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Papa
Joe ~ Travel
Notes
PJ Tour Notes #2
York, Nebraska 6/4 - 6/7/96
This is one of the friendliest cities I have ever been to.
Everyone says hello. People go out of their way to let you know
that you are welcome there. And they love storytelling. There are
village tellers everywhere. I could listen to stories here all
day without even asking for them. They just tell them. In the
homes, the parks (lots of these), at the shops, and especially at
Midway Cafe.
The Midway Cafe is a family owned Bar and Grill. When I first
came to town last Summer, the owner told me all I wanted was on
the house. This was before they even saw a show. So much for
"no free lunch". It wouldn't have mattered if I did
have to pay for my meals. The prices are very low. The Stuertz
seem to have a mission of providing decent meals for all people.
And by the crowds they get at meal times, it seems to work for
them.
There is a park in this city, that runs along the entire Southern
border, West to East, following the course of Beaver Creek. The
East end is little used except for the joggers and bicyclist who
traverse the whole length. It is a wonderful spot for a traveling
teller to rest and play. Tasha and Zaque enjoy swimming in the
creek and chasing the birds. And there are no "NO"
signs.
Tellers interested in performing for senior audiences should
consider visiting this county. The groups are wonderful, open and
warm. Did I say friendly?
Hildreth, Nebraska 6/6/96
More of a village really. We spent the night at the librarian's
farm just out side of town. Zaque was surprised to find he's not
that big of a dog. They have a 200 pound Great Dane. Poor Zaque,
he was afraid to get out of the Vardo.
The plains people are good people. Everywhere we met them.
Snake River Canyon, Idaho 6/8-9/96
It was Sues turn to meet some of her friends from the Internet.
While there were no formal gatherings, we were welcomed into
their home and got a tour of the Twin Falls area. They really
have a lot of potatoes and the sage that grows here is the
sweetest I have ever tasted.
Latah County, Idaho 6/12-15/96
Betsy, I could write a book about your area.
Our first trip up Moscow Mountain (pronounced Mosco) was fun. I
had just filled all of our holding tanks and we were using a low
octane gasoline. (Low octane gasoline is the norm around here.
Sometimes, I fell that I could push the Vardo faster than the gas
would turn the engine.) Anyway, Between the weight and the wash
out, we stalled out about half way up. That was when the rear
brakes decided to stop working. Backing down into the wash out
wouldn't have been bad if the road was a little wider. As it was,
sliding down that deep incline into a ravine didn't seem like
fun. Instead, I stood on my brakes (the front ones were working,
Thank goodness) and waited for Betsy's husband, Cope to pull us
the rest of the way up the mountain. Great start. Glad the shows
went better.
The next night we spent on the Nez Perce Reservation with Ferris.
He held a sweat lodge ceremony. It seems to me that there is no
better way to wash the miles away from a weary traveler. And he
answered a question for me. In response to my feelings of anger
at the injustice of the world he offered that I was missing the
balancing justice. I am still revolted by it, but the anger is
gone. There is balance in the world.
He also shared a tale. His grandmother's version of Coyote and
the Rock. It was much like the version in Keepers of the Earth,
except Coyote pisses on Rock and claims he's better because he
can move around. I love those earthy tellings. Nothing cut out
for print. Why do we take all the scat out of our tales?
Betsy, you offer such a wide variety of audiences and settings. I
told sixteen different stories at seven locations and never drove
more than 50 miles to get there. Storytelling Heaven. I do have
to say the press was a little more than I am used to. Seeing my
face in a color spread on the front page of the paper at every
street corner and news stand, was a trial to my modesty. Seemed
to bring in the crowd for the last show, But is my face really
that red.
We walked a lot in the evenings. Lots of quiet paths and some
very old trees. Raven spoke to us in an ancient grove of cedar. I
even got to slip into the opening of an old gold mine. Funny the
work some folks will do to get at that shiny stuff. The trees are
more beautiful.
I enjoyed Moscow Mountain so much that I broke a rule of mine and
stayed until the last minute. We got to the first Spokane County
show only 45 minutes before it started. Then we went back to
Moscow later on. Just couldn't make the good-byes stick. Teaching
the weaving of dream catchers was fun too. There are many ways to
spin a story.
--
Pax & Amicitia,
Papa Joe
Papa
Joe ~ Travel
Notes |