MARJORIE DeVITO'S PAGE

Bogus Bingo Buddy (A Trick Played On Marge)

Submitted by Torre- After years of trying I finally got one over on Mom! This was during a visit down here in North Carolina (the year before she and Dad moved here). Mom loved all-you-can-eat Chinese Buffets because, despite her tracheostomy she could actually eat some of the food there, so we took Mom and Dad to a local establishment. While we were there I happened to run into a couple from church whom had never met my parents. They were good friends of ours, but closer in age to my parents, and they both had wonderful New York Accents! Thinking on my feet I convinced the woman (who was a wonderful sport) to come to our table and exclaim "Marge! I thought that was you! How long has it been?" Everyone at the table knew it was a gag, but Mom. Mom rose to her feet with a big smile and said to our accomplice "Oh my goodness! what are YOU doing here?" As she had been coached in our brief conversation at the salad bar, our accomplice talked about it having been "ages since she'd seen any of the old gang from bingo." This of course had Mom franticly trying to figure out which gang, which bingo hall and which year, without giving away that she had no idea who this woman was. This could have gone on for ever , but our accomplice "fessed up" after only a few minutes of this, and we all had a good laugh, including Mom, but between chuckles she said "just wait, Torre, just you wait."

Several months after the incident of The Bogus Bingo Buddy (above) Mom and Dad came to stay with our kids while Karen and I went to the beach for our anniversary. When we returned from our trip I was surprised to find taht we were completely out of olives. Mom had already left by the time I found my first little man made of olives and toothpicks. I started finding them everywhere. One hung from my bedroom ceiling fan for many days before I noticed it. They were in my shelves, in my drawers, in my underwear. one day almost a week later one of the little olive men stabbed me in the toe as I was putting on my slippers. I wore one around in my ball cap all day before I noticed this prickly sensation. and I would be surprised if one of the little fellows wasn't still waiting for me somewhere. Now, whenever I have an olive I have a good laugh.