Mike, this really hit home for me. My wife was travelling on the Massachusetts Turnpike and stopped to get a bite to eat. When she got home, 30 mile north of Boston, she realized she had left her purse at the restaurant. She called me and asked if I would drive from my office, in Boston, 100 miles to the restaurant to retrieve the missing purse. On that day, I had my motorcycle. I saddled up, and put my cell phone into the pants pocket of my riding suit, where it would be safe, but I would not be able to hear it nor feel it vibrate. After a two hour ride, I arrived at the restaurant, checked with the staff but to no avail, no one had see the purse, no one had turned it in. I, along with the restaurant manager, walked around the parking lot, checking the trash cans and the dumpsters. (Sound familiar?) After a thorough search, I called home to deliver the bad news. Rather than being greeted by a sad wife, she was happy. Some good Samaritan had found her purse at the outdoor table where she had been sitting, took it home with him, near Boston, and had called her to advise that it was safe and sound. However, when she called me to announce the good news, I was not able to hear or feel the phone in my pocket. Then it was another two hour ride to home for me. The gentleman that found the purse, packed it up, and shipped it to the house, at his expense, and refused any kind of reward. There are good people out there. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
This is one of you little friends on Facebook. Your Mom is one of the best writers, like yourself, and funniest women on the planet. I am suffering from head issues and major depression and found my self laughing. Thanks to your Mom. Thank you Mike. God Bless!
Your little people on FB!!! Love it. Your Mom and Dad are so funny. Loved this story. Had me laughing so hard. Especially when you started laughing. Call your Mom, Mike!!!
Hi Mike -- Hilarious ! ! ! Your mother is quite the story teller. From now on, every time I see a big blue purse, I'll get a good chuckle. It's also nice to see a fellow "Dial-American" from Baltimore, who made me laugh just as hard in college as you make the whole country laugh now. Keep sharing the stories! Susan Gerber
True stories that seem too bizarre to be made up, are the best stories of all. That is a story for the ages that will never be forgotten by anyone in the Rowe family and will be passed on to future generations. Mike and his mother are great. Thanks for the video.
I don’t know what’s funnier, your moms writings or your reaction and laughter. I’m going to go ahead and say I think it’s a tie! 😂😂😂Thanks for making my day Mike, again!
That is the funniest thing I have heard in a very long time.....Mike, please, your mom should be a writer, maybe then we can get a clean sitcom that's actually funny!
Actually for me the whole thing was so good because you could see he knew his parents well and was picturing the whole scenario. Because of that we could be in the story with him. Great stuff.
I absolutely adore your mother! She reminds me of my grandmother who is 81 this year. They seem like long lost twins! May your mother continue to entertain you for many years to come and god bless!
Oh, Mike Rowe, yes, I am a subscriber to your podcast but I have to say the story from your mom was THE BEST EVER!!! Tears are still streaming down from my eyes as I reflect upon your Mom's story with your Dad and their new friend Beverley. Best Ever!!!!
OMG, thank you -- I needed that laugh!!!! (Oh, and now I see where you got your intelligence, humor, and superior writing skills!) One last thing: CALL YOUR MOTHER!!!!
I just love to listen, read and laugh at Mike and his parents tell their real life stories. They are funnier on accident than most comedians are on purpose!
Currently reading Vacuuming In The Nude and this video was mentioned. I absolutely loved this video back when you originally posted it and even more so now. Congrats Peggy....you were kept from all "us fans" for many years BUT we sure are glad you have finally arrived!
Early Sunday AM and just found your site. Sounds like you come from a family of story tellers. Nicely done. Can't wait for my wife to wake so I can share.Thank you. Keep it up.
You have to share this letter via .pdf or something from your mother. That's the greatest laughter I have been exposed to. What a woman with such sense of humor, words and wit. I want to send a printed copy to my grandmother. She would eat this up! She is too old school to understand emails or the internet (as shenhas declared). Any how thank you for sharing and thank your mother for the laugh.
"THAAAAANK YOU!!!" ((SO MUCH!!)) Mr. Mike Rowe and Mrs. Peggy Rowe (& family and crew) for your "highjincks" and "antidotes"!!! I've never been in a position to say this in all of my 50+(almost) years, but "momma's know best"/just sayin'!!! ("THANK YOU") Mrs. Peggy Rowe for raising an (AMAZING) family!!!)....
