The Moth GrandSLAM: Matthew Dicks “Mom’s Last Phone Call”

One missed call changed the way I think about family, loss, and Christmas, and I’ve carried the weight of that moment ever since. This is the story of a strange, funny, deeply human holiday with my mother that became one of the memories I carry with me the most. What begins as an awkward family Christmas turns into a moment I still think about today: one missed phone call I never stopped regretting. This is how one small, human mistake becomes the symbol of all the love we fear we failed to give, and how grief turns ordinary moments into lifelong ghosts. This story reflects my personal experience blending my own traditions with those of my Jewish wife and our kids, and the ways our holidays (all of them) shape the family we’ve built. I share these moments with affection, humor, and honesty, in the hope that others might see a piece of their own stories here. ⎯ About This Story Performed at The Moth GrandSLAM at Music Hall of Williamsburg on January 15, 2014. Theme of the night: Should’ve Known Better ⎯ ✨ Matthew Dicks (that's me!) is a 62-time Moth StorySLAM champion and 9-time GrandSLAM winner. He’s the bestselling author of Storyworthy, Stories Sell, and Someday Is Today. He teaches storytelling to organizations like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, TikTok, and even the FBI. 🧠 Learn more: https://storyworthymd.com 🎧 Speak Up Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6bHINVv... 📚 Explore Matt’s books: https://www.storyworthymd.com/books Watch more stories and storytelling lessons: 📌 ‪@MatthewDicksStoryworthy‬ About The Moth ‪@themoth‬ is an acclaimed nonprofit organization dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. Since 1997, The Moth has presented thousands of stories told live and without notes. ⎯ 📲 Connect with me: 🔹 Facebook: @MatthewDicks   / matthewdicks   🔹 TikTok: @Matthew.Dicks 🔹 Instagram: @MatthewDicks 🔹 Twitter: @MatthewDicks ⎯ 💬 Comment below! What’s one story you wish you could tell better? Let’s discuss!