Many if not most OLLI members have crossed the threshold of their anecdotage, as Benjamin Disraeli called it. Though our children may roll their eyes when we start pulling “chestnuts” from the fire, we seasoned adults recognize gold when we hear it. This new OLLI course promises to explore the joys of artful storytelling, both old and new, fiction and non-fiction. Each class will feature some anecdotes drawn from The Little Brown Book of Anecdotes, edited by Clifton Fadiman, and a sampling drawn from Anecdotes and Antidotes by Skip Eisiminger. Following each reading or oral recital, the floor will be open to memories (three-minute maximum) that these stories evoke in the minds of those who hear them. (Warning: I have a three-minute egg timer!) Participation is optional, and there are no tests. Given the dicey nature of our well-seasoned memories, I suggest you start writing down your favorites in a separate notebook. As the Chinese say, “The palest ink transcends the best memories.”

Skip Eisiminger is retired from the Clemson University English Department, where he taught History of the Language, Word Study, American Literature, interdisciplinary humanities, and creative writing for 42 years. He continues to publish in the South Carolina Review, Weekly Hubris, and KYSO Flash. He is the author of Anecdotes and Antidotes (Serving House Press, 2019).