Mourning a Storyteller

Storytell is a world-wide community of storytellers on the web. I have been a member of this family for at least eight years. Some I have met face-to-face over the years in various places. Others I have never met and will never meet. But we know, support and care about each other.

Last week we lost one of our group. Illinois storyteller, Leanne Johnson. died. She was a wonderful storyteller, a kind, compassionate and loving wife and friend who embraced life - a woman who will be missed and remembered.

This morning Hawaii storyteller, Vickie Dworkin shared this post from Leanne to the List. Leanne wrote this post in 2001 in response to the question, "how did you know when to call yourself a storyteller?" It feels right to remember her in her own words.







A Post sent by Leanne Johnson - -
Sent: Friday, January 26, 2001 7:14 AM
To: STORYTELL@venus.twu.edu
Subject: Re: How did you know when to call yourself a storyteller

When everything you hear,
tells you a story,
When everything you see,
reminds you of a story,
When everything you taste
conjures up a story,
When everything you smell,
evokes for you a story,
When everything you touch,
summons up a story,

You might indeed be a storyteller.

But it is not until
you release those stories,
Allow the images to free form into the
imaginations of others,
Spilling their seeds
into the creation of more stories,
Funneled through the love and cares of family and friends,
who will love you
regardless
Enriched, enhanced,
amplified with the hopes and dreams of strangers
who have no other reason to love
or care for you,
Nestled into the unconscious mind of a growing child
where they will grow with goodness and strength.

Ahh, then, call yourself a storyteller.

And when they offer you praise,
compliments,
bravos,
endorsements,
money...

Remember,
the sounds,
the sights,
the tastes,
the smells,
the touch,

Of the Love of Story.