Storytelling Festival

Every year in October, since 2001, Jay and I have gotten 'Cari-d Away' to Jonesborough, Tennessee for the National Storytelling Festival.  If we went nowhere else all year long, we'd make sure we went to this festival.  It's hard to explain sometimes why we'd willingly turn off all of our devices (okay, that's not hard to imagine) and sit in folding chairs for three solid days (and sometimes a night or two, also) and listen to stories.  The 'unplugged' part of this experience makes it 'green.' But once they've done it, I think most people would agree that the physical discomforts are far made-up-for by the lift gained in the energy of this place, at this festival.

Terry Countermine

Jay with Sandy Countermine

We've been blessed with wonderful friends in town, Terry and Sandy Countermine and Jeff and Peggy Fabozzi, who have graciously opened their homes and hearts to us every year so we can enjoy the festival from a local's view (complete with REAL bathrooms during set breaks.)  Trust me, after three days, even the nicest porta-potties in the world (which these actually are) get ripe. We are treated to a fantastic chili supper at Terry and Sandy's after the sing-along on Friday Night.  It's always just cool enough to make chili the perfect food for kicking off the festival.  Staying with Peggy and Jeff or Terry and Sandy is also really special because accommodations within the town are booked for 20+ years.  No foolin'.  We took this photo at the bed and breakfast on main street 9 years ago.

Peggy and Jeff playing the Comb

The town sets up HUGE revival-type tents throughout, and storytellers (and some musicians) from around the world take the stages and capture our hearts. Over the years we've been fortunate enough to also meet and befriend some of the tellers and their families. They are some of the kindest, most open-hearted people we've ever met. This year we got to hear our friend Corinne Stavish tell on stage for the first time. Corinne has been an emcee in other years, and we've always looked forward to hearing her tell. She told a fabulous story about a trip to Europe she took with her children. It was even more endearing because this year, we got to meet them, as well.

Corinne Stavis

 We've met Donald Davis and his wife, Merle (think the Bono of Storytelling) and Barbara McBride Smith and her husband Dennis, Willy Claflin, Ed Stivender and my new favorite this year, Kim Weitkamp. Kim was a minister serving in a retirement home, and told really heartwarming stories about the people there, as well as a really sweet song and story about her parents' love for one another called "Penny Candy Love."  She and her grown siblings realized a few years ago just what mom and dad were up to on those occasional Saturdays when their dad sent them on a very long walk into town to the candy store for a treat.  We bought her CD and took her stories home with us this year, and I've started following her on Facebook.  We were able to extend the good vibes this year after the festival ended when we joined Donald and Merle at The Swag (look for my post about that experience soon) the week after Storytelling.

Barbara and Dennis

We have been privileged to be invited to the Yarnspinners Party on Saturday night on festival weekend, where we've had a great time singing and watching the dancing and getting to rub elbows with the Storytelling Royalty.  This year was a very mixed bag (like it is every year) but how often do you get to hear Hava Nagila played with a Banjo and a Git-fiddle? (a homemade one-man-band type device) Or the 93 year old grand dame of Storytelling, Kathryn Tucker Windham, sing "Show Me the Way to go Home" with re-arranged lyrics "Show Me the Home to go Way"?

As soon as we go to the first set on Sunday, which is the set called Sacred Telling (people tell more spiritually-but-not-necessarily-religious themed pieces) I start getting a little bit wistful because I know it'll be over soon.  By the last set, I'm usually a bit weepy, especially if we hear Ed Stivender sing his "Yankee Come Home" song about the festival. Me being me, of course, I try to smart-ass my way out of the mood by changing the lyrics to "Yankee Go Home" but it never works.  

And then, the sun goes down, we gather at Terry and Sandy's house again and reminisce about who are favorites were and who we can't wait to hear next year (or not...)  We always leave refreshed and renewed, and in such a peaceful state of mind.  The plans for next year are already forming.  Someday, we hope to live in Jonesborough and be able to pay it forward and host other people as they discover this wonderful event.

Night falls on The Swapping Ground