Perchance to Dream with Barbara and Connie
25th Riverwind Workshop
Once Upon a time, in 1981, Barbara Freeman and Connie Regan-Blake gave a workshop in Carlyle, IL. Unbeknownst to Riverwind until many,,,,,,,, many years later...over half our guild was at that workshop. They truly were the beginning of Riverwind. They gave us our love for storytelling that later blossomed into Riverwind. Twenty-seven years later we meet again to share in those beginnings. Read about our Riverwind Reun
It's already a week since Riverwind said a fond farewell to their two workshop leaders, Barbara Freeman and Connie Regan-Blake. What a whirlwind weekend we had! Barb and Connie arrived on Thursday night. Mary Lu Bretsch picked them up from the airport, and we met at Maxwell's Restaurant in Belleville to eat our first meal together. It reminded me of the first meal that I shared with them back in May of 1981, in a little restaurant in Troy, Illinois. They traveled in their little truck back then to do a workshop for the now-defunct Kaskaskia Library System. I tell everyone it was the day that heaven opened up and a voice (that I thought only I could hear) said..."Pay attention down there! This is what you have been searching for.")
These two cousins, who then called themselves The Folktellers, delighted the group of mainly librarians as they told their stories - sometimes in tandem sometimes solo - but always magical. I was smitten! As the universe would have it, I came with two people who had organized the event, and I got to have supper with them at that tiny restaurant in Troy, Illinois. I truly felt that I was breaking bread with the stars. They were so warm and gracious. I remember shyly telling Connie that I liked to read to kids but couldn't seem to do it without the book. She just smiled and said, "Once you put down the book...you'll never want to pick it up again." We talked and ate until they got into their little truck and headed off to another sunrise.
After that, a group from Kaskaskia and Lewis and Clark Library Systems started to go to the Jonesborough Festival together and eventually in 1983(?), a small group of those people decided to form a storytelling group called The Riverwind Storytelling, Co. The group met in Edwardsville and drew newbies from the Metropolitan St. Louis area. It was in 1984, that they sponsored their first workshop at Pere Marquette State Park with their "Goddess of Riverwind," Elizabeth Ellis.
At a Rivewind meeting one night, probably after 20 years of knowing each other, a member asked what "our first" was in storytelling. One member said she went to a workshop at Carlyle with Barb and Connie. Then another hand went up and another....Ten of our members at that time had attended that workshop. We did not know each other at that time, and did not realize that we were all there...and we all heard that same voice..."Pay attention down there. This is what you have been searching for."
In my travels and storytelling acquaintances over the years, I've discovered that Riverwind was not unique. Many, many other storytellers from across the nation (perhaps, even abroad) were "smitten" after hearing Barb and Connie.
So, it seemed natural that Riverwind would splurge and have a very special 25th workshop...with the two who put the wind in Riverwind as we set sail into the world of storytelling - Barb and Connie.
At Maxwell's that night we sort of caught up on what had transpired for them and for us. Our storytelling certainly took us down different storypaths - but story was always our Foder's Guide. Barb and Connie appear separately now. They travel the world telling stories, writing books, recording CDs and DVDs, and collaborating with musicians. They are always looking for that next door.
On Friday, Mary Lu and I took Barb and Connie to Smithton to tell at the schools. I stayed with Barbara as she told at St. John the Baptist. We went to mass that morning and then settled in at the gym. Barb told some new stories, but I delighted as she told some of her oldies but goodies. When I looked at the faces of those students...mesmerized by Barbara's words...I remembered my feelings, when I first heard her and Connie. That is why I became a storyteller! Maybe some of those students will follow that story path blazed by Barb and Connie, too - passing the dream onto the next generation..
When we finished, we went to the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows. Barb and I went around the Stations of the Cross. It was a fairly cold day, but the sun shone down as we approached each outside altar. Afterwards, we met Mary Lu and Connie at the restaurant and talked about their tellings at the schools. Connie told us that she was fighting off a cold, but the storytelling energized her to keep on telling.
Afterwards, we let Connie rest, as Mary Lu, Barb, and I went to see Jeanne Crewes at the funeral home. Her husband, Jim, died earlier that week. They both planned on coming to the weekend. She delighted when she saw us...but, when she saw Barbara, she just beamed. We missed Jeanne this weekend and sent a silent prayer for Jim.
That night some of us gathered at the library for an informal get-together. It was fun to see our old friends and to meet some new friends (all the way from Indiana). Somehow, the topic of dreams came up - what they mean, whether they can predict, what to do with them. It sort of became the theme for the weekend. Lynne Beetner, our hostess with the mostess, was there with some good treats as we talked our talk.
The next morning, we saw some new people come to the workshop - some from St. Louis and local libraries. Barbara got the proverbial ball rolling by telling some stories and gently nudging us into a workshop. No matter how many workshops I've been to over the years, I always learn something new or have something confirmed that I never thought about before. It was same here. We were up and down and all around as Barbara pulled the stories from us.
After Bob's lunch, we settled in for some "deep listening" with Connie. Well, not too settled in, as she had us up and listening...really listening to our partners as again the stories started to flow. This is what Connie does so well...she listens. Just like she did when I first met her. She lets others talk, confirms their feelings, then drops a little sage-bomb of advice...why didn't I think of that!
Bob was there for supper. How nice was that to have the meals right there in that lovely room provided by the library! After a quick pick up, we settled into the story zone as Barb and Connie and our soon to be ex-president, Ron Adams told stories. They started out with a tandem piece and then let the spirit of the evening take hold. You could hear a pin drop...spinning, spinning the stories go 'round. Our dreams that night were filled with their stories.
Sunday seemed to come too quickly. Barb and I went to Holy Trinity Church, my home parish, for Sunday mass. The sermon was about letting the blind man see. I thought about how a story can be seen...without sight. When we arrived at the library, again we settled into our story corner and listened to some sacred/inspirational stories. Each story seemed to build on the other, and we went away with our souls filled. Riverwind presented Barb and Connie with necklaces that had dream catchers on them. According to the Ojibwe tribe, the dream catcher was placed on the cradle to filter out the bad dreams and let only the good dreams come through. But, these were actually "story catchers" and now only good stories will come to them.
Again, Bob, our man, was there to fill our bodies with his good food. And afterwards, we rearranged things until the room looked as if it were ready for a true concert. This was our first year at the library to do our traditional "Riverwind Story Celebration". The numbers were small - around 25 or 30 - but the stories were BIG. Again, Barb and Connie told together setting the standard for the stories to follow.
Then, all to quickly, it was time to say our goodbyes. Hugs and kisses, promises to keep in touch, and a gentle reminder to keep on telling...and our workshop leaders were on their way to the airport.
I drove them over to Lambert and watched them walk away as they headed off to another sunrise. As I drove home, I thought...was this all a dream?..yes, a dream come true.