Every once in a while life gives you some wonderful hints that you are doing something right. Though, I'll admit, the start of one program made me wonder how things were going to go.
Friday saw me at the site for one of Compass's after-school programs (http://www.service2families.com/after-school-program). Compass is a great program that Springfield District 186 has for children in challenging situations, and I've been delighted to be able to work with them. On Friday I was doing a program for 2nd graders, and it had been set up for there to be eight children attending; plus volunteers. Slightly warmer weather and it being Friday had combined to get the youngsters pretty charged up, and so the idea of sitting for stories just didn't sound fun. Matter-of-fact, one little girl expressed it quite clearly, "STORY TIME! That's for babies - she's going to read to us!!!!!" I smiled and asked if she saw any books around, and was informed that I was hiding it in my coat. It was obvious that I wasn't going to win this group over with stories like, "The King's Rice Pudding," or any of my other tales for 2nd graders. So I plunged into "Tam Lin." Afterwards the young doubter looked at her classmates, and informed them, "Quiet! I want to hear more stories!!!!" Once it was obvious I wasn't going to sneak out any books we were good. Yesterday I was at the Springfield Art Association's Family Day (http://www.springfieldart.org/). This is a fun day of art projects for the family. So I had worked on such stories as "The Man Who Loved Dragons," "The Magic Brocade," and "Anait." I was set up in the main room/library, with chairs circled around, and a nice large sign. About every half hour they would announce storytelling, and those who'd finished projects would take a break and come hear some stories. One family who had brought their two little girls was a family from China; a group that included not only parents and children, but grandparents. The family split up so that some adults could help each child, and the father, plus grandmother remained in the library. After a few sets of stories the father explained that while he is still struggling with English, and that they had only come to Illinois in July of last year, that by watching my hands, and by listening carefully, he was really getting the idea of the stories. And was really enjoying them. Compliments are always nice, but to know that you are able to cross a language barrier, even marginally, is a wonderful feeling. Later the whole family came into hear some of the stories. And then there were two youngsters, about 4 years of age each, and from different families that kept coming back and asking for stories. Didn't matter what I was telling they sat and eagerly listened. The only disappointment for the little boy was that I didn't know, "Jack and the Snow Man." I guess that is a popular story as someone else piped up, "I know that book!" Definitely a grand three hours!
0 Comments
There are a lot of themes wandering through this Story Musing. Over the last couple of weeks I have walked through historical exhibits, and have spoken with individuals about slavery in the 21st century. And across it all runs the theme of stories.
A few weeks back I attended, with some friends, the opening of At Home In the Heartland exhibit (http://www.museum.state.il.us/exhibitions/) at the Illinois State Museum. It is a beautiful exhibit of quilts and clothing, artifacts, and letters from the Civil War era. The note cards for each item tell snippets about the women who sought to support their loved ones, and a greater war effort. Taken all together they form a tapestry, or a quilt, in their own right. This was followed by a tour of the Illinois Military Museum (http://www.il.ngb.army.mil/museum/)by the Sangamon Historical Society (http://sangamonhistory.org/). We were privileged to have a private, evening, tour. The Military Museum is one of Springfield's rare gems of a museum, which not only recognizes the sacrifices of past warriors, but of those who have given their lives in current conflicts. On the first floor is a tribute to Illinois soldiers, and a very personal one for local Guards men and women. The director asked us to remember that, "Everything in the museum once belonged to a living soldier." This week offered the Illinois Historical Society's (http://www.historyillinois.org/) symposium on the Emancipation Proclamation out at the University of Illinois - Springfield. Many of the panels were interesting, but the most powerful was the one entitled, "Historians Against Slavery." I was able to attend the first part of this, and was able to learn of a student organization, named, "Western Against Slavery." (http://www.wiu.edu/news/newsrelease.php?release_id=10060). This is a multi-disciplinary group that is endeavoring to educate the public about the very real issue of human trafficking, which is a global problem. I ended the week with a meeting with the director of Unity 4 Christ, which is a organization focused on helping unwed mothers. The stories I heard that afternoon were both sad and hopeful. Both the director, and her young charges, are all working toward shaping something better. And while the director was happy to have me offer storytelling there was the unspoken question, "Why do you want to? What is your reason for volunteering this?" She had offered me honesty, and honesty is something I returned. Storytelling is a talent that was gifted to me; along with a secure and loving childhood. I had parents that not only gave me that safe life, but also helped mentor others. And who listened to those who came with troubles. If I can return a little of those blessings to others than it is definitely a life worth lived. Storytelling may be a business that I want to be in, but that doesn't mean that if I can't offer it as a gift when needed. I just had to throw in a nod to my first ever marketing effort at a bridal expo. My "launch" was at the July 13th Elegant Bridal Expo (http://elegantbridalstudio.com/), which was held at the Springfield Hilton.
