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Papa
Joe ~ Travel
Notes
From: Susanna Holstein
To: Storytell
Subject: Re: Papa Joe and good weather
Date: Saturday, August 02, 1997 10:29 PM
He's come, he's gone, and the beautiful weather he brought with
him left with him. West Virginia just had its first storytelling
experience with Papa Joe, and what a time it was.
Papa Joe arrived here at my farm on Thursday night, and Papa Joe,
I'll leave it for you to tell about your escort service ;) He was
well settled in when we arrived home from work, and Tasha Tripod
and my three dogs had arrived at a peaceful agreement about the
separation of powers.
The weather had turned absolutely beautiful that day--low
humidity, cool temps, bright blue sky--West Virginia putting her
best foot forward. We talked, ate, talked, drank coffee, talked
and then it was suddenly midnight and August and work in the
morning waiting.
Friday meant a trip to physical therapy (from the car wreck),
trip to Clendenin Library to meet with the manager there, back to
my library for a brief time, then on to our library system's
Summer Reading Finale, featuring storytelling by Papa Joe.
And what a job he did. I learned some things there about working
outside, working the audience, what to ignore, what to include in
the performance, and that yes, kids can sit still for a very long
story when they are part of the story itself. The setting, while
pretty, was close to an interstate--lots of noise from
trucks--which taxed Papa Joe's lungs I'm sure, and will prompt
some study about what we expect our performers to compete
against--we'll do better next year.
Then home to talk again til midnight, up at 6 to get ready for
work, and on to the library to prepare for the FINAL day of
Summer Reading. After a whirlwind summer of programs, I'm ready
for it to be over, and what better way to do that than stories
with Papa Joe and music with Ron Sowell, music director of West
Virginia Public Radio's national show Mountain Stage and
children's musician when he gets the chance.
Papa Joe was great. My patrons and their kids were thrilled, so
very pleased to have that quality of performer at our small
library. Again I watched and learned, loving the way
"my" kids were responding to the magic of story. Ron
followed with his great selection of songs we all sang with him,
then Tasha came in to visit, we all had refreshments, and the
Volunteens went downstairs to celebrate with their own pizza and
banana split party.
Papa Joe departed to do his next show at Clendenin, and staff
there called to say the show was great, their patrons pleased.
And so the Vardo moves on through the West Virginia hills, making
its way home at last, and leaving many grateful mountaineers
behind. Good-bye, Papa Joe, and good trip --and come back
sooner:)
Granny Sue
Papa
Joe ~ Travel
Notes
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