Many years ago when my daughter Catherine was a child I started to tell her one-minute stories each night before she went to sleep. At the beginning she always wanted to hear the same story ( Nagyi and the cow poop), but as she grew older she started asking for a new one-minute story every night. Each story had to be a true one from my childhood or travels, there was no “Once upon a time…” stories for her even though I tried. I didn’t realize it at the start how much effort it became to think of a new one every night, in particular when my son Patrick started to ask for these stories also. His variation was to demand a title for each one before I started. Fortunately I was able to dredge up names and new stories for them both.
I will always cherish these moments with my children, the quiet time as they calm down to sleep. I saw this as an opportunity to share with them my childhood and life before kids and to pass on to them a legacy of fond memories that I had growing up. I also found that starting at an early age it stimulated many questions and thoughts about how people lived in many countries around the world. I had some of the most profound discussions about religion, politics and world events with both children at a very early age. It made me think and appreciate the incredible ability to absorb and assimilate information by young children and their keenness to learn.
This is my attempt to record these stories as a lasting legacy for my children and ongoing generations.
