Why We Tell Stories

What is the one story that your family or friends tell about you over and over. Try to explain why you think they tell this story.

My grandfather (Papa) is very stereotypical in that he always tells stories. Stories about war, stories about school, about running a gas station, about running a succesful business, and about our family. But the most commonly told stories are about his childhood. Papa has lived in the Bay Area his entire life. When we drive together (which is often) he points out where things used to be. "Those houses used to be lettuce fields". "This field is where we exploded our first rocket". "This house is where I lived". In particular, Papa tells me about the fruit stand. When he was young, my great- grandparents, along with my grandpa and my great aunts and uncles, ran a fruit stand. "Bert's Market" is what it was called, and Papa sold watermelons. He tells stories about traveling far to get the watermelons, and how hard the whole family worked loading and unloading them. When every we drive through one of his old neighborhoods, he calls, "Melons! Get your watermelons! A dime a pound!"
I think that he tells these stories about the fruit stand often for many reasons. One is business. His whole life, Papa has worked extremely hard (sometimes 20 hour days) and has become a successful businessman. Business is very important to him, and he also tries explain to me finance (mostly unsuccessfully). These early working years showed him the skills and determination needed later in his life. Also they bring back memories of my great-grandparents, whom he loved very much. I know that they were his inspiration in his pursuit of success. As for why he tells me, I'm not sure. That goes back to why does anyone telll stories. I may be to bring me back in time and experience life 60 years ago. It may be to inspire me to work hard just as he has. It may be that he just wants to entertain me. Whatever the case, I'm glad he does because I find them very interesting.