Saturday, September 17, 2016

A Celebration To Love


  Celebrating with Ruth Ayres at Discover Play Build.  and linking with others who share their celebrations, too. I am grateful to Ruth for helping us celebrate together!  

from Madeleine L'Engle
       "Stories make us more alive, more human, more courageous, more loving."

       I spent this past week until Thursday at the Highlights Barn for The Craft and Heart of Writing Poetry for Children workshop with Georgia Heard, Rebecca Kai Dotlich and a group of old friends and also new ones. That old song kept flying through my mind about keeping old friends and making new ones-one silver and the other gold. How in four days such special connections are made is a wonder to me. I wrote with some of the group three years ago and was thrilled to be with them again. I've met some at teacher conventions, but most I know through their blogging, thus, their stories! Today I celebrate stories, and those willing to share them during this oh, so brief, time. They shared them when they shared their poems for response, how the poems came to "be" in their lives, and what they meant to them. They shared at meals, on the paths as we walked and talked, then talked some more, telling about our lives, where and when and how and why.  I heard highs and lows from family and work and struggles still happening, as well as those from the past. Stories make who we are, and I was honored to hear them. 



        I know that many of you celebrate story and I know you through that sharing, too. And, you help your students celebrate them, too. What gifts we give when that sharing happens! Whether happy or sad, the layers of our lives sit in those words. 







26 comments:

  1. What a an incredible week! I can't even imagine.

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    1. It fills me up for a long time, Elsie. Thank you!

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  2. "The layer of our lives sit in those words." Sigh! I love that sentence and love seeing the friends you spent days with making poems and telling stories. "...on the paths as we walked and talked..." brought to mind our very hot walk at All Write one year. Happy memories!

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    1. Yes! This takes me back to all those "All-Write" memories, too, Ramona. Still wishing we were all in the same town. Guess we're in the same online place, which is the next best thing. Thanks!

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  3. These pictures make me miss Highlights so much! I love the last photo of you and Catherine. It sounds like it was certainly a time to celebrate!!

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    1. I know that you had those stories shared, too, Michelle. It is such a special place. Thanks!

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  4. I loved Highlights ;) I had no idea about this writing opportunity. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and photos.

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    1. You should look at their workshops Maria, just fabulous!

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  5. I loved seeing your photos throughout the week on Facebook and imagining what a great time that must've been. It sounds like a fabulous retreat!

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    1. It was, Andrea. I will remember this for a long time! Thanks!

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  6. This is something special. The amount of inspiration, gratitude and learning will fuel you for moths to come. I have yet to experience a writing retreat. One day it will happen, I hope.

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    1. I hope you'll find such a wonderful place and group, too, Terje!

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  7. I love that you participated in this experience, and were surrounded by poetry and poets. Story is so important. I truly believe that is why, even after long absences, I keep coming back to #celebrate and #sol - it's the stories of people's lives that really matter!

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    1. You can see that I agree with whole heart, Karen. Before I met a few of these, in person, I already felt as if I knew them. As we shared with each other, the relationship deepened. It was a wonderful few days. Thanks!

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  8. I'm so glad you had this opportunity to share with such amazing friends. Love seeing you and Catherine together. It's our stories that connect us.

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    1. Yes, and hoping someday you and I can meet, too, Margaret. This time was just a treasure! Thanks!

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  9. What a great experience for you! Meeting online friends is simply a treasure! I love your line, "the layers of our lives sit in those words." Beautiful!

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    1. Thanks, Leigh Anne. our stories shared help us to know each other, but meeting in person is really special. I'm glad you and I have met at All-Write! Maybe next year again?

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  10. Linda, this sounds so wonderful! So happy that you got to experience it.

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  11. So great to see you and Catherine together. What a joyous conference.

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    1. Thanks, Julieanne. Catherine and I had a wonderful time together.

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  12. Stories are so important aren't they? We learn so much about ourselves and others just by being open to listen. I'm so glad you were able to attend the workshop...what a wonderful opportunity. Have a great week Linda!

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    1. Thanks, Julie. Stories shared with each other helps us understand each other's lives, even across the airwaves! It is the good thing about the internet!

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  13. This sounds like such an amazing experience. I'm so glad you all got to share stories and yourselves.

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