A Day of Stories and Memories

There are so many thoughts I want to write about tonight. Like the children at the storytelling today--all 130 of them listening,sharing, laughing, singing. The adults, listening and sharing too.

Or the heat that slams us in the face, unbelievably heat that I have not experienced in some time.

Or the librarian who works so hard, writes grants, coordinates, brings along her grandchildren, always looking for the best thing for the people in her community.

Or my friend who offered her cabin to stay in while I'm 200 miles from home, telling stories.

Or the evening spent with my friend and her husband and their friend as  they played bluegrass and old-time and I sang a few ballads.

Or the music of the tree frogs in the trees outside this cabin, after the sun went down.

Or the little girl who sang the Marine Corps anthem.

Or the convoy of military vehicles, filled with young soldiers in uniform that held up traffic, but no one blew their horns or seemed to care about a few lost moments.

Or the carnival set up in this blistering heat, yet filled with people willing to brave it for a little time with friends.

Or the people who came to listen to ghost stories in  a converted icehouse on a hot July night.

Or going into a Goodwill store all these miles from home and running into a friend who is also far from home, here for a family reunion.

Or the phone call from ny granddaughter, telling me they had picked 4 gallons of blackberries for me and what did I wnat them to do with them?

Or talking to Kermit, the man who raises the blackberries and wishing I could mdeet him in person.

Or knowing my son the Sergeant Major will be gone on another trip before I can get home to say goodbye again--but he picked the blackberries before he left.

Or my daughter-in-law and granddaughters who are traveling in Ireland, listening to Irish music and perhaps finding new stories of their own.


It's been an interesting day, filled with memories I've filed away for future remembering pleasure. It has been a day that reinforces what I'm doing and why.

(Forgive the typos. I am not so good on this laptop)