It was a lovely venue, and pretty much non-stop from 12:00 to 3, and I was pleased that all of my brochures were handed out, and at least a 4th of the Pease's mints. This time I did manage to take a picture of my table. The last few weeks have been one of launching new projects, with the main one being my new site - Tales of Sangamon (http://www.talesofsangamon).
I am hoping that with the site I can gather some of the stray stories and legends that exist in Sangamon County, and in the surrounding area. Over the years I have been given enough hints, via fragments of stories, to bolster my belief that others might be out there. The more I read the more I believe that the stories traveled through Illinois at some point. Just recently I have been reading Leonard Roberts' books, South from Hell-fer-Sartin and Old Greasybeard: Tales From the Cumberland Gap. One of the tales in the later book is, "The Man and the Devil's Daughter" is very similar to a story I found in one of Vance Randolph's books on Missouri Folklore. In both cases the story is a wonder tale about a traveler (of farmboy in the case of the Missouri folktale) who goes to work for a rich man, who turns out to be the Devil. The daughter takes a shine to the worker, and by magical means helps him complete 3 impossible tasks. She then flees with her boyfriend, and once safely away from her Pa she renounces her magical heritage to live a normal life. As always there are hints. Other projects that I have on the list include voice lessons, teaching myself Excell, and the rather bemusing occupation of rebuilding a lamp. (Its my favorite reading lamp, which is attached to a table, so I hate to get a new one.) As to the voice lessons I am hoping my instructor survives with some patience intact. She has some hope of disproving the belief that I am tone deaf, and so we are struggling to get me on the proper key. Granted, I have no belief that I will become a singer, but it is something new and interesting to learn, and hopefully will add to my vocal strength. I knew it had been a long time since I wrote, but I hadn't realized how long; nor can I blame it all on the scorching summer (though it does explain the last few weeks).
Nor has it been due to a lack of things to do - there have been many an interesting activity. So interesting that I still want to do an overview: April offered two fascinating events. The Sangamon County Historical Society (http://sangamonhistory.org/) offered a bus trip to the C. H. Moore Homestead (http://www.chmoorehomestead.org/) in Clinton, Illinois. The C. H. Moore house is a beautifully restored Victorian home, with exquisite furnishings, and material examples of the life of the time. The curator, Larry Buss, has a wealth of knowledge on the house and grounds, and along with the house's collection there is also the DeWitt County History Society's museum in the basement, three farm museums, a blacksmith shop, and a telephone exhibit. This fine outing was followed by the Springfield Art Association's "Titantic Tea." (http://www.springfieldart.org/) They had the Tea Ladies (http://www.thetealadiesinc.com/)back to host a tea party, which offered foods that would have been on the Titanic. The Tea Ladies then offered a brief history of the people on board, and asked that all those attendees of the tea party to read a card (or more) regarding some of the survivors. With the coming of May came both the Central Illinois Highland Games (http://www.central-illinois-standrewsociety.com/)and the precursor to the heat), and Clayville's Spring Festival (http://www.clayville.org/). Both were as fun to perform at as always. The increase in the heat did cut into the performing schedule, with Clayville not having their usual July activities, and the Elijah Iles House (http://www.ileshouse.org/)cancelling their Strawberry Festival, but I have not been idle. During this time I have decided to launch Tales of Sangamon (http://www.talesofsangamon.com/), which is a website devoted to collecting stories of Sangamon County, and the surrounding area. I am truly excited about the site, and hope that some will use it so that stories of the area can be documented, since there is so little Illinois lore in print. Over the last few months shows have been woven between household projects; a good portion of my preparations having been done after chasing down the youngest hound (a four-legged Ms. Houdini), or listening to the pounding of the roofer. The one constant thread has been the wonderful weather for all of the outside events.
