Like the tapioca story, the story of Einstein sailing in the Connecticut river where my father’s side of the family has been for generations has been told convincingly year in and year out. I believe every word that comes from the mouths of those I love and respect, which I’m sorry to say is often mightily abused. ;) So, did Johnny Dingle, or some other character really see Albert Einstein capsize his little boat in the sound and row out to rescue him?
Why do I ask? We watched a silly movie called “IQ” at Diana’s tonight, and it did what many movies are supposed to do: entertain and make me laugh. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take much to make me laugh, so I’m not saying you should rush out and buy it. I must be grateful that the love story was so hokey and ridiculous it didn’t draw me into earning for love at all. The rest of the story was so absurd I didn’t bother being bothered by it. Did you know you can make a sailboat lurch forward and backward with the rudder? Einstein can. Anyway, the scene of him sailing made me think of our famous family story. Is it tapioca or truth?
I don't know about the story (not my side of the family), but I'm henceforth adopting "Is it tapioca or truth?" for my own. Like all great sayings, it condenses much meaning into just a few words.
As exclusive inside jokes are, as long as their explainable they have their place. There's one in my facebook profile espcially for you, Mom. I just wish I could see the confused expressions of others when they see it.
Well, so far I've found out that Einstein did at least visit the Connecticut River, because he road on William Gillette's little railroad (remember Gillette's Castle?)....
And he had a summer home on the Old Lyme shore (Wikipedia)....
Oh, and here's something from Time Magazine, July 15, 1935: "While Albert Einstein was last week running his little sailboat aground in the Connecticut River...." though the article does not elaborate further on that subject.
That's the best I can do at the moment with Google, but the Time article at least suggests that the story might at least been based in truth.
