Now I'm a Storyteller

Last year I took a class called Storytelling.  Now...my life is a little bit different, a little bit better.

In high school I was shy and hated, to the core of my being, talking in front of any thing that could be described as a crowd or audience.  I shook, spoke to fast, and my voice started heading toward a pitch that only dog's are be able to hear.

In the last month I have led a meeting of my professional student group on the subject of storytelling. And on October 28th, I told "La Muerta, Godmother Death" at Bloomington's annual Festival of Ghost Stories. Both of these events went well...my heart wasn't beating out of my chest, I spoke at an understandable pace, and my voice stayed low enough for human ears.

Now, I'm not saying the storytelling alone is responsible for these changes...but I do know that two weeks ago I got up on a stage with spotlights and told a story in front of an audience.

So...what is storytelling?

Not acting.
Not memorizing.

It is sharing a story and the images of that story with an audience.
It is a long standing tradition.
It is a skill I will continue studying and sharing with others.

Yours affectionately,
A.H.

Sister Sister

My sister Spaulding was here this weekend and it was lovely!  We worked on my 25 Things list, had some good sister time, and alot of fun.

First...Goal #22: Give Blood...Done!!

Also...Walking on Campus, Village Deli, Harry Potter 7.2, Farmer's Market, and the Irish Lion.  

Then...Goal #6: Get my nose pierced...Spaulding got hers done too!  

And then...it was henna tattoo time.  My sister is awesome.

P.S. My sister did our henna...isn't she awesome!?!

Thanks for reading about my weekend.  9 goals finished!!

Yours affectionately,

A.H.

P.S. I started whitening my teeth this week...make that 10 goals finished.

Last First Day of School

Today is my last first day of school for the foreseeable future.  It makes a girl think about...

The future...
...I have no idea where I will be in a year.  I have some idea of where I want to be, but I've had lots of ideas in the past and on my first day of college I would never have guessed this is where I would be.  I am both nervous and excited.  I am nervous because I am a planner.  I am excited because I know whatever comes it is going to be good.  I struggle alot with God over who is in control of my life.  I make lots of plans, all with the best of intentions, but ultimately, I want to follow His plan more than my own.  I need to daily remind myself to let go of my well laid plans.

The present...
...I am a pretty lucky girl.  I have a family that loves me like crazy and friends that simultaneously support, join, and mock my tomfoolery.  Thanks guys!  I have to remind myself that the friendships that I make here don't have to end when my lease does.

The past...

...Looking back at the times when there were First-Day-of-School pictures, it strikes me I had no idea what would be quickly forgotten and what would have a lasting effect on my personality and they way I approach a situation.

P.S. That is my Kindergarten school picture!

I have changed in alot of ways, but I still have my long-curly hair, I still like to dream up the what-ifs, and I still love to a good book.

Grade school me would have guessed I would be alot of different things by now...a princess, a teacher, married, a world traveler, a professional photographer, or (for a very short stint in high school) a lawyer.  Never would I have said a graduate student, nine months from getting my Masters degree in Library Science.

I would be lying if I said I wouldn't change anything, but...for the most part...I like where I've been and I like where I am going.

*Deep Breath*  Here goes...I'm off to class.

Yours affectionately,
A.H.

Addiction to...

Hi...My name is Angela...and it has been about 2 seconds since I last used ellipses.

I realized recently that I am totally addicted to ellipses...I also realized that I don't care who knows it!

Bring on the three periods right in a row that are my constant writing companions...ah...there you are old friends.



Side note...is it weird that I refer to punctuation like a person?

Anywhoo...have a great Wednesday!

Yours affectionately,
A.H.