I began the Fall season with Hope School's Fall Festival and Lincoln Memorial Garden's Indian Summer Festival. While I will admit that animals will upstage you every time I didn't mind being placed near the pony ring at the Hope School Fall Festival. To see the joy on the children's faces as they rode the ring was more than worth it, since, for many, that was one of their few, grand, adventures. And the one story I did get to tell offered me another treasure - the little boy's mother said, "I've never seen him sit so long, and pay attention." At the Lincoln Memorial Garden's Indian Summer Festival I was placed in the children's area with my two puppets - Kit, the fox, and Rupert, the squirrel. I had many willing listeners, but Kit and Rupert stole the scene (even if they are puppets), and they oft got petted. Or kissed gently on their noses. The season of All Hallow's began with Clayville's haunted house, and I had the pleasure of doing two Saturday nights at the bonfire. This is the time when even the adults are willing to suspend belief and settle in for a tale. And from those two nights I have a couple of moments that stand out ... The first began when a young lady came to see how long I'd be telling; then later, after the haunted house, she came back for a tale. She had said that she had been really scared in the house so I asked her how scary did she want the tale. She held out her hands, barely inches apart, and said, "This scary." After "Tam Lin," she asked for another; again I asked her how scary. And she widened her hands, and said, "This much." The other moment came when I had gone to the concession stand for some more coffee. I was dressed in a large black opera coat, which is very shapeless on me (though warm). And nearby was one of the volunteers, in shapeless, ragged, "witch's" costume. My friend saw a child point at me, and exclaim, "That's the witch!" To which Amanda said, "No, that's the storyteller." The child considered this, and exclaimed, even more loudly, "The storyteller's a Witch!!!!" And of all my Fall shows, each wonderful and special, the one that made me very grateful for my ability to weave stories was when I did a Halloween show for Hope School. What was to be a half hour show turned into an hour, and for most of that the Hope School residents were caught in the stories. I couldn't ask for a better night. Though this probably also should be called, "From Memorial Day to 4th of July," and it admittedly has a touch of "Story Musing." While not intentional, since I kept hoping to write sooner, I seem to have managed a thematic framework in terms of dates. On Memorial Day Springfield had the opportunity to recognize a long-forgotten hero, Leroy Key, who was buried out at Oakridge Cemetery. For the expanded story here are links to two Illinois State Journal-Register articles: (http://www.sj-r.com/top-stories/x487935511/Dave-Bakke-Civil-War-buffs-find-grave-of-Andersonville-prisoner-in-Springfield) and (http://www.sj-r.com/top-stories/x1555987949/Dave-Bakke-Hero-of-Civil-Wars-Andersonville-prison-to-get-grave-marker-at-Oak-Ridge). What better way to recognize Memorial Day then to awaken the memory of a man who had long been lost and forgotten. A man who not only survived the horrors of Andersonville Prison, but organized against the Raiders - men who preyed on fellow prisoners. Yet a man who had to carry the weight of his actions as he was the one to supervise the trial, and execution of these Raiders - men who were also Union soldiers. And that weight, plus health issues, may have led to his suicide in 1880. Over a century later who is to say. Author Frank Crawford, and his brother John Crawford, found the grave, which lacked a tombstone, while researching, Proud to Say I am a Union Soldier: The Last Letters Home from Federal Soldiers Written During the Civil War, 1861-1865. The day for the unveiling of the stone was a perfect day, crystaline skies, with fluffy clouds, and though warm it was not so hot as to be stifling. And for whatever spirits might linger at Oakridge, particularly Mr Key, and the other civil war veterans, the scene would have seemed reminiscent of the early Memorial Days. The Municipal Band played, and with the fine outfitting of the 114h Regiment Reactivated and the 10th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry Regiment Reactivated, and the ladies of the Aid Society, the scene could have been cut from a hundred years past. The speeches were very moving, and as was fitting for Memorial Day, the ceremony bound together