Class of '71 ,40th Nolan High School Reunion and Southlake Bob
Jones Nature
Center Festival
I found myself
looking back at old faces this last Saturday night at Picosos Restaurant up in
the old North Side area of Fort Worth.
I had come grudgingly to my Nolan High School class of 1971 Reunion.
The buddies that I had run with in high school are all gone now. I know of one
dead for sure and the others I just have no idea. Time can be a cruel mistress
sometimes. So I really didn’t have anyone that I thought would remember me that
I could share memories with at the reunion.
I had been asked by
David Eishen, the class mate who put this reunion together, to tell a story
once he had discovered my side profession. Based on nearly 15 years of
performing I was not of a mind to work a program in a dinner setting and
especially amongst old class mates who I had no doubt had a very different memory of me. Generally
these type of non professional settings seldom work well for storytelling. I
argued with myself over what to do. I wanted to do it but my fears were
rattling my old chains mightily.
Eventually I gave in
and agreed to do it but why I am not sure.
The next issue was
what kind of material to use. I wanted something that I thought they could
connect with. Though fairy tales can be lots of fun and there are some that you
can adult up considerably, I pushed that aside. I considered doing some Adult
Material that would delve deep into morals and choices.
Yes I could make
them sob! I could wrench their hearts with an emotion tale of woe and hardship.
NO ain’t gonna do
that. We’ve probably all sobbed enough as it. After all most of this class is
close to 55 and over. I’ll be 60 this year. So I blew that off.
Then I decided to
shoot for a middle ground. A place that we all remember with great fondness;
Our childhoods and youth. So I decided on Summer
of the Red Dragon and I was glad that I did. This is a story set in the
1960’s and is about two boys and their adventures. It is a fun story. So I
performed the intro to the Red Dragon.
I still wasn’t sure
how they would respond to me and to this. I had really enjoyed mixing with the
class members who had come and to my amazement many remembered me. Many old
memories had been dredged up and many stories had been exchanged. After Dinner
David introduced me. I don’t even think that he had any idea of what to expect
from me.
So with a short explanation of what I did and
the reasons for my choices I launched into the story with zest. Vividly I
described a time period that is near and dear to us all. And then suddenly all
was quiet. They had stopped talking and gathered round to see me and watch me.
Their eyes and faces intent with focus and interest. I knew I had them. They
were with me walking down those paths. So I lead them down those ancient trails and
brought them into my world, word by word, step by step and lead them into the
magical world of the Red Dragon.
At the end of my
story I received a very strong applause and was surprised and glad that I had
made this choice to share my passion. I don’t think that I will ever forget it.
Those faces, those eyes, those memories. Once again my instinct had not lead me
astray. I had chosen well.
On Sunday I was to
perform for The Southlake Library at their fall harvest Hike festival being held at the Bob Jones
Nature Center.
This was my first time to be performing at this location. I wasn't sure how this
was gonna work if at all. My old friend Elizabeth Beamon had suggested me as a
storyteller along with DeCee Cornish. Decee and I are old friends going back 15
years in storytelling. We have performed at the same functions dozens of times.This time we were set up in different locations and ran two separate storytelling venues set up at different times. It worked quite well.
I ended up down the
trail with a background setting of an open meadow and a path running right
through my storytelling area (It turned out not to be an issue). Before me were
rows of benches big and small and soon I found them full of kids and adults
stopping by to listen to my stories. The kids and adults were good listeners
and a fun audience.
Southlake had an
excellent turn out and I truly enjoyed myself. The audiences were great and
storytelling lots of fun. I did a variety of stories including Lazy Jack, One
Shot, Big Foot Wallace and the Hickory Nuts and closed with a Scottish Tale
Called The Ogre of Castle Grim.
I want to thank Cynthia Pfiedderer who also
helped me at the festival and Nancy Roper who invited me and set me up. I hope
this will become a annual event because I would have loved to bring my grandson
to it (actually Grandmama or his mother would had to do that but you get the
picture). I hope also that I will be invited back for future storytelling
events.It is these kind of events that are so much fun to work and give so much back to the public.
So all in all It was
a good weekend and one I will not forget for a long time.
To all of my old school mates May the Good Lord watch over and protect you and bless the rest of your days.
All for now
Take Care and God Bless
Gary Whitaker aka The Storyman
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