John P. Schulz: Find The Living Room

Quotes and Notes #269, July 31

Jane Cunningham tells a story

“Tell me a story.
In this century, and moment, of mania, tell me a story.
Make it a story of great distances and starlight.
The name of the story will be time,
But you must not speak its name
Tell me a story of deep delight.”—Robert Penn Warren—

The story tellers are immensely important to our lives, our culture, our learning and—and to our mental well-being. Story telling is more than just relating happenings, story telling is also suspense, glory, intrigue, laughter, and tears. Story telling is an art form.

I remember Aunt Irma telling stories at Christmas gatherings. Aunt Irma Hochstein was a translator in WWII. She was a librarian, and she lived with her sister Frances. Irma worked and Frances cooked and kept house. They were my paternal grandmother’s sisters. I remember the stories, but more than that, I remember the way Aunt Irma told them. Don’t let this go away.

Tell stories to the children. Often.

And share lots of smiles
And let them know that everything is going to be all right.
John P. Schulz—“Sweetie Drives on Chemo Days.”
The attached picture is of Miss Jane Owen Cunningham, a master storyteller.