Wishful Thinker.
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
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