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The Story Frame

Short and funny personal stories and thoughts on how to write them.

Tags: culture

Showing 12 results:

The Royal Pains of Parenting No One Tells You About

Or, as my daughter says, "Off with my father's head." My daughter was pretending her animal figurines were lively dinosaurs roaring at each other. I sat beside her, and it felt contagious when I saw her enthusiastically roaring. I growled, and the sound surprised her and scared her. She screamed...

by Carlos Garbiras — Jun 18, 2025 culture parenting storytelling

I'm Committed to My Wife but Not THAT Committed

Ink Life Commitments (1/3) My daughter told me, "Daddy, I want to get a tattoo." She was four the first time she said it, so she was probably talking about the fake tattoos, which are very popular with her friends, the ones you put on and wear off a few days later. I don't see any harm in that,...

by Carlos Garbiras — Jun 11, 2025 culture relationships satire society

Your Kids' Indiscriminate Pruning Independence

Or how kids have plans and don't care about yours. "Stop!" I shouted from across the yard. I find myself shouting this a lot around my daughters. I don't necessarily want to. I want them to grow up feeling the world is a "yes space," but it does seem like the world is not a "yes space" outside o...

by Carlos Garbiras — May 28, 2025 culture parenting relationships satire

I Survived a Tornado in Dallas But Barely

Becoming a storm chaser for a night Living in Texas is not for the weak of stomach. Sure, property is cheap there. Sometimes, you go to Buc-ee's for gas, a Slurpee, and some Venison jerky. When you walk outside, you realize the clerk stuffed the title to a giant ranch right under your armpit. ...

by Carlos Garbiras — May 21, 2025 culture relationships satire society travel

You Eat Chinese Food at a Chinese Restaurant

The Virgin Can Be Scarier Than an Atomic Iguana (3/3) For the celebration of my first communion, my dad took us to the fancy Chinese restaurant, Jardines de Confucio, or Confucius' Garden. My younger sister, Rosy, came with us to celebrate my first wafer-cookie-eating event. When the waiter came...

by Carlos Garbiras — May 14, 2025 coming of age culture growing up intercultural relationships

My First Communion Party and the Many Glories of Being a Kid of Divorce

The Virgin Can Be Scarier Than an Atomic Iguana (2/3) I was under no delusion; the Virgin could still walk into my mom's room and ruin the plans I had for the rest of my life. I was pleased when the Virgin decided not to talk to me all night. When the sun came out, I took a 12-minute nap. I don’...

by Carlos Garbiras — May 13, 2025 coming of age culture intercultural satire society

The Last Night I Lost Sleep and My First Communion

The Virgin Can Be Scarier Than an Atomic Iguana (1/3) I still remember the last time I lost sleep. September 14, 1994. Okay, I made up a date, but I remember the night. It was the night before my first communion. After six months of memorizing prayers and passages from the Bible, I was finally ...

by Carlos Garbiras — May 12, 2025 coming of age culture family intercultural satire

I Know More About Shakira Than I Care to Admit

A Screaming Goat Wins Four Grammy Awards (1/3) I grew up one block away from Shakira. Okay, let me clarify this: Shakira didn't grow up there. But I grew up a block from where Shakira bought an entire apartment building for her parents. The building and the block it was on remained empty most of...

by Carlos Garbiras — Apr 28, 2025 creativity culture productivity society storytelling

In Get Rich Quick Seminars, The Back is for Poor People

I am a sucker for a get-rich-quick scheme (3/3) There I was, a brand new immigrant, newly arrived in California, ready to consume all the information to get me started on the oh-so-American path from rags to riches. The seminar organizers were prepared to give me even more than I had bargained f...

by Carlos Garbiras — Apr 23, 2025 culture sales satire society

When You Are Finally Able to Afford Gold Caviar

I am a sucker for a get-rich-quick scheme The stranger made a beeline for my wife and me through the sea of Christmas shoppers, drowning in the desperation to find the perfect last-minute gift in Walnut Creek's open-air mall, Broadway Plaza. "Wow, you have an amazing smile!" He said. "Here we go...

Apr 23, 2025 culture sales satire society

I Have Been to Many 'Get Rich Quick' Seminars

I am a sucker for a get-rich-quick scheme (2/3) Jamal came by on the day of our meeting. He knocked on the door, and I let him in. The person who walked into my living room was a stranger in my friend's body who asked me, "Can any of your knives cut through a Coca-Cola can?" I felt silly admittin...

by Carlos Garbiras — Apr 22, 2025 culture sales satire society

Would You Like to Join My Multi-Level Marketing Group?

I am a sucker for a get-rich-quick scheme (1/3) The stranger made a beeline for my wife and me through the sea of Christmas shoppers, drowning in the desperation to find the perfect last-minute gift in Walnut Creek's open-air mall, Broadway Plaza. "Wow, you have an amazing smile!" He said. "Here ...

by Carlos Garbiras — Apr 21, 2025 culture personal essay sales satire

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The Story Frame

Short and funny personal stories and thoughts on how to write them.

Tags: culture

The Story Frame

Short and funny personal stories and thoughts on how to write them.

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