I have listened to this so many times and I laugh til I cry every dang time!! 😂 I convinced all my friends and family to listen to it too. Definately my sense of humor!!!!! ❤❤
To Mike, your terrific parents, Peg & John, & the special Wal-mart shoppers who have all been instrumental in proving a point my own life is filled with evidence of the popular saying that "Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction". Is it not? Your hilarious story of Old Blue is by far(in my humble opinion) "THE" WINNER for a much needed "belly laugh" story we are very much in need of these days, no matter who or where you are. Hollywood TV or movie writers waste too much time trying to make up stories like this. Have they not realized yet that " YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP". Well, you can't! .....Oh you could add something like The Big Blue Purse was found at an "all you can eat buffett"....But why? Leave the truth where it belongs.....Right here(or there) In the lives to whom it happens to(coincidentally) those also happen to be the same people who notice it, accept it, find the humor in it and who know how to tell the truths of their lives and possibly most importantly aren't afraid to tell you all about it. Thank you very much for sharing this simple, yet award-winning story.I have quite a few of these true stories I enjoy telling. In fact, I rely on them. LOL I should go for now, before my "little reply" turns into a book. My family & friends know what I mean. Once I start writing I can't seem to stop.Thank you once again, also for your patience in my long reply. By the way, " Blue is my favorite color" I'm glad this happened down at the Wal-mart. Remember years ago when K-mart used to advertise the "blue light special"? Lots of love!
I beg all those critics regarding mikes camera....STOP IT!!!! One doesn't need the bloody camera to listen to him share his passions and his thoughts. For crying out loud, I just listened to this in a quiet room with the speakers on low...and was just really encouraged by his moms experience and TALENT!!! If it means that much to you, then send him one! Otherwise do what the rest of us do...listen and learn, and be thankful that this man is a man of integrity trying to help better our world!!! Thank you for what you do mike, thanks to your parents too!!!
Your mom is a treasure. It's one thing to have this experience, it's another thing entirely to share it with your "little friends on Facebook". Can't wait to read her book and am looking forward to the looks I'll get from passersby on the beach when they glance at the title.
I saw you and your mom on Fox an Friends this morning, about the blue purse, you said goggle it and here I am enjoying your mom's email as you read it and you laughing from time to time is the best, thanks for sharing.
Thank you! That letter is the funniest thing I’ve heard in years! I know I’m late to the party on discovering your talented and hysterical mom, but I’m a forever fan after hearing about her big blue purse hunt. Perfection! This is going in the save folder!
Mike, I just LOVE that story! I too have elderly parents they are both 77 years young and definitely have their days. I have watched this video several times as it reminds me of my parents and just how they function together on a daily basis. Just plain funny!!!
What a great email your mom sent. There comes a time as we age when things start to disappear. It's not that the items are really lost, it's just that we can not remember where we put them. However we can remember what happened 60 or 70 years ago vividly. At this moment I can not remember where I put the $200.00 that I was saving for something, of course I can't remember what that was either.I have decided to send you a true story about my youth, now this I can remember vividly and have told it to my children to the point of them rolling their eyes and biting their tongs.I thought it would be nice to be able to tell a few people that have never heard it before and might appreciate the humor of it, so here goes. The Big White Balloon The year was 1950. The place was Maspeth, New York. We lived in the house on 73rd. St. There were four of us. Myself, almost 7, my two older sisters, 8 and 10, and my brother, 5. It was summer, and in those days the only recreation we had was summer school. The local elementary school was open to all children. They offered arts and crafts. Knock hockey. Checker Tournaments. Basket Ball, Potsy or if you prefer it was also called Hop Scotch, and every day they would put the showers on and everyone was allowed to cool off running through the delightfully cool water. This was all supervised by teachers that worked through the summer to make extra cash. We (my siblings and I) were allowed to attend summer school with the consent of our parents. Every morning my mother would pack each of us a lunch and a snack, put it in a brown paper bag and off we would go to walk the few blocks to the school. We would remain there until 4:00pm and then walk home. For the most part it was fun. The teachers were very nice and we were with other children in our age group. It did get a bit boring after a few weeks, but there was nothing else available for free so summer school it was. This particular morning as we were walking to the school we were bickering