Elephants Are in the Trees…and Other Weird Things My Grandmother Told Me

On my way to work this morning, I noticed a tree swaying heavily in a stiff wind. And the leaves had inverted to show their grey sides. It was a perfect place for the elephants to hide.

When I was a kid, my grandmother used her sly sense of humor often, and on all of us. She loved to kid around. And one of the things she liked to tell me and my sister was how she knew when a storm was coming because elephants could hide in the trees.

She explained that when the wind blows, the leaves on the trees will sometimes whip around and their grey sides will be exposed which would make them perfect camouflage for any elephant that wanted to hide in the tree.

I've used that ever since.

And because I know the forecast is calling for thunderstorms, I was kind of amused when I saw the "grey leaves" this morning.

But my grandmother didn't stop there.

Let's see...if I bit my fingernails and swallowed them, a hand would grow in my stomach.

If I accidentally swallowed a watermelon seed, a watermelon would grow in my stomach.

And favorite...if I swallowed my bubble gum, a baby elephant would grow in my stomach.

Oh, and there was the time I was spending the night with her and just before I went to sleep, she told me that the bedroom where I was staying was haunted.

Sweet dreams.

Funny and kooky. And I guess that's where we get it.

But here's what I want to know...what was her deal with ELEPHANTS?!?