Memories of Grandpa

I recently visited a man who lives in my hometown. We grew up on nearby farms. I could stand in my front yard and see his house. During this visit we were remembering old times when he told me a little story about my grandpa. As he told the story, it was as if I could see it happening.

After going to bed that night, I revisited his story.

So that you will understand the story more clearly, allow me to give a little more background. Grandpa was a retired farmer, still working on the farm. He had worked with animals all of his life, especially cows and horses. He was considered such an expert in his day that he was known as the local neighborhood veterinarian.

By the time I was born, he neither drove nor owned a car. There was a little country store exactly one mile from our house. This is where all the farmers gathered to talk about important matters and catch up on the neighborhood gossip. Grandpa usually walked to the store and back about once a day. (We always called it “The Store.”) When the day’s work was done, even more farmers tended to gather there after supper. So, often grandpa just had to go again to be sure he didn't miss anything. He’d have Daddy to take him.

Here’s where the rest of the story falls into place. Clint reminisced about the times that Grandpa would ride his horse to “The Store.” I had forgotten that he occasionally rode his horse, rather than walk.

He said, “I can remember your grandpa riding his horse, a sorrel (light reddish-brown), down to ‘The Store.’ When he got ready to go home, he came out the door where the horse was waiting. Your grandpa was probably close to 80 years old then. He'd walk over to the horse and tap him on the shoulder. The horse would kneel down beside him and wait patiently for him to get on. Then he’d get up and they’d head for home.”

I was totally blown by this little story. But - what else should I have expected from “the neighborhood veterinarian,” a man who knew all about horses!”

I have learned to keep my ears tuned in for stories. Anytime I hear little bits and pieces of a story, especially about older family members, I make a point to write them down. It’s added to my collection of story “quilt” pieces. I hope one day I will have just enough for a new story or two.

Busy Summer

I realize that I haven’t taken time to blog this summer. It has been a busy time for me – researching and developing a storytelling program I have booked this winter, keeping up with storytelling workshops and festivals, photographing nature in my own flower garden, and “working out” at the fitness center.

I attended Dianne Hackworth’s Wild Week at the Wildacres Conference Center during the first week in July. This was a fun week of meeting new storytellers, networking with one another, learning, working on our storytelling skills and videotaping. Leaders, Dianne and David Joe Miller led a fantastic workshop.

These past couple of weeks I have been busy gathering articles and calendar items for the Journal of Tar Heel Tellers. JTHT is the North Carolina Storytelling Guild’s official newsletter that I have been editor of for eight years. Editing and laying out the journal continues to be a learning process. Each issue is a new challenge. And I never know how it will look until it’s actually published.

I recently ran into six of my old high school classmates. Since visiting with them, bits and pieces of stories are jogging my memory. I hope that once my mind and fingers begin to work together, I’ll have another new story to tell.

What a Week for Storytelling!

Wow! Last week followed by this past weekend was filled with interesting storytelling adventure. April 21st was the day I had set aside to review my plans for a program I was scheduled to present in Jamestown, NC the following evening. Instead,I spent most of the morning away from home. I received a call from the Hickory Daily Record wanting to have an interview with me on this day. They were planning to write an article about a local storytelling festival in my area and wanted to interview one of the storytellers. Guess I got lucky, so of course, I said, "Yes."

It was, after all, fun talking about my "love of storytelling." We talked for over an hour. The article hasn't yet appeared and who knows what will actually end up in the newspaper. I was a bit nervous because the gracious reporter also wanted to video a short story. It's somewhat difficult for me to tell a story without having an audience in front of me, as the audience pulls on my adrenalin and helps to activate my animation.

The following evening I made my trip over to Jamestown and had a great time sharing my program; We Have Stories to Tell: Family and Personal Stories. I always look forward to hearing audience members talk about their stories; or the fact that they never realized that they were sharing stories as they interact with family, friends or co-workers. This sort of information always surfaces as my program comes to the discussion session. And often, little tidbits of wisdom and stories are shared after our discussion is "officially" over.

This past weekend (April 26-27th) was especially exciting. I spent the weekend at the Storytelling Festival of Carolina in Laurinburg, NC. This festival is in its second year and was well attended. Excitement was everywhere. Many folks came from out of town. I ran into friends from other parts of the state and even from South Carolina and Virginia. I had the occasion to serve as an Emcee. What an honor to introduce nationally traveled performers as well as regional tellers. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect audience! Even a falling tree and a downpour of hard rain couldn't have put a "damper" on the excitement of the listeners and participants!

Remember that each of us is filled with a treasure trunk of stories.

Signs of Spring

Signs of springtime are everywhere as I look outside. It’s very refreshing to see reviving fields, lawns and pastures. Even forests are alive with Bradford pear trees covered in white blossoms. The other day as I drove down the road, it appeared as though snow had selectively fallen on the pear trees alone. I found it quite breathtaking!

