(Yesterday I got an excellent Steve storyfrom a stranger named Steve, who deserves his own post. So here it is. With this amazing addendum. I loved this story immediately, so I sent it to three friends who like them as much as I do. One of them, my friend Lynne, actually knew him and intended to meet him this weekend. )
Hello Esther,
I came across your poems in this month issue of chronogram as I am visiting the Hudson Valley staying with, you guessed it, my childhood friend and former owner of Magnolia Bakery Steve Abrams.
My story is a simple one. When I was born at JFK memorial hospital otherwise known as Forest Hills General back in 1958 my parents, in their early 30’s could not decide on a name. My older sister Dana had been born two years earlier and I do believe from my parents words, they only wanted two two kids, and were searching for the perfect name to pair with my sister. So I went home names-less, on my birth certificate was MALE REISS. Two weeks later after many discussions and debates they decided on Steven (Steve for short)and justified the choice by saying if I were a girl I would have been Stephanie. They just loved the name. Of course later in life I asked if they loved Stephanie so much why was I not Stephen and they basically shrugged.
So when people ask me my birth name I quickly say Male (pronounced Mah-lay) and everyone thinks my parents were cool.
And just this morning very coincidentally, the other Steve and myself went over to eat breakfast at crossroads and after they took our order they said what name should we put it under and I said Steve… And the girl behind the counter quickly said Steve and Steve. I chuckled and then let her know that I have about 40 Steve’s in my address book that I know personally. I came back to the house and checked and it was actually 39.
Thank you for your interest in steve stories.
I can relate.
Steve Reiss
Great story! Now that I think of it, I have a cousin named Steve or Steven, who I haven't been in contact with since my youth. The last time I heard his named mentioned was when my mother said that he was involved in doing something connected to the New York sewerage system, a fact related by my mother, who then burst out laughing saying "well, somebody has to do that." The primary Steve that I remember from my childhood is Steve Allen, also known by one of his "men on the street" Louis Nye as Steverino.