Papa
Joe ~ Travel
Notes
PJ's Tour Notes 1
The tour actually starts years ago, with a sense of
purpose. (Yes, Tomm. I see your point. The words are important.)
To teach communication skills to the next generation of
storytellers. That's what the program is really about. Teaching
skills to current tellers, speeds the purpose along. As for
entertainment and fun... shouldn't that just be.
Our Vardo is a 1980 Datsun mini pickup truck with a
1.6 liter engine and a four speed transmission, carrying one of
the smallest complete RV bodies ever made. It has a toilet,
shower, hot & cold running water, refrigerator, stove, oven,
bed, everything. It's just got the smallest of everything the
builders could find. That's a good thing. We need to fit into
small places. And it doesn't cost much to operate. The paint job
creates a presents, not many people miss. You have to see it. I
think the best part of being a Turtle and carrying your home on
your back is that you're always home. Even at a rest area on the
side of the highway.
The crew includes: Sues, my wife, copilot, sanity. And
our two dogs, Tasha Tripod and Zaque.
Two weeks of 16+ hour days of preparations. Closing
down the cottage, moving the office to Kerry's (our business
partner), and setting up the Vardo. Followed by two days of
steady driving brings us to:
Omaha, Nebraska 6/3/96
Sues, Tasha, Zaque, and I, arrived to a warm reception
from Storytell's Mary Heise. We enjoyed showers and a Syrian
dinner not quickly to be forgotten. In the evening, several of
the storytellers of OOPS (Omaha Organization for the purpose of
Storytelling), came to share stories. While I can't remember what
stories I told, Diane Cox shared a tale I can not forget:
You'd Better Write It Down.
My grandparents were getting on. Their memories being
to fade. My grandmother was always trying to get my grandfather
to write notes to himself. He forgot things so often.
One day he came out to the porch, looked at my
grandmother and said, "Honey. I was thinking about getting a
little bowl of ice cream. Would you like some?"
She said, "Why that would be nice. But you know
how your memory is. You had better write it down.
He said, "Write it down? It's only two bowls of
ice cream. I can remember that. I don't need to write it
down."
"Yes, but I was thinking. Do we have any hot
fudge? If we have some Hot Fudge, I'd like that on my ice
cream."
"I think we have hot fudge. I'll put it on your
ice cream."
"You'd better write it down."
I don't need to write it down. I can remember two
things, ice cream and hot fudge."
"Yes, but I was thinking. Some whip cream would
be nice. Do we have any whip cream?"
"We have whip cream. I'll put it on your ice
cream."
"You'd better write it down."
I don't Need to write it down. I can remember three
things, ice cream, hot fudge and whip cream."
"Yes, but I was thinking. Some walnuts would
nice. Do we have any walnuts?"
"We have Walnuts. I'll put some on your ice
cream."
"You'd better write it down."
I Don't Need to Write it Down. I can remember four
things, ice cream, hot fudge, whip cream, and walnuts."
"Yes, but I was thinking. I'd like a cherry on top. Do we
have any cherries?"
"We have cherries. I'll put one on your ice cream."
"You'd better write it down."
"I DON'T NEED TO WRITE IT DOWN! I can remember five things,
ice cream, hot fudge, whip cream, walnuts, and a CHERRY on
TOP!"
"You better write it down."
He stormed into to the kitchen and what followed was twenty
minutes of slamming pots and pans. When he came out, he set down
two plates piled with scrambled eggs, hash browns, sausage, and
toast.
She said, "I told you you should've written it down. You
forgot to butter the toast."
______
Many thanks, Mary. We had a great time. And keep up the great
work for our Art.
--
Pax & Amicitia,
Papa Joe
Papa
Joe ~ Travel
Notes
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