Dear Reader:

A couple of days ago I pulled up the National Storytelling Festival and was amazed at the new International Storytelling Center that has been built right downtown Jonesborough, Tennessee. It is a part performance/theater and part museum/conference area. Wow! It has been a long time since I last attended the Storytelling Festival.

I took some time to read about some of the storytelling performers that I still recognized and many new ones….At the international storytelling level….the president of this organization is Kiran Singh Sirah.

Recently, at the request of the Charleston County Public Library (CCPL) Sirah was asked to speak to the citizens of Charleston on the power of the story to heal (following the Emmanuel AME Church Massacre.) Sirah’s message was titled: “Telling Stories that Matter.” He said:

“Storytelling is one of the most important tools we have in building peace and understanding within our communities here in the United States and around the world,” says Sirah. “All too often, this vital tool is overlooked. I’m honored to share strategies for using stories to heal and promote change in the city of Charleston, which is already home to such a vibrant storytelling community.”

This series of story- healing programs targeted and honored long-time CCPL staff member Cynthia Graham Hurd and the other eight victims of the Emmanuel AME

On June 25, Charleston city council voted unanimously to change the name of the the St. Andrews Regional Library to the Cynthia Graham Hurd St. Andrews Regional Library, according to The Post and Courier. “People will look up and see her name and remember her every day,” said her husband, Arthur Hurd.

Another powerful story that Sirah could not have seen coming arose out of his storytelling session by a friend of Cynthia’s named Pam who was in the audience that day. Kiran Sirah shared it under the title of “The Silver Dove.”

Here is an excerpt from Sirah’s memory of something special that happened that day…

“After my talk, a woman approached me. She handed me an envelope that she asked me to open later. On the front, she had included a personal note about how my talk had brought up many different emotions for her. She’s still processing what had happened at Emanuel AME last summer; she thinks about it every day as she passes the church. In closing, she wrote, “May stories reach many hearts moving forward.”

I liked that: May stories reach many hearts moving forward. It reminds me of our mission here at ISC.

Later, back at my hotel, I opened the envelope. It contained a silver ornament in the shape of a dove, which is of course a symbol of peace. It also included another note. This one was a typed story.

In 2014, well before the holidays, Cynthia and I were talking about plans for Christmas. She was very happy because she had finally acquired a silver flocked Christmas tree, and she couldn’t wait to decorate it with all silver ornaments. I made a note on my November datebook page to buy Cynthia a silver bird ornament for her new tree. November arrived, and I read the note, but got caught up in the busyness of life and told myself, “I’ll just do it next year.”

This is that next year. I want to share with as many people as possible a silver ornament in memory of Cynthia Graham Hurd, so this and every year, we keep her close in our hearts along with the others taken from us at Mother Emanuel.

Pam

………………………

Of all the gifts and acknowledgements to Mr. Sirah on his presentation and visit to Charleston….the silver dove has remained close to his heart. He keeps it on his mantle and this Christmas he will hang it on the large Christmas Tree in the new International Storytelling Center. Sirah concludes by saying he will never forget Pam’s story and urges us all to “pass it on.”

So until tomorrow “Home is where our story begins” but it shouldn’t end there…instead our stories should be shared with others so they can connect us together in peace and unity.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

*Speaking of connecting…the grandchildren’s Japanese maples have budded and are opening up more each day….am sure this last bout of rain will speed up the blossoms even more. Rutledge and Jake’s trees are the earliest to show buds….while Lachlan and Eva Cate’s are a little behind.

Each year I get to watch the growth and beauty of these special trees and remember when each grandchild was born and when the tree was planted….a living legacy of love in my own back yard.

Today I will share Rutledge and Jake’s trees and give Eva Cate and Lachlan’s a little more time to bloom before sharing their progress. (L to R) Rutledge, Jake)