Feeling good

Three programs at an elementary school this morning and a program for a Senior Residence this afternoon - that feels good.

Besides that today I received a packet of letters from a class of third grade students who heard my stories a couple of weeks ago. Now this is what warms your heart:

" I liked the way you told the story because you did not tell the story too slow and not too fast. You told the story just right."

"I felt like I was in the story."

"I saw a picture in my mind of a bird that was hurt." (They heard the Pumpkin Seed Bird)

" I liked the Friendship Orchard because it is so cool how the birds planted the seeds ."

" I liked the stories you told today because they were really, really interesting. Like when the woman cut open the pumpkin and there was a fine meal and when the two friends set the birds free so the birds planted an orchard for them."

Then all of them asked "where did you find these stories?" "why did you tell them"

During the holiday season rather than telling traditional Christmas stories and legends I have been telling two folktales The Pumpkin Seed Bird and The Friendship Orchard because they are different, little known tales and they each have images of sharing and thankfulness. And those themes bridge Thanksgiving, Hannukah, Zwansa and Christmas.

Finding stories is an everyday on-going thing. I cruise through books, browse the 398.2 section of the Library, listen to other storytellers and search the internet.
Because you look not just for stories but for stories that say something to you, and that will feel comfortable on your tongue - meaning that the story fits you.

And then I tell them so that I can give them away hoping the students will remember the essence of the story and tell it to their parents, their siblings and others. You know, join the oral tradition of passing on a story.