The Funniest Story I’ve Heard in a While

I laughed so hard that I cried when I heard this story. It’s a two-parter.

Part One:
For the teams that had environmental projects in Oregon, what was one invasive species that you all hated with all your heart to remove? The Himalaya Blackberry, right? Remember this for later.

Part Two:
Facebook is a great thing, isn’t it? A few months ago I received a friend request from a woman with my last name. We began talking and figured that we were third cousins. I told her that I don’t know anything about the Kangiser side of my family, so she said she would ask her dad if he knew anything.

A few weeks later her father sent me two letters, one from his father and one from his aunt. These are relatives that get into the “second cousin, once removed” and all of that technical stuff that I don’t understand. I just call them all “cousin.”

Anyway, these letters went into a bit of detail about my great-grandfather, Konstantine Kangiser, or Kon for short. From what I read, Kon was quite the character. He always smoked a corncob pipe and had a mean temper. When he would get really mad he would throw his hat to the ground and jump up and down on it. He also had a foul mouth and whenever he was trying to keep it clean he would yell “Son of a sea cook!” He seems cartoonish, huh?

Despite these faults, Kon was an incredibly hard worker. His homestead is a bit of land near the Oregon coast and he would spend night and day, rain and shine clearing his land. Now, what do you think he worked so hard to plant in neat rows on his?

The Himalaya Blackberry!

My great-grandfather is the man responsible for bringing this invasive species to Oregon.

I about busted my sides laughing when I realized that this is what the teams sent up to Oregon had worked hours on removing, giving their blood and sweat and sanity to this task. Needless to say, when I told Rachel Jacobson and Jenny Jerusal about this, they were not amused.

I have an infamous legacy…who knew?

Best. Story. Ever.