back and forth and my brother was whining. I started to walk ahead of my siblings as I told them to shut up. I was about 25 feet ahead of them. I could hear my oldest sister calling me to stop or she would tell our mother that I was not obeying her. I stopped and when I did I noticed that I had stepped on a balloon. It was a white balloon. It looked fairly large to me so I picked it up brushed off the top of it on my shorts to remove any germs that might have gathered there and started blowing it up. By that time the rest had caught up with me and wanted to see the balloon. I had already put it in my mouth and was blowing away. It was wonderful the balloon was getting really big. “Hey, let me try said my sister Denni,” “No I want to try" cried my brother. “Let me see that balloon," said my older sister. I took the balloon out of my mouth and held my arm up in the air so none of them could grab it. I had blown it up and it was bigger than a basketball. I let go of it and it flew up and swirled around and finally came down to rest in the street. It was magnificent! We all ran over to where it landed and took turns blowing it up and letting it go, being careful not to make it pop. We continued this all the way to school. As we assembled in the school yard we continued blowing up the balloon and soon had a crowd of other kids around us. The all wanted to try it. We let some of them take a turn. It turned into a game of who could blow up the balloon the biggest without making it break and then who could make it go the highest. We were having a great time. Soon after the teachers started arriving and we knew we would be going into the gym shortly. My teacher saw me letting the balloon go and smiling said to me “What have you got there Patti?” “A big white balloon.” “Can I see it?” “Sure.” I said and handed it over to her. “It's great isn’t it.” I said so proud. “It is pretty interesting, where did you get this?” “I found it on the way to school.” “Oh, how nice. Would you do me a favor?” “Yes Ma’am. What do you want me to do?” “I would like you to put the balloon away for the rest of the day.” “Why?” “I don't want any of the kids to break it.” “Oh, they won't, we've been blowing it up and letting it go before you got here. It gets really big. Do you want me to show you?” “No, No I believe you. Just do me a favor and put it away until you get home, OK?” “OK.” “By the way Patti, what children blew up the balloon beside you and your sister's and brother?” “I don't remember, but everybody who was here at the time.” The rest of the day went on as usual, except for one thing. We were famous that day. All the kids in the school wanted to see the great balloon I had. We were so popular that day, we had crowds of kids around us wanting to just see it. It was the first time in my almost 7 years that I felt so popular. I was sorry to see the school day come to an end. On the way home my siblings and I continued to blow up the balloon and let it fly, it was a great day. I told my sister's and brother I was going to blow it up as big as I could and then jump off the garage roof holding it and just float to the ground. “You will not, mommy will kill you.” “Only if you rat on me, and if you do I'll get you.” “I won't tell.” said my brother Augie. “Will you let me take a turn jumping off the roof?” “No, you're to little.” I said as we were entering our house. We lived on the second floor of a two family house. We all ran up the stairs like a heard of cattle, laughing and screaming. Our mother was in the kitchen cooking. “Hi kids, how was school?” “It was great Mommy. Look what I have.” I showed her my prize possession, with a big smile on my face. “Let me see.” She took the balloon from me and asked me where I got it. “I found it on the way to school, you should see how big I can blow it up.” So proud of myself. “Where did you find it?” “In the street.” Before we knew what was happening my mother was making us scrub out teeth and rinse our mouth's with Peroxide and water. Scrubbing our lips and giving us all a bath. I tried to explain that I wiped it of real good before I put it in my mouth, but there was nothing I could say to make her understand. She took my balloon away from me and I never saw it again. She also warned all of us to never, never pick anything up off the ground and put it in our mouth. We could get a disease and die. I was devastated, not only did I lose my balloon, now I might die. I did not die that night or any other night, but years later I found out that I had picked up a used condom that beautiful summer day.
Thank you for a great story ,as a reply to Mike Rowe,,So I'm confident you'll understand when I say you're ready for "Dirty Jobs" & "Somebody's Gotta Do It". Still,,, all kidding aside , you were a kid & I understand why you thought it was a baloon. It wasn't your fault. I wonder what ever happened to the clown who decided it was somehow OK to throw his filthy trash just anywhere he felt like. Let's hope & pray he learned better. I'm glad you didn't get sick. Thank you for sharing.
I heard you talk about the letter( from mom) in a current interview, and tonight I finally played the video. Thank you for a great laugh. i have to admit i have two favorite parts, your dad callig the phone, and your laughing through the reading. Very infectious...Thanks Mike.