I am being inspired with new and fresh ideas to include in my storytelling repertoire. Last week new letters and fliers were mailed to promote my storytelling offerings. Just yesterday an idea for a new song came to mind as I reviewed plans for this year’s Summer Reading Programs. As you can see ideas are sprouting forth just like springtime.

You may go to the main page of my website, scroll down the “yellow text boxes” (left hand side of screen), and click on FREE CONSULTATION to contact me for booking your program. Once you include all pertinent information, you must go to the bottom of the page. Click on the gray “send” box in order for your message to reach me.

Start of a New Year - 2008

I begin a brand new year with much excitement, wondering what new things it will bring. I look back over the past year and cherish many fresh experiences, some through my storytelling travels and some of them personal. No matter what we do or where we go, there is always a later time to reflect upon them and discover many rich stories. Maybe you are saying, “But I’m not a storyteller.” Whether you are aware of it or not, each one of us is a storyteller. Maybe it isn't in the sense of ‘standing on a stage’ telling stories to a crowd, but we do share stories about our own experiences every day, whether it is with a family member, a co-worker, a committee member or a close friend.

In 2007 I traveled across North Carolina and into South Carolina telling stories. Several times I also traveled up and down the east coast from Atlantic City, New Jersey to Tampa, Florida. The year was filled with many interesting experiences that are too numerous to mention. I will, however, mention two of my most exciting storytelling opportunities.

I was invited to be an after-dinner speaker at The Lifelong Access Libraries Leadership Institute in August at Chapel Hill, NC and I was asked to present my We Have Stories to Tell program for the Friends of the Library at the Ashe County Public Library, West Jefferson, NC in September. It was a privilege to be invited by these two organizations to share some of my stories. As it so often happens, I think I gained more from the experience than they did. The more energy I expend in my work the more blessings I seem to receive.

I offer programs for a wide variety of ages, groups and organizations. Take a look at my website at Storytraditions.com. I can adapt my programs to fit your individual need. Schedule your booking now before my calendar fills up.

North Carolina Storytelling Guild’s 9th Annual Storytelling Festival

Wow, wow, wow! These are my immediate words to describe the North Carolina Storytelling Guild’s annual storytelling festival held in downtown Brevard, NC on Saturday November 3^rd, at the lovely new Transylvania County Public Library. What could be better than a beautiful mountain setting with the surrounding community coming out to support storytelling? When I arrived home the following day I was still floating with excitement.

Being our best festival yet, I wonder, “How can it get any better?” Our featured North Carolina storytellers, Bill Friedman, Dianne Hackworth, Charlotte Hamlin, Janet Harllee, Terry Rollins and Wayne and Jane Sims were well polished in story and in stage presence. And of course Bill Harley, the library’s guest teller, set the tone for the entire day. Bill, otherwise known as “The Garrison Keillor for kids”, received a standing ovation at his last stage appearance on Saturday night, which prompted him to do an encore.

Stories and music carried the audience from laughter, to amazement, to intrigue, to the very poignant moments. Even with a nearly filled auditorium on Saturday evening, I witnessed the silence of the audience during those more serious and breathtaking moments.

If you have never attended a storytelling festival you don’t know what you are missing. Storytelling is for all ages, from the very young to the “young at heart”. The majority of listeners at this festival were adults who seemed to soak up every single minute of it! Check out our North Carolina Storytelling Guild website to learn more - http://www.ncstoryguild.org/

On the Road to Eastern NC

I am reflecting on my travels just over a week ago to Clinton, NC, which is located in Sampson County. I spoke at the Sampson County Hall of Fame induction ceremony on June 21^st where the county’s namesake, Colonel John Sampson, was posthumously inducted. Historian, Joel Rose nominated Sampson for this award and spoke of some of his achievements. This event took place at the Sampson County Exposition center. http://www.sampsonexpocenter.com/

It was exciting to participate in the celebration of this bit of history in eastern North Carolina. As a storyteller I am constantly reminded of the importance of history around us. Our local history is a part of our lives and helps explain how we arrived in our present day status. We, as individuals, must also remember our own family history in order to appreciate and wonder of “how and why” we are where we are today. There is so much that we tend take for granted.

It is so refreshing when I visit communities such as this where folks are so friendly and so genuine. My husband and I stayed in a lovely bed and breakfast there which was delightful. While there we visited the Sampson County History Museum in downtown Clinton. We were impressed with the interesting history that has been collected and on display within the various quaint buildings on the premises. Visit their website - http://www.sampsonhmc.com/

I kindly thank the Sampson County Board of Commissioners and the North Carolina Humanities Speakers’ Bureau for making this visit possible for me. Please contact me if you are looking to book a speaker/storyteller. If you are a non-profit organization you may contact the NC Humanities Speakers’ Bureau to obtain a grant for a speaker.
- http://www.nchumanities.org/speaker/speaker_intro.html