What a great show we had Thursday! I was a little worried at first since the room was completely empty at 6:30. A handful of people wandered in at 6:45. And then suddenly at 6:55 we had a full house. Do you guys all ride the same bus??
Whatever the reason, I’m grateful to every person who showed up. We had three first-time tellers and our first sibling act. What a treat that was. Before I get to the wrap-up, I want to thank everyone who helped put the heavy wooden chairs away in the basement after the show. I don’t know who organized that or how it came about but it was a huge help.
Zoe, one of our regular tellers, started us off with a sweet story about moving from NYC to Seattle in 1996. How does anyone decide where to move? There are so many things to consider and judge. Which is more important, affordability or weather? Culture or career? Four seasons or good Thai food? Luckily, Seattle passed all Zoe’s tests and she’s called the PNW her home for the last 28 years.
Archana, a first-timer, told a beautiful story of growing up in Bangalore with her friend Gulmohar and what she taught her about finding a place where you belong. I met Archana last month when she came to her first FGS. She was so touched by the stories she heard that she committed to telling her own story with us at the next show. Her story was so sweet and poignant that it reminded me of something I read once, “The shortest distance between two people is a story.” I hope she tells more with us.
Emily was next with a story about the many battles she’s had teaching boys named Christian. I love when teachers get up and tell stories. I feel like they’re part of a secret society that the rest of us can never be part of or understand until we spend a year in a room trying to teach pre-teens English. I don’t know how being a teacher compares to other secret societies like the Masons or the Knights Templar, but I like to pretend they have just as many cryptic rituals and secret handshakes. Hopefully, a movie with Nicolas Cage looking for lost gold under an elementary school is in the works.
Kate, another first-timer, told a story about the joys of throwing prunes at strangers. Granted, she was a young girl at the time and the prunes came from the tree in her back yard and she was technically just throwing them at the yard across the street. But when the toss goes short, and the prune flies through an open window of a passing car, it does become “throwing fruit at strangers.” And does that ever get old? No, it does not. I remember throwing crabapples at cars when I was a kid and I still remember the rush of terror when the car would slam on the brakes and we’d all run for our lives.
Robert, one of our new regular tellers, told us about getting caught for speeding in South Carolina in an army vehicle painted with radar-resistant paint. I’m no physicist, but I don’t think that’s how radar works. Good try, though, Robert! Even the judge was impressed with his excuse and decided not to take any points off his driving record. Robert is also Kate’s brother so you know Thanksgiving at their house has got to be full of stories 🙂
Dru, our final first-time teller, told a hysterical story about her husband getting cancer. Yes, it’s possible to tell a funny cancer story. Dru is proof of that. Not only did her husband survive cancer, they both got to spend time in a city they love, Seattle. Yay for Fred Hutch and groundbreaking cancer treatments! You know what we say around here. Come for the culture, stay for the chemo.
Simar was next with a beautiful story about flying kites as a child in India. Did you know that kite flying over there isn’t the low-key meditative pastime it is in the US? According to Simar, it’s a melee in the sky where everyone tries to cut each other’s strings. And Simar is, according to…well, Simar, the King of Kites. He is truly masterful at wiping out other kites. I think we need to test this. Is anyone up for a battle royale in the skies over Seattle? If I can get three other people to join me, I’ll drive up from Olympia and challenge Simar. I’m serious. Write me at freshgroundstories at gmail dot com and let’s see if we can take on the Kitemaster.
Simar’s story of course was about more than just kite flying. It was about coming to America many years ago and creating a new life for himself. It was about going back to his hometown and realizing it wasn’t home anymore. And in my mind, it was a little bit about how hard it can be to form relationships in a new town. Telling stories has always helped me make friends wherever I go. I’m always so happy when I find out that people who met at FGS have ended up forming real friendships. So I’m serious about coming up to Seattle and flying kites. Let’s see if Simar still has his kite chopping chops.
Gretchen, our final teller, told the story of moving to Seattle from Minnesota many years ago and ending up on Bainbridge island. The relationship with her girlfriend she moved there with ended but her relationship with Seattle endures. If I could, I’d thank that old girlfriend of hers for bringing Gretchen to us.
Before I let you go, I want to remind you of all the great storytelling opportunities going on right now.
This month’s 7 Stories show is this Friday in Burien. I love this show. I went there last month to work on an old story and had a great time. Join their Meetup so you get their invites. They have two themes this month, “Duped” and “Aha.” You don’t need to tell a story to attend. You can just show up and cheer on the tellers.
https://meetu.ps/e/N4ZHQ/1JtDX/i
Our free monthly online storytelling workshop is happening Sunday May 5. This is a great place to get feedback on a story you’re working on.
Checkout this Meetup with FGS – Storytelling Workshop: https://meetu.ps/e/N3GwR/1JtDX/i
Paul Barach, one of Seattle’s finest storytellers, just got a story on Out There podcast. I knew this story was going to be great when he told me an early version of it a few months ago. I was right. It is great.
http://www.outtherepodcast.com/episodes
Out There is always looking for new stories of the outdoors so if you have one get in touch with them.
Chris Spengler, who has told with us for many years, will be appearing at Folklife this year. Congratulations Chris! Check out the schedule to find out the day and time.
https://nwfolklife.org
Sometime in the next month or so, NAMI’s annual fundraiser, The Brainpower Chronicles, will be accepting stories from people living successfully with mental illness. If you’re chosen to share your story, you’ll get to tell your story onstage at the Kirkland Performing Arts Center in November. I was in the first BPC years ago and it was a wonderful experience. Keep checking their website for news on how to apply.
https://www.namiwa.org/brainpower-chronicles
Lastly, don’t forget our friends at Bar Stories. It’s a new show in north Seattle that of lot of great tellers are showing up at. Go check them out!
https://www.facebook.com/BarStoriesLiveOnStage
That’s all for now. I hope you can make it to our next show on May 16. The theme is, “Coming Clean – Stories of being honest with yourself.” I’ll get the invite out as soon as I can.
If you miss our monthly workshop, I’m always available to help with a story. Send me an email at freshgroundstories at gmail dot com and we can set up a call.
I hope you’re all having a great weekend. See you next month!
Paul