James Baldwin, Charles Lindbergh and a Tow Truck
When my daughter, Jessie, was three she was terrified of tow trucks. That was my fault. I’d say, “C’mon, c’mon, we have to hurry, the tow truck’s gonna get our car.” She’d run ahead of me and reach up to grab the door handle, protecting the car from marauding tow trucks. “As long as I’m here, no tow truck will take our car,” she seemed to say. Imagine her delight when she spied a tow truck towing another tow truck. It felt like vindication to her. I told that story for years until it became part of Jessie’s legend. She grew up and told it to her daughter Molly. Molly loved it so much she begged to hear it over and over, then she told it to her friend, Flynn, as if she’d seen it with her own eyes. Then Flynn told the story as if he’d been there. Now it’s legend and I’m sure one day Flynn’s grandson will say to his grandchildren, “Did I ever tell you about the time I saw a tow truck towing ...