There’s a box of old VHS tapes in my dad’s house that my brother and I want to digitize, keeping alive the memories of our childhood captured by our parents. Some of the ones my brother has done already show us singing to our grandfather across the country in Maine, getting haircuts and running around our local Greenbrae park, where a stranger kindly let us pet their dog. There’s so much I wish I could say to that little bowl-cut version of me. If you were given the chance to speak to your younger self, what would you tell them? What advice would you give?

Whatever comes to mind, I’d love to know.

Please make it a six-word story, a personal short story, with a beginning, middle and end.

Make us laugh or cry or at the least feel something. For example, here is the famous story attributed to, but not proven to be written by, Ernest Hemingway: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” That’s quite the story! Need more examples? “It can’t be. I’m a virgin,” writes Kate Atkinson. “Set sail, great storm, all lost,” says John Banville.

If you want your story to run in the IJ, please:

• Write “Six-word story” in the subject line

• Send one six-word story. Just one

• Include your full name and Marin town in the body of the email, no attachments

• Write your short story in the body of the email, no attachments

• Use proper punctuation and spelling

• Use sentence style in one line

• Do not submit six adjectives — that’s not a story

Please send to lifestyles@marinij.com by June 13 and look for it in the June 24 lifestyles section and online.

Recently, we asked IJ readers to share special food memories. Here’s what they had to say.

Senior transport to last anniversary dinner. — Ann Fox, Terra Linda

Watermelon seed spitting contest in Ecuador. — Linda Albion, Woodacre

Two grandmas: sauerkraut, flaming plum pudding. — Kay Noguchi, Terra Linda

Mom and I baking Christmas cookies. — Christine von Atzigen Sugrue, Corte Madera

Steak pasties requested for Christmas dinner. — Diane Newman, Tiburon

Holidays love Grandma’s nutmeg rutabaga casserole. — Brita Ostrom, Fairfax

1964 HS “Pizza Twin” Phil — RIP. — Robert Langenhan, San Rafael

Six siblings, no leftovers, bountiful Thanksgiving! — Pat Hager, Mill Valley

Fricassee chicken, peas in olive holes. — Arline Zerkel, Novato

Aunt Betty’s Cheese Pit. Christmas tradition. — Sam Fleeger, Marin City

Loved my Italian mama’s homemade gnocchi! — Toni Archer, Larkspur

Family picnic at beach for Thanksgiving. — Jean E. Rose, San Rafael

15-cent burgers at McDonald’s: 1964. — David Reinstein, San Anselmo

COVID cooking Zooms with faraway daughters. — Bev Ripps, Mill Valley

Sunday supper, famous beans, Dad’s cooking. — Jeff Brusati, San Rafael

Italian family always enjoyed cooked raviolis. — Antoinette DeLucchi, San Rafael

Any recipe in my mother’s handwriting. — Sharon Eide, Novato

Sicilian family, delicious abundance, everyone welcome! — Karen Parisi, San Rafael

Fresh fried piroshki definite grandchild magnet. — Mira Troyan, San Rafael

Won husband’s heart — Mom’s apple pie! — Diane Forster, Corte Madera

Grammy’s chocolate cake: always the best. — Sara Vurek, San Rafael

From my grandmother to professional chef. — Ronald Duben, Lucas Valley

Swan’s raw bar oysters with Dad. — Luke Esterkyn, San Rafael

Bagels and bialys in Brighton Beach! — Phyllis Kirson, Fairfax

Wisconsin’s best: bratwurst, corn and beer. — Patrick Ritter, San Rafael

Delicious homemade tamales for the holidays. — Mary Ann Gallardo, San Rafael

Yosemite lake trout, pan-cooked in ghee. — Elaine C. Johnson, Greenbrae

Lox bagel, cream cheese, tomato, onion. — Mark Gainer, San Rafael

Thanksgiving favorite: mashed potatoes and gravy. — Pamela Lunstead, Novato

Candlelit dinners prepared by my husband! — Lorraine Peters, San Rafael

They said, “Enjoy.” I obeyed — forever. — Alexander Thomas, Tiburon

Beer and bratwurst, Wisconsin football memories. — Kermit R. Kubitz, Larkspur

Sunfish: catch it, fry then savor! — Frieda W. Zolan, San Rafael

Easter. Ham devoured. Mustard ring ignored. — Suzanne Egan, Mill Valley

My mother’s fluffy gnocchi — so yummy! — Rosalind Gardner, Greenbrae

Don’t chew with your mouth open. — Donna Stewart, Mill Valley

Outdoor dining without unneighborly leaf blowers. — Mary Geving, Woodacre

Scrumptiously classic! Antoinette’s divine shepherd’s pie. — Ian Begg, Corte Madera

