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Papa
Joe ~ Travel
Notes
PJ
Tour Notes #4
7/3/96 Sunrise to noon at Pipestone, Minn.
If you ever get the chance to sit, watch, and listen to the
pipestone carvers, try it. Not talking. Not asking. People keep
coming up and asking the same questions, over and over. After an
hour or so, you'll know more about the process than the average
tourist. They ask three or four questions and move on to the next
thing. But looking at the exquisite cravings of days gone by is
nothing compared to watching the struggle of the artist finding
the right piece, and cutting it from the earth. Or taking the
piece and learning its nature before the carving starts. Or the
process of taking off the parts to reveal the art work within.
Sitting and watching until you know what questions to ask to fill
in the gaps in your knowledge. To learn about the things that
cannot be seen. And maybe, be a little more appreciated for the
deeper interest or at least for asking new questions
4th of July, 1996 in Barrington, Illinois
This was my first visit to the Chicago 'burbs. Neat little blocks
of houses surrounding field-like parks. I was told that in the
spring the fields fill with the melting snow and become ponds for
awhile. But on the Fourth of July, one of the neighborhoods
throws a party. One of the houses becomes a restaurant. It is set
up with a huge multi-level deck and what would have been termed a
Summer kitchen a hundred years ago in my part of the world. There
the owner grilled over a hundred pounds of burgers, hot dogs,
sausages, whole chickens,... at once. Another neighbor set up
game after game for the children. The kids didn't fight or argue.
And when someone said, "It's time for the Storyteller."
The children surrounded me, dropped to the ground, and gave me
their undivided attention. I was amazed. Perhaps even more amazed
when an hour and a half later, when I finally walked away, to
find how long we had been sharing stories. "It's time"
whether to start or to end, they where ready and willing, no
problem.
The rest of July in the East
The next few weeks are a bit of a blur. Too much driving, not
enough sleep. Sue left the tour for awhile to try and catch up on
the office work (someday, we must get that lap top). My youngest
son, Josh kept me and Tasha Tripod company, but at 14, he
couldn’t take a turn at the driving. So I really can't
remember much about my visit to Wayfarer Tomm, the story circle
at the NSA conference, or the shows in Hartford, Conn. Luckily,
there are many others on this List to share the conference sights
and sounds. I do remember enjoying the visit to Tomm's and it is
always a pleasure to talk with Theresa. Oh , I do remember that
Theresa is doing some great work with the kids in Summer School.
Important work as it is always kind of dispiriting to be going to
school when the rest of your peers are off enjoying the Summer.
--
Pax & Amicitia,
Papa Joe
Date: Sun, 08 Sep 1996 10:31:51 EDT
From: mcgoffnee@uhavax.hartford.edu
To: storytell@venus.twu.edu
Subject: Papa Joe in Hartford
Just wanted to add a tag to Papa Joe's journal of Hartford visit.
(I know I still owe you that letter!) The children were involved
in some oral testing the following week. 7 days after hearing
Papa Joe they not only described him to the people conducting the
tests - they began to repeat his ENTIRE PERFORMANCE!!!!
Prior to that as they wrote down what they wanted included in a
letter to Papa Joe - all mentioned something he had done or said
that had been in direct relation to him/her. Each child felt the
piece/program was for him/her individually.
So... although we may not feel we have all the energy we want at
any given moment - the heart we bring to storytelling reaches out
- IMHO
Thanks, Papa Joe!
Theresa McGoff Ferreira
Storyteller/Performer
"May the telling never end!"
Papa
Joe ~ Travel
Notes
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