My red rolling walker (rollater) was a super help for me today at the Jonesborough Storytelling Festival. It did just what I'd hoped, gave me something to lean on and steady myself so I didn't get out of breath. We walked on asphalt, bricks, grass, sidewalk, and straw to get to the Library Tent.
Because I had to go to the bank this morning, then get gas and a cup of coffee, I didn't get to Jonesborough until noon, but I stayed until a few minutes after 7:00 p.m. I had arranged for a reserved parking place at a house just across from The Visitor's Center and down aways, so I was close to the two tents I wanted to go to and it turned out because of the programming, I had to alternate tents for all the sets. But that gave me the opportunity to do my daily exercise of walking and running into (not literally) good friends and acquaintances.
I'm amazed, however, at the multitudes of people I don't know and sometimes find out this is the first festival they've ever attended. It's the 23rd for me! Last year I wondered if I'd be able to continue attending. So I've been planning some kind of alternative transportation around the grounds. My cane is good for short distances, but wasn't doing the job for festivals. I thought about a power scooter, but with the doctor's order to walk daily, my "Red" friend is ideal.
The first teller I heard was my good friend, Kim Weitkamp. This is Kim's first year there as a "New Voice." Her first set in which she told the potholder story and then sang a song about her father was terrific. She was energetic, she was fast paced, she appeared relaxed, and definitely enjoying herself.
Kim was followed by the storytelling icon, Kathryn Windham, who tells her age graciously as 92. She told a story about trying to downsize her home and her presentation was full of images that allowed me to "know" her and imagine how she lives. Kathryn is always able to draw people into her stories with seemingly little effort and afterwards you get the sense you've had an intimate visit with her.
I changed tents to listen to Rafe Martin and Carmen Deedy. I heard Rafe Martin years ago and wasn't impressed by him and that continued today. I'd be happy to have him in my local guild because he can tell a fine story. It's just that he doesn't elicit the power, or excitement, that other national storytellers can achieve.
Carmen Deedy is a different story, thankfully. I've known Carmen's work since 1996 and have hosted her in my home for a Barter Storyteller's event. The story she told was "Waltzing Hilda" which I've heard before, but I enjoyed it all over again. I haven't seen Carmen for several years so I stayed after and "Red" and I stood in a long line just to say "Hi." She said she had just found out that Rocky had passed away and was glad I had stayed to chat with her a moment.
Then it was West Virginia's turn, our neighboring state, featuring Suzie "Mama" Whaples and Bil Lepp. Bil informed us that they were the only West Virginia storytellers to appear at a national story festival so far. "Mama" started out fine with a story about the West Virginia State Fair, but then it began to sound like a comedy routine, with a punch line coming after every few sentences. She has some wonderful body movements that are both girlish and charming and I hope she develops these and times them appropriately to enhance her presentation. I enjoyed her set, but was conscious of these things I've mentioned. I also noticed she ran only 20 minutes, although she may have willingly given her time up so Bil could tell a story that ran over his half of the hour.
Bil's story was hilarious, as usual, about how he had met his wife, Paula which involved his first time riding a horse, which turned out to be a "devil" horse. It ended as a tall tale which kept up Bil's reputation and fame. He is one funny fellow.
My day ended with the Exchange Place, a favorite session of mine because I often hear excellent tellers there and sometimes they go on to get a spot on the national stage. In fact, Kim Weitkamp was an Exchange Place teller a year or so ago. Each teller represents his or her region of the country as they have been traditional divided by the storytelling organizations. I won't take time to review everyone's story, but my favorite was Hannah Harvey, who told a powerful and riveting story of a Virginia coal miner. She alone of all six tellers got a standing ovation.
Here are a couple photos I took today with my iPhone. I am not satisfied with the quality of the pictures because, perhaps, my hands are not steady enough and there seems always to be a fuzziness to them. Of course it doesn't help that no photography is allowed during the performances, so most photo ops are of close friends with their arms around each other, someone posed with a featured teller, or in my case, of the audience.
Audience, the gentleman standing up in the background is Jay O'Callahan talking to a fan.
More audience in the College Street Tent
Programs over; let's go eat
(In my case, it was time to go home)
Peeking through shoulders in the row in front of me, take my word for it, it's Jimmy Neal Smith and Kim Weitkamp.
