I guess it should come as no suprprise that some of my very fvorite Catters have contributed to this thread. I was going to contribute a story, but am having trouble digging up the details from my memory. I put the story into a song, as Alan is considering, but I'll be darned if I can find a tape of it. I'll keep looking. The story is a family story of a friend of mine that occurred early in the last century. The details, and names aren't in the song but the essence of the story is there.

Story-telling is a gift, like music. Two people could tell the same story with the same facts. One could totally mesmerize you and one could put you sound asleep. The difference is capturing the "message" within the story, in whatever way you can. Unfortunately, in most people's eyes, storytelling is something you "perform." And most performance opportunities are in front of children. There is an endless supply of stories that are fascinating, heart-warming, funny, even challenging that lie a wasting because they wouldn't fit on a CD, or go over at the local library.

When I do songwriting workshops, my first advice is always to shut up and listen to the people around you.

Jerry