17 June 2008 Tuesday

Jefferson story

Last night over dinner, someone decided to tell us the history of Thomas Jefferson and his family. It was the most confusing thing.. and funnier than anything I’ve seen on or off television in ages. Something about Thomas and his son Thomas.. ..and his slave Sally who was Thomas’ father-in-law’s slave.. so Sally was likely Martha’s half-sister.. And Martha’s mother may have been named Martha and Martha and Thomas had a daughter named Martha and a daughter named Maria who was called Polly (what the heck?).. And Sally was taken to France to be educated.. and Thomas had a cook who learned to cook in France… and there was someone named Randolph? unless that was referring to Jefferson’s family’s name.. I don’t know. It was the most absurd story-telling adventure, and the baffled and disconcerted faces of the listeners.. and the simultaneous uncertainty and determination of the storyteller.. and it was wonderful.