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Papa
Joe ~ Travel
Notes
From: Papa Joe
To: Storytell
Subject: Tour Notes #15
Date: Monday, July 28, 1997 6:25 PM
Sunday, July 20th, 1997 Pleasant Lake, West Bloomfield,
Michigan
When I went to move the Vardo, it didn't start. Argh! A
traveler's nightmare. Now the most important thing to do when
one finds oneself with a problem is to frame it properly. So first
of all, I rename the problem. This is a challenge, not a problem.
All challenges can be over come with the right attitude. Stay
calm. Think logically.
Self One: "Yea right! The battery must be dead."
Self Two: "But it's only two years old. There are other
possibilities."
Self One: "But it's always dead batteries and you know how
badly you use them."
Self Two: "Think about this before…"
Self One: "Stop thinking and get to work!"
So I get out some tools and the jumper cables, then remove the
RV battery and bring it around front to the hood (That's a bonnet
for you British speaking folks.). Connect the batteries, turn the
key, and… nothing!
Self One: "Two dead batteries."
Self Two: "It can't be two dead batteries. The second battery is
only one year old and it's been charging all weekend."
Self One: "But it's always dead batteries and the charger
probably isn't working. Besides, how would you know? You're
NOT a mechanic!"
Self Two: "But.."
Self One: "But nothing! Get to work."
So I put away the RV battery and go for help. Judy's husband
Manfred. (Imagine a German accent. D = th; V = w)
Manfred: "Dat's a dirty battery. Ve clean it."
We do, baking soda and a tooth brush.
Manfred: "Did you check de vater level?"
We do. It's a little low.
Self One: "See! It's a dead battery."
Self Two: "It was just a little low."
Self One: "SO! You always abuse your batteries."
Self Two: "But…"
Self One: "But nothing! Get to work."
Fill up the water level. Jump start the Vardo with Manfred's car.
Manfred: "Now let it run for avile."
We do, but when we try to start it later… It won't start.
Self One: "The battery is no good!"
Self Two: "Those spark plugs look old."
Self One: "Yea! They probably killed the battery."
Self Two: "The battery looks fine."
Self One: "But it's always dead batteries. Besides, how would
you know? You're NOT a mechanic!"
Enter Manfred's friend, Fred.
Fred: "Let's take a look. Hmmm. Let's clean the battery
terminals."
Self One: "That won't work either. The Batteries are dead."
Self Two: "Be quiet and get to work."
We clean the terminals, turn the key, and the engine starts.
Self Two: "Next we'll buy new spark plugs and a new power
cable. The battery is fine."
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Week of July 20th, 1997 Southeast Michigan
When I left New Hampshire, I had two programs scheduled for
this week. One with Judy Schmidt in Ann Arbor and one with
LoiS in Mount Clemens. By the time this week started, I had 12
shows scheduled in Flint and three more for the Northern
Suburbs of Detroit, as well as meetings with several local tellers.
Amazing what can happen when you make a wish.
Sunday evening, I had dinner with Marjorie Shaefer in Ann
Arbor. She's the director of the Detroit Storytelling Festival. She
has a problem. She was the Artistic director, but the festival
director moved away and no one else came forward to take over
the position. This Spring, she tried to do both jobs and the
festival lost money. She really needs some help folks. If you are
anywhere near Detroit and would like to help you can reach her
at: 313-677-4582.
Monday through Wednesday I did four 30 minute shows each
day for Tot Lot. It's a city run, inner city daycare program which
includes free breakfast and lunch for the neighborhood children.
The attendance averages 18 children about five years old. I
expected to find the kids running around in the playgrounds. I
expected to have to focus their energies and have an easy half
hour. Instead, I found them in classrooms doing extremely
structured work and under strict control. My heart bled. I ended
up doing a great deal of work helping them rechannel their
energies in ways that would fill their needs to play and be creative
without stepping beyond their group leaders bounds. At some of
the groups, I even locked horns with the leaders to get them to
back off for the half hour. One didn't want them to laugh too
loud.
Tuesday evening was a community show at Judy's Co-op in Ann
Arbor. This was fun. I love community shows. There were some
young teens trying to upstage me. I was thinking about how to
disarm them when one of the adults commented on their actions.
That was perfect. I stopped the show, turned to the ring leader
and explained the situation. At first, he looked like I was going to
hit him. lol Quickly he got the point. I basically gave him three
choices. Help with the group. Move to the back and be quiet. Or
leave. He chose to help with the group. We were having too
much fun to leave. <smile> Funny how well folks behave when
they know the options.
Wednesday, after the last Tot Lot show, I went to the Flint
Library to say farewell to all my new friends there. Good timing.
They were in the midst of an Arts Festival (there are several
museum on the block with the library and it was much like a
street fair with everyone hosting several events during the day).
One of the storyteller's didn't show up, so I got to fill in. <smile>
I finally got to tell stories for the library instead of just playing
MC.
Thursday and Friday morning were daycares which brought the
show count up to 17 for the week by the time I got to Mount
Clemens Library. This is way over my norm and I was suffering
from the exhaustion. This is the reason Sues and Kerry frown on
me scheduling over ten shows a week. Luckily LoiS's group was
wonderful. And while I couldn't do as much of the play as I
wanted, the program seemed to go fine. I'll have to wait for
LoiS's critique to be sure. By that time I was running on instinct
and I really don't remember. I slept twelve hours back at
Pleasant Lake.
Now I have a whole weekend off to recover. :) We'll see what
next week will bring.
Pax & Amicitia,
Papa Joe
In the Vardo, Still at Pleasant Lake
It's just too pleasant to leave. ;)
Papa
Joe ~ Travel
Notes
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