Gospel Tidbits II

Some of my earliest memories of my father are of him preaching and telling stories, often at the same time. I remember sitting around the kitchen table when friends would come over. My mom would make pot after pot of coffee while my dad told stories one after another. It was more entertaining than anything on television. My brothers and I have heard some of his stories so many times we know them by heart. Occasionally one of us hears a new one. When this does happen, the story is the first topic of conversation the next time we talk. I remember just last year when my dad and I were driving across Ohio. Outside of Mansfield we passed the old state penitentiary. I asked dad if he knew that parts of Shawshank were filmed there. This prompted a new story. He said he was in that prison when he was a child. One of his relatives was serving time and my grandma took dad for a lunch visit. He said it was scary and left quite an impression on him. I will let him tell the rest of the story. Some of dad's stories provide practical knowledge and some of them tell of family or historical events. Many of them are funny. Some may sound like "fish" stories or urban legends, but I assure you all of them are true. For years, I have been trying to get him to write them down and with this book, that has happened. Now Grand dad Trusty's stories can be enjoyed by future generations of our family, friends, members, and many others.