Soaring Stories » Inspirations and Images

yes! yes! yes!

regi — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:04:39 +0000

I am so excited to be telling my stories this year at the National Festival! I went there once before and had so much fun that my face actually started cramping from smiling so much. I came away knowing I wanted to share my stories there with stories other artists and musicians. Hooray!

letting story lead

regi — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:13:54 +0000

…it is only the story that can continue beyond the war and the warrior. It is the story that outlives the sound of war-drums and the exploits of brave fighters.

It is the story…that saves our progeny from blundering like blind beggars into the spikes of the cactus fence. The story is our escort; without it, we are blind.
Does the blind man own his escort? No, neither do we the story;
rather it is the story that owns us and directs us.”
–Chinua Achebe, Anthills of the Savannah (1987)

Making Deals with Death

regi — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:28:06 +0000

Coyote loses his wife and howls. The Death Spirit agrees to take Coyote to his wife in the Land of the Dead if Coyote follows the rules.

Hunh! ”No problem,” says Coyote…

He follows Death Spirit, does it right, smiles, looks, keeps his hands to himself.

Gets to Land of the Dead. Sees his wife. Does it right, smiles, looks, hands to himself.

Wants to live there. no can do, says Spirit. We don’t live. Go back. Take wife. Follow rules. Go 4 days, don’t touch wife or she goes back. You won’t.

Hunh! No problem, says Coyote.

Does it right, looks, smiles, hands to himself first day.

Second day same.

Third day same.

Fourth day. So happy. Wife so beautiful. So clear.

Coyote forgets. Hunh! Problem.

Hands on her. She goes back. He doesn’t.

Death Spirit says “You ruined it Coyote. if you had succeeded, we could have all come back.”

Coyote sorry. Tries again.

No Spirit. No wife. No chance.

Coyote promises to be good, smile, look, keep hands to himself.

Coyote sad.

Coyote learns his nature.

No deals with Death.

Jayne Demakos

regi — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 22:58:44 +0000

I sing and make music with an amazing woman named Jayne Demakos. Jayne is the music director for Hospicare in Ithaca, NY as well as a pianist, harpist and singer , a composer and a director. She is currently creating a music CD for Hospice patients and their families. The project involves many skilled and inspired musicans and I am so pleased to be asked to join them. Our song, “Beauty” is an Emily Dickinson poem put to harp, cello, and two voices. The other singer is the angelic Amy Glickman. The cellist is the incomparable, Lizzy Simkin. We rehearsed today in preparation for our recording. Some moments in my life are perched between heaven and earth. This morning’s singing was one of those. The words, so short, sweet, achingly simple and concise- reached out to still us and call us to the love we feel for one another.

Celebrating Life

regi — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 02:16:08 +0000

This Saturday I was lucky enough to be invited into Ed, Jackie, and Noah Gottlieb’s home to tell stories for their friends in honor of Noah’s fourth birthday. I rarely do children’s parties but how lucky I was to do this one. My children are grown and no longer have birthday parties . Our greatest claim to fame was that on each of my son’s 9th birthday, I threw them a food fight birthday party. Trust me, this is FUN!!! And Messy! And FUN!!! Do it! Near a body of water!

No food was thrown at Noah’s party. Instead, the front room was warmed by a wood stove. We wore silly hats. We played instruments, ate chocolates and homemade cake. While I stood in the kitchen I saw pregnant mothers, children, loving dads, and all the love in the room was bursting my heart open. This beautiful life is just moments of family members saying “I love you. I am so glad you are in my life. Let’s celebrate. Pick a hat.”