Mike, as soon as I hit the lottery I'm buying a huge luxurious house in Wellington, FL and throwing a party that'll rival all others, that is if you, your hysterically funny Mom & Dad will attend as the guests of honor! I guarantee it'll be the party to end all others... After the party you'll have another episode for Dirty Jobs and your Vlog! Love this new venue of yours! You're spot on as usual, perhaps even more entertaining than your TV show, you're the man Mike, you and your Mom & Dad are hysterically funny, they need to give you another TV show with the three of you together! It'd be the best show TV has ever aired! All my best from South Florida, and be sure to call your Mom more often! 😁 Say hi to your Mom & Dad for me, I love them, they're wonderful people! We love all three of you, it's no wonder where you get your humor from, it must be hereditary! 😁
This is soooo funny! I saw you this morning on Fox with your Mom. You said Google the Big Blue Purse. I did and now I have to go redo my makeup! Hilarious!!!
Don't feel bad, ladies. I once paid for gas, hurried up and got behind the wheel, and drove off...without putting any gas in the tank. OMG. OK, more than once (stress). Mom needs her own channel "Mike Rowe's Mom." ☺️👍
You are truly blessed to have a Mom like that!! She is precious. Reminds me so much of what my Mom would have been if she had to cope with technology. She never got past the phone on the wall, with a dial ON it!! LOL But she reminded me many times of my lack of communication.. GREAT story Mike.. Made me feel good
ohh Mike that is the funniest thing I have heard in a while. I can truly see where your amazing wit and good humor comes from !!! Thanks again for ALL u do,,, and ur Mom 2 !! God Bless All y'all !!
loved it. I see where you get your intelligence and sense of humor. Has she written a book of other mishaps? we need moreof that type humor. Thanks for the laughter we don't often experience anymore.
This is such a enjoyable story, I liked it so much I made sure to pass it on to my family and friends. Thank you Mike for being someone worth watching, for being a positive influence in a negative world.
Thank you for sharing your message from your mother, if I lived in the US I'd love to meet her, she's quite the character with a brilliant sense of humour!
Hey Mike, Your mom wins the internet this month hands down. Best laugh I've had in a really long time. People at work are starting to stare at the guy laughing uncontrollably as he listening to hidden RU-vid tabs through his ear buds. Cheers. -lil facebook friend PS. What kind of person names their purse "ol blue"? I mean, really?
Sounds like my elderly aunt who lost her upper partial.. she had just gotten a new one and it caused her problems. Well we took her out to eat at her favorite catfish restaurant. She removed the partial after a few bites, and wrapped it in a napkin . Instead of putting it in her purse, she kept it on her lap. When she finished, she took the napkin and placed it on her plate. Forgetting about the partial.. hours later, we were digging through the restaurant trash. We got permission, but somebody observed us, and called the police on us. Well the officers decided to help and one found the partial. It was a laughable time.. He said he could just picture the look on his wife's face, when he told her he had a rescue mission that day. My aunt has passed, but we still laugh about that experience.. Memories made, memories last, and memories are sharable....
This is great. Love his mom, but also really love Mike reading it. I bet he is visualizing this in his head. A Good Samaritan saved the day. Gotta love that lady. Wish she had my phone number.
Great story Mike. I have one as well. My wife was out grocery shopping with the kids. When they came out to the car; one of the rear tires was flat. I had gotten her one of those little electric pumps you plug into the cigarette lighter socket for just such an emergency. She hooked it up and plugged it in. Away it went humming and vibrating. Several minutes later there was no noticeable difference. Between my wife and son and daughter, they came to the conclusion that the car must be too heavy with all the groceries they had loaded into the back of the little Escort wagon. So, they unloaded it all back into the shopping cart and tried again. Eventually they did figure out (probably my son) that you really have to push hard on the valve stem connector before you flip the lever down to hold it in place. Gord Vulcan Alberta
When ever I am having a lousy day (and today it was lousy times 100), I listen to this video and forget my problem for just a few minutes. Cracks me up every time.
This little person in you tube, adores your mother, she is amazing, what an amazing writing style and the best dry humor I have heard in a long time, I laughed to hard, thank you for sharing!!!!
Thank you and your incredible mother for this story. Im not doing well with my health and my once huge family is getting smaller every year. So thank you again for the wonderful story ❤
You make my day I think you are doing a great thing for people like me who have never been lucky enough to have such good friends in parents who are unbelievably awesome people and simply sincere
Your mom cracks me up, And Sir what you and your crew do is beyond words. And just to let you know my eyes have a problem watching your stories they seem to leak any cure for such a problem. Be safe keep up the good deeds.
Mike, what can I tell you, I just love your mom, she should have her own TV show!!!! P.S I lost count how many time have I watch Old Blue and Lighting strike.....thank you for sharing your mom.
