Building Brain Power & A Call For Books

The Healthy Brain

By Pat Nease

Storytelling is a vital part of this program and that is the part they wanted me to play, telling for an hour   twice during the four-week run of each group.  I admit I misunderstood the clientele at first, thinking they would be folks on the brink of dementia or already experiencing the same, so I planned my first visit with easy-to-follow stories that might lead to conversations.

Boy, was I wrong!  These were, indeed, older adults, but they were sharp.  They just wanted to stay that way.  I’m so glad I had stories waiting in the wings or I would have been tolerated and then blessed for leaving.

The stories are told in a very relaxed atmosphere with about a dozen people who are eager listeners with lots of questions and no lack of stories of their own, and the appreciations I receive make it so worthwhile.  I look forward to each session and each new group of participants.

So now I’m going to tell you the blunder of my first session.  I arrived and was startled to see people I  knew: Beverly, a teacher with whom I had taught, Don Taylor, a well-known local artist, and a couple of familiar faces from the Woman’s Club.  (Oh, no, I thought.  Do all these folks have dementia?  They seemed just fine.)  I greeted Beverly and Don, obviously a couple, but just couldn’t figure out why they were together. 

Had Beverly’s husband Brian died?  And had Don and his wife Elise divorced?  Of course I complemented Don on his recent art show and caught up with Beverly a bit, but still no hint as to why they were together.  I pondered it in the back of my mind the whole time I was telling – which can be tricky.

It was while getting in my car to leave that it hit me.  That was NOT Don Taylor!  That WAS Beverly’s husband, Brian.  But once I had misidentified him (they look somewhat similar), my brain wouldn’t let it go.  And the whole time Brian was so gracious, never correcting me, just accepting whatever I said about his art and letting it go.

Reaching home, I sent Beverly a message, letting her know how foolish I felt and apologizing to her and Brian.  They thought it was funny.  At the next session, I shared what I had done with the group and we laughed and had a lively discussion about it.  But I think they decided that I needed the sessions more than they did, and maybe we’re helping each other out.  And I think they were right!

Books Wanted

By Walt Belcher

Every time I pass one of those Little Free Library boxes, I peek inside, looking for books about storytelling.

I also go to library book sales where I have found some gems such as “Grimm’s Fairy Tales” and “Aesop’s Fables”.

Also in my collection is Florida storyteller Mary Lou Williams’ “Ten Fractured Fairy Tales.” She also will be a featured teller at the Florida Storytelling Festival. And I have a lot of books about Florida: “Spooky Florida,” “Freaky Florida,” “Haunted Tampa,” “Eerie Florida,” “Florida Cowhunter: The Life and Times of Bone Mizell” and more.

Last year, I took a couple of boxes of the books that I no longer use and donated them to the festival’s annual used book sale. This is a fundraiser held during the festival. It helps raise money to keep us going, and it also keeps these books in circulation instead of sitting on a shelf.

So, we encourage all of you to donate storytelling books to the Florida Storytelling Festival. Bring them to Mount Dora or contact me at wbelcher47@yahoo.com