Timpanogos Storytelling Festival 08/31/12 (Serendipity)

I was introduced to the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival last year by Jay "Willie" DeFord when his group was playing there.  It was a fun experience.  Spending time with Jay and his wife and group as well as listening to fun music and amazing storytellers was a great experience.

I invited a friend to go this year, but ended up going alone today, Friday, August 31st.  The day was unbelievably enjoyable.  I just need to continue to remember the value of frequently adding music and creativity to my life.  Gary Hanson was a great flautist with his music centered on American Indian History.  The story tellers, Barry and Jeri, had me spell bound.  By the way, do you know why the fire engine is red?  Ask me, the next time we talk, if you do not know.  The "CrossString" group were fun - they were a Draper family that included  a bass, mandolin, fiddles, guitars, banjo, percussion, and some great singing.  Waddie Mitchell - an old western storyteller - and John McCutcheon - a great musician who writes, plays every instrument, and sings beautifully, everything from folk to blues to blues talk, to blue grass, etc.- presented some great music and stories.  I plan to find some of John's music.

The real serendipity experience for me was a story telling session with Clare Murphy.  I had no idea who she was or what her stories would be.  Her session was described as - "Doorways, Pride, Honour, Love, and Fealty, set in the doorway between worlds."  As it turned out Clare was Irish and she spent an intense hour telling stories of Irish Mythology.  As I am preparing to spend two weeks in Ireland and Scotland  next month with my friend Steven, Clare's mythical stories gave me some great context for my "Walk About".  I introduced myself to her after her session and she immediately began to share with me special places I should try to go.  She asked me to email her and she would send the information back.

I am clearly an annual supporter and attender of the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival in future years.  What a great day.  I have added some pictures to flesh out my experience.

Christmas 2011 with all the Johnson Family Home

TOGETHER AT CHRISTMAS FOR A FAMILY PICTURE

Sharen kept saying, "We need to get all our children and grandchildren home this Christmas for a family photo."  I would push back, concerned about the hassle, confusion, and expense.  "Oh, we'll have plenty of time to do that."  But we did it - and Sharen was absolutely right.  It was a great time to have all our family together.  That included:  Mark, Pam and Sophia; Jody; Stephen, Alexa, and Elliot; Larissa, Steven, and Oliver; Amy; and David, Kellie, and Austin..  It was a delightful time and we had family photos professionally taken as well as many photos from our various personal cameras.

What ever the effort and/or sacrifice might have been in our 50 years together and 47 years of raising children -- what a gift it has been.  What a delight to see your children and their partners and their children moving on in life, learning life's lessons, developing their careers, becoming role models for their own children, facing the predictable challenges that life gives us all.

I have included the professional photos below as well as some of our personal photos.  Sharen just left today to spend several months in Argentina.  She is a wonderful, dedicated Grandmother (Abuela) and loves spending time with her grandchildren.  Elliot (age 4)  will have her total attention for the next few month.

Bob - proud husband, father, and grandfather. August 1, 2012

Argentina time with my son Stephen

With changes in my professional work, I had the opportunity to spend time in Argentina with my son, Stephen.  For three weeks I had focused time with Stephen, his partner Alexa, their 3 year old handsome son Elliot and my wife Sharen.  I will learn how to post pictures eventually and will add them to this posting.

Time with my son to go fishing, hiking, biking.  Time to talk about life - the past, the present, the future.  Time to share our love and respect for each other.  Time with Alexa - a fine person and a wonderful partner and mother. Time for Elliot to gain some comfort with his abuelo and let him know how much I love him.  Each time we were out in nature we were walking through geologic history and in touch with fossilized objects that were 10 - 20 million years old.

Life provides these opportunities every moment and I want to take advantage of them for the rest of my life.  Which will be any time between one hour and 25 years. -:) Bob

Utah Ukulele Festival July 27-28 2012

I just had a great personal music experience that was totally unanticipated.  I happened to see a small poster at the Sugar House Library advertising a "Utah Uke Fest" to be held in American Fork on Friday and Saturday, July 27-28.  I stored the information in a corner of my brain and kind of assumed I would not have time to attend since our lives were very busy getting Sharen ready to travel to Argentina to spend several months with Stephen, Alexa, and Elliot as the Abuela.  As it turned out I was able to work it out to possibly attend the festival, and as I reviewed the materials I realized that there was going to be a series of workshops and a two hour "Open Mike" for volunteer participants during lunch on Saturday.  As a lark,  I forwarded  a short video of me singing with my Uke at a party with my clinical team a couple of years ago, and received an email back that I was invited to sing during the open mike.

What a fun day.  When I arrived in American Fork and found the Library where the Festival was based, I signed up for a "Uke Blues" workshop in the afternoon and confirmed that I would be singing in the open mike.  The open mike was fun.  There were probably 15-20 participants and I was near the end since I had signed up late.  There were beginners, accomplished uke players, young people, old people,  good voices, fun voices, songs written by the performers and "Cover Songs" that just provided an opportunity to sing.  I chose to sing a couple of Cover Songs instead of any of my original songs.  If I was doing it again, I would sing at least one of my originals.  I sang an Eric Clapton song, "Nobody knows you when you're down and out", and a Ray Charles song, "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind".  They went well.  I had fun singing and I got some good feedback. Next year I would like to get a partner and add some Blues Harp in the musical presentation.  I sure enjoy being involved in music.

The workshop, "Uke Blues" was an amazing gift.  The workshop presenter and Jazz/Blues artist was Sarah Maisel, an attractive young woman currently living and performing in the San Diego area.  She was assisted by a great stand-up Bassist, Paul Tillery.  They were a good team - both as presenter/teachers and as musicians. I sent them a picture I had taken with them that Sarah has posted on her Webpage  www.sarahmaisel.com.  Take a look at the page (and the picture).  I came away with some basic Blues Chords and knowledge to do a better job of playing blues on my Ukulele.  I also met several local musicians who like to get together to jam with their instruments.

What a great musical gift and an unexpected fun day - doing what I enjoy doing.  I have posted some pictures I took at the Festival. I'll blame my "fuzzy" picture on the camera, the guy who took it, or maybe it is just a representation of my stage of life.  Quien Sabe?    -:)      Bob    (R. Bernie Johnson)