a recognition of all of our veterans. I was also privately proud of my Treeing Walker Coonhound, Winston, as he proved as calm as ever as the 21 gun salute went off. (To be accurate - he slept through it.) I know it sounds strange that I brought my dog with me, but Winston has already proved unaffected by loud sounds (he gets bored with bagpipes, and gets even more bored being home), and I have hopes he can train as a therapy dog due to his patience and gentle temperament. He's come a long way from being the nervous young hound that I brought home from the Animal Protective League. My silence of the month actually stems from other canine activity, since I also added a 3 month old coonhound mix, Fiona, from Animal Control. I, however, will admit that I should never name anything when tired, since I later learned that "fiona" means "white" or fair," and the pup is nearly all black. On July 1st I performed at the Elijah Iles House, "Clara Irwin's Strawberry Party." (http://iles-house.blogspot.com/) This is always a delight to perform at. While the weather the was hot the evening was clear, and I was out under the tent. This makes for a very casual time for telling as families would come out so their children could try their hands at marbles, checkers, or ring toss. And soon they would settle for story or three, and a little discussion of history. Nor was an offer of strawberry shortcake turned down. It seems both odd, but appropriate, that this blog has come full circle. My first "story" post was "Christmas at Clayville," and again we return to that event. I feel that I have again returned to my storytelling roots.
Oh so many years ago, in another incarnation of Clayville, I sat in one of Dan Keding's storytelling workshops, and I know that last year it felt so appropriate to be telling at the resurrected Clayville (http://www.clayville.org/). And the phoenix continues to rise. Last Christmas everyone was amazed that the Pleasant Plains Historic Society had managed to get the site ready for a Christmas event. And we spent a chilly, but loving, day. This last Saturday it promised to be another chill, and very wet, day. However, this time the Broadwell Inn was warm with a furnace, and gas fires. (Though it does have one working fireplace.) I was stationed in the parlor, with the gas fire, so I wouldn't have problems with wood smoke. And while most stayed across way with Santa (and were often loath to brave the rain to come to the Inn) some did come over; offering a very friendly audience. I wish I could have stayed longer, but I was warmed to see that despite the weather people were turning out for the event. Many coming because they wanted to pay homage to how Clayville was rising again to take its place amongst Illinois's historical sites. This entry could also be entitled, "Marathon Storytelling."
I knew that the pacing would be picking up as I neared Halloween, and had rather braced myself. A couple of weeks earlier I had done Lincoln Memorial Gardens' Indian Summer Festival, which leaned very heavily towards "summer" with a mini-heat wave. I was so used to it being cold that I hadn't even thought to bring out my sun hat, but fortunately the Gardens' well-stocked gift shop had one. The show was soon followed by Riverton Elementary School's Fall Fling and Book Fair. This too was a lot of fun, though I will again say, "I need a GPS unit!" After a brief bit of breathing room I launched into this weekend. Saturday began with the Elijah Iles Foundations' "Old Settler's Day," which is a fundraiser for the Strawbridge-Shepherd House; this is one of the oldest farmhouses in the area. The day started off with some threatening clouds, which, after I had just gotten into my civil war era gown, let loose. We all took to what cover we could find. But once that was done the festival settled into a pleasant rhythm. Since the rain had delayed any attendees all of the volunteers came in to hear Richard Hart give a talk on the Underground Railroad in Springfield. He kiddingly asked one young lady, who he knew, if she had learned anything at the end of it. And she said, "No. I have a short attention span." Which didn't reassure me when her mother suggested that both that young lady, and her younger sister, come over and hear stories. I decided to try "Tam Lin," since it has often caught a young lady's attention. And it did again. At the end of the story the self-proclaimed restless one said, "I've never heard anything like that. All you find are werewolves, and vampires and stuff." She then settled