A Million Little Lies

In which we deconstruct the embellishments of life with MomBrain ...

By now we've all heard about James Frey, and how - in Maureen Dowd's words - his bony, lying, non-fiction butt was kicked out of the Kingdom of Oprah. And it has caused much navel gazing here at MomBrain HQ. It should be obvious that many of MomBrain's accounts are ... how you say ... embellished. I mean, I am a mom, and I do have a wicked big noggin. But - surprise! - my name is not really MomBrain. And in the interest of storytelling, I sometimes play loose with details. For example, there is nothing about me that is remotely delicate or princess-like, except for my wrists, which are alramingly bony. I did really break my foot. But the man who wheeled me through the hospital was not nice. He was fat. And grumpy.

So, in the interest of truth in advertising, here is my last post written more factually:

I broke my foot when I slipped on some stairs. The next day it was very swollen and discolored, so my husband took me to the emergency room. A fat man pushed me in a Cirrus 3 Lightweight Manual Wheelchair and parked me in the hallway, where I read the New Yorker.

My son likes my crutches, which he pronounces "crusses." And I'm grateful to my husband for taking good care of me, but I'm worried that I'll need too much help.

There. I'm sure you'll all agree that the factual account is a much more compelling story.

So, in the interest of truth in advertising, here is my last post written more factually:

I broke my foot when I slipped on some stairs. The next day it was very swollen and discolored, so my husband took me to the emergency room. A fat man pushed me in a Cirrus 3 Lightweight Manual Wheelchair and parked me in the hallway, where I read the New Yorker.

My son likes my crutches, which he pronounces "crusses." And I'm grateful to my husband for taking good care of me, but I'm worried that I'll need too much help.

Comments

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[mama2wanna]

I disagree. There is a difference between pure embellishment and sarcasm. Between falsehood and wit. Besides, have you ever heard a good fishing story that was TRUE??? I rest my case.

[tracey]

indeed, adding the little extras to our life stories makes the writing fun and the reading good! what's a cake without the frosting?
and thanks for clarifying...i always wondered what kind of mother would name her daughter MomBrain.

[peni]

I think Mombrain has slipped in another deep sleep..Resting her foot I suppose!

[rachel]

I love the New Yorker touch. I am sorry to hear about your foot.

Hope all is well and your foot is almost healed.Perhaps the " New Yorker "will take care of,the grumpy old fat man with the wheelchair.

[kelly]

edge of my seat baby!

Hope the foot's healing and you're being taken very good care of, and not abused by an angry fat man with a wheelchair.

xo

[Brooke]

Nonsense. You are forgetting your regal bearing! And your enchanted-princess-like way of holding your head.

Hope you feel better soon.