White Castle Cravers Hall of Famer. — Scott Kempf, Novato

Eighteen years ghostwriting for Wolfgang Puck. — Norman Kolpas, San Rafael

Thanksgiving invitation; asked to bring turkey. — Dave Powell, Novato

Thanks, third mother: best spaghetti recipe. — Diane Cokely, San Anselmo

Children starving in Europe. Eat it! — Dee Fratus, Larkspur

My 22 recipes in club cookbook! — Linda Varonin, Corte Madera

My heritage — Italian spaghetti, Swedish meatballs. — Rip Anzalone, NovatoLove vegetarian food, never miss meat! — Evelyn Riebe, Mill Valley

Greek cooking class — married my student. — Maria Hilakos Hanke, Ignacio

Served with hummus, baba ghanoush — yum! — Ann Woodward, Greenbrae

First taste of hot sauce. Wow! — Gretchen Gund, San Rafael

Grandma cranked out birthday ice cream — “kostlich.” — Lucille Herger, Novato

Mom’s lasagna always tasted like home. — Janis Luft, Tiburon

French cheeseboard — ooey, gooey, fabulous deliciousness. — Philip Hicks, San Anselmo

Barbecued oysters at a wedding reception. — Heike Dittrich-Kruljac, Corte Madera

Homegrown figs and apricots, heavenly delight! — David Leipsic, San Rafael

Scalloped potatoes brought over after baby. — Susan J. Crittenden, Terra Linda

Oh my God! You made lasagna. — Gary Rudzianis, Novato

Pregnancy craving: enchiladas, Coca-Cola, 11 p.m. — Susan Storch, Greenbrae

Southwestern pie with green hatch chiles. — Janet Lee Benjamin, Tiburon

“Eat a rainbow,” she always said. — Melinda Martin, San Anselmo

Started at wrong end, Singapore dip. — Arthur Silberman, San Rafael

My mother’s pastry, flaky and moist. — Ralph Mason, Larkspur

Mom’s orange bowknots on Thanksgiving — delicious! — Diane Lynch, Tiburon

Grandma’s “secret” Lipton’s onion soup meatloaf. — Bonnie Blank, Corte Madera

Cooked for business, now for love. — Alta Ridley, San Rafael

Grandmother served tongue — nobody ate dinner! — Gigi Zavagno, Novato

Italian nonna’s homemade ravioli, pasta sauce! — Michael Ardito, Fairfax

Grandma would always make banana pudding. — Diana Knight, Fairfax

Ballgame hotdogs always taste better. Why? — Hank Simmonds, Kentfield

Chef wife died, can soup dinners. — Richard Schneider, San Rafael

Grandma’s lemon meringue pie — meringue exquisite! — Nancy Greenfield, Larkspur

Thanksgiving family feasts, turkey, dressing and pies! — Lois Wise, Novato

Ninja Foodi: using foil not pots. — Karen Arnold, San Rafael

La Toscana Restaurant Sergio best waiter. — Lynne Podesta, Novato

San Francisco Blum’s coffee crunch cake. — Pam Hyer, Novato

Christiana Campbell’s rum cream pie. Ecstatic. — David Hyer, Novato

New York bagels, pizza, Italian ices. — Marcia Naomi Berger, San Rafael

Adi’s delicious cooking every night — yes! — Ron Skellenger, Woodacre

Sunday family dinners, cherished time together! — Ingrid Skog, Tiburon

Preparing, eating, enjoying aebelskivers, family, friends! — Arlene Hansen, Novato

Strawberries were delicious, she said afterwards. — Michael Watts, Ignacio

Loved food; married chef; lucky me! — Gail Cassee, Mill Valley

Cooking together at Gilroy Garlic Festival. — Ed Ryken, Novato

Weekend breakfast: biscuits with chocolate gravy. — Gigi Bibeault, Terra Linda

Our wedding clambake was the best! — Dennis Brouillet, Novato

Making soup with Grandma Emilia. — Shirley Genetin, Novato

Risotto, buttery Italian love from Nonna. — Loretta Farley, Point Reyes

Sanguinaccio: tongue approves but mind objects. — Frank Gordon, Novato

Every family gathering requires Ada’s casserole! — Gretchen Alden, San Anselmo

Wild fried rabbit in bacon grease. — G. Hardy Acree, Mill Valley

Grandma’s illicit Postum and Oreo cookies. — Janice Kohnhorst, San Rafael

Prepared Sunday breakfast. Parents, siblings slept. — David Curtis, Novato

Warm fuzzies from Grandma’s ginger cookies. — Gailya Magdalena, Lucas Valley