to hear "Jack and the Gower," which is a "dragon-slaying" story from Missouri, though the dragon is an enormous alligator in the tale. All of this led into a pleasant hour of discussing books and pets. I was only scheduled for a short performance run; this had been at my own request, since I thought I would rest up before Clayville's Haunted House. However, with the day having turned fine, and there being other dogs at the festival, I went back home to get Winston (my 2 year old Coonhound). He too had a grand time greeting many friendly people. Much later I drove out to Clayville for their "Raising the Dead" Haunted House (http://clayville.org/home). The moon was full, with a veil over her, and her light was eerie on the ancient stagecoach stop. I had a new Halloween performing costume - a black velveteen "opera coat" with a hood. So I would have been eerie myself - except that I had to keep hold of my coffee mug so it wouldn't get knocked over by the straw bails. I had been stationed by the bonfire so I could entertain those waiting for the tractor to bring the wagon over. Though adults and children were excited (and scared) with anticipation of the hay rack ride and the house they were all a good audience. I complimented one young lady (a return member of the audience) on being a good listener. To which she replied, "It takes good stories to make a good listener." (Wise words from a twelve year old, and very appreciated.) I was also pleased to hear the rave reviews of the haunted tour - the Clayville planners had outdone themselves! it was a late drive home, and an somewhat early morning on Sunday. The Rock the Playhouse at the Prairie Capitol Convention Center was a lively scene. I had two half hour, almost back-to-back, performances on their main stage. And despite everything being offered around there were several families that stayed to listen. This morning I heard that they ran out of tickets twice over, which was very good news for the American Foreclosure and Mortgage Relief Foundation http://www.afamr.org/. The Fall has gotten off to a energetic, and good, start with the Hope School Fall Festival. With even the weather offering its finery for the day; with crystalline blue skies, scudding fluff ball clouds, a bright sun, and a light breeze to keep the temperatures comfortable.
Though my own travels didn't quite start off auspiciously, despite leaving on schedule. My sole comment here is, "I need a good GPS unit." But with a little backtracking and I got to the Hope School on time. I was actually one of the first entertainers to arrive, though I had to do a very quick change into my pirate attire (the theme being "Pirates"). Fortunately said attire was a brown leather vest over my clothes, and a pirate hat, and I was quickly read. And then I was on, and I offered: "The Yellow Thunder Dragon" of a young Chinese boy who's much-wished-for adventure arrived at his family's garden;" "Tam Lin," with fair Margaret of Scottish lore courageously facing down the Fairy Queen for her love, Tam Lin; and "The Old Woman and the Oni," of a feisty Japenese lady who wasn't about to lose her dinner to the hungry (large) spirits. I had been asked to keep the stories "safe," but magical, since many of the students of Hope School have seen and experienced some truly frightening things, but they also wished to dream. So I softened some of the descriptions in "Tam Lin" and "The Old Woman and the Oni." My part of the festivities was to act as filler between the musical presentations if needed, but the various dance groups were ready to go at their given times. So I was only needed at the start, and was able to enjoy the shows. The St. Andrews' Dancers of Springfield, led by Beth Oglivy, offered some fine examples of Scottish and Irish dancing. Tom Oglivy played the pipes. A Middle Eastern dance troupe offered some traditional and some more modern belly dancing. And then there was Salsa dancing. The instructor has been involved with the Hope School fall festival for a number of years, and he worked true magic as he encouraged not only the students, but staff, and care worn parents out to dance. And for a moment cares were danced away and a moment of freedom in music was found as they all danced to their own rhythms. A gift in the viewing. And I was offered another one as it was said, "I hope you'll come back." Which I will with delight. |
Cathy Mosley
I am a Springfield, IL based storyteller with a fascination for how folklore travels, and for history. Archives
November 2014
Categories
All
|