Maybe because I think of the stories as almost the complete opposite of what I like to write, I’ve been a huge fan of “The Vinyl Cafe” for a long time.

For those who don’t know it, The Vinyl Cafe was a radio show from Canada created by Stuart McLean that included fictional stories about a family living in Toronto – Dave, the father who runs a record store; Morley, the mother who works in the theater; Stephanie, the daughter off to college; and Sam, the son who has a taste for fine foods.

Dave usually ends up in hilariously crazy situations (arm stuck in a blood-pressure chair at his local drugstore, for one) and Stuart McLean, on his show, would expertly guide the audience through everything Dave does to survive said crazy situation. There are also stories that don’t feature Dave at all, however, and stories that are more reflective and downright soothing to listen to rather than hilarious. I know little about Stuart McLean (who sadly died in 2017) beyond that he was a fantastic storyteller.

I love how Stuart McLean did such a delicate job weaving stories together in such a way that you could believe the events in them could really happen, much like the stories in “Fawlty Towers.” More than the comedic side of the stories, though, I love the moments where Stuart took a minute to reflect on life (he did an amazing job summarizing motherhood in one story) and how exhilerating and how bizarre it is that we’re all a part of it.

Considering there have been no new stories in almost a decade, I feel like I’ve memorized quite a few of his stories, and my favorite – by far – is called “Dave’s Inferno,” which is basically about Dave forgetting to buy something at the grocery store. He goes back to buy the forgotten thing (cream cheese), does not plan his time well, and ends up in a race to leave the store. The way it’s written, though, means that no matter how many time I’ve heard Stuart McLean tell it, I haven’t grown tired of it.

Maybe it’s because autumn tends to be the season of reflection as the year winds to a close, I’ve found myself listening to more and more of his stories again lately.

You can listen to the stories, too, on the podcast, “Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe.” If you have a long drive ahead of you or a train trip, I highly recommend listening to an episode or two.