My Uncle Joe had many stories to tell—of bookies, bootleggers, dead chickens, a drunken priest, a friend who died, a brother who didn’t, and a dog that routinely rode home by himself on a trolley. He told of his six years in the Navy, describing torpedo attacks, a runaway blimp, shipmates’ shenanigans, and his storybook wartime wedding.

For me, Joe’s stories have been a narrative thread that connected my childhood years, when he and his wife were often taking care of me, to the time decades later when I was taking care of them.

Joe Flynn was a natural-born storyteller. Each of his tales was crafted and fine-tuned over many retellings. And well worth listening to. I heard them all so often, I’ve been able to recreate them, almost word for word. And now, I’m very happy to be sharing them. With you.

I’ve posted a few of Joe’s stories (see my Blog) and will continue to do so from time to time.