For the love of storytelling

25 August 2010

“The storytelling gift is innate: one has it or one doesn’t. But style is at least partly a learned thing: one refines it by looking and listening and reading and practice – by work.” - Donna Tartt

We made it! Angel and I attended the Facilitator in Training workshop conducted by the Center for Digital Storytelling at Stonebridge Farm (Lyons, Colorado), 9-14 August 2010. We met and enjoyed fellow digital storytellers from various states and one from Canada. Sara, Bev, Charlene, Kate, Melissa, and Nina – we will remember you for a long time! Daniel Weinshenker, Stefani Sese, and Kayann Short – thank you for the wonderful time! You have been a great help in our learning process.

Shall we dance?

25 August 2010

“Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one.” ~Stella Adler

I felt so nourished to have attended for the first time Via Affirmativa (at Glen Eyrie, Colorado Springs) – a gathering of artists from various places.;-) One of the performances the other night was — tango! ;-) Yay! “More, more!” we requested. The dancers are from Spain and Greece. Ah, lovely!

Arelia

22 August 2010

Took a train from Portland to Seattle. Met a nice fellow train traveller. My name reminded him of a song, he said. ;-) So here it goes. Thank you, Jonathan, for the song, and so far, for the friends and places that left a big smile on my heart. Forever grateful! Cheers!

All My Loving

15 August 2010

From the Live Music Capital of the World – Austin! ;-) Early this month, I had the chance to walk around downtown Austin on my own. I went to 6th Street, probably its most famous street that has over a hundred venues that stage live music every night. Went to a couple of them! ;-) )))))))))))

Letting go

20 July 2010

On my way to Seattle from Portland, I had a good chat with a fellow train traveler. Talked about work, life, culture, history, etc. After some silence, he pulled a paper from his bag and showed me a poem given to him by a friend – ‘Letting Go Takes Love’. I took notice of the words ‘letting go’. How interesting! When I began this journey, I’ve written on my journal on Day 1: “…But I guess most, if not all, journeys begin by letting go, by saying goodbye to something, or someone…” And I did. A stranger reminded me that today. He had no clue how much it meant to me. ;-)

To let go does not mean to stop caring, it means I can’t do it for someone else.
To let go is not to cut myself off, it’s the realization I can’t control another.
To let go is not to enable, but allow learning from natural consequences.
To let go is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands.
To let go is not to try to change or blame another, it’s to make the most of myself.
To let go is not to care for, but to care about.
To let go is not to fix, but to be supportive.
To let go is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being.
To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes,
but to allow others to affect their destinies.
To let go is not to be protective, it’s to permit another to face reality.
To let go is not to deny, but to accept.
To let go is not to nag, scold or argue,
but instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.
To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires,
but to take each day as it comes and cherish myself in it.
To let go is not to criticize or regulate anybody, but to try to become what I dream I can be.
To let go is not to regret the past, but to grow and live for the future.
To let go is to fear less and love more and to let go and to let God, is to find peace!
Remember: The time to love is short.
- author unknown

Mt Multnomah Falls

19 July 2010

My friend Miriam took me to Multnomah Falls today – the tallest waterfall in Oregon.;-) It was a cool day, but with sunshine. I heard an old lady explored in joy, “Oh, sun! Sun! I am so glad to have the sun shining today!” :-)

I walked all the way up to the bridge. It was getting colder and colder. I haven’t had my exercise for a while now, and I began to pant. But I saw a man before me, on crutches, effortlessly took the .2-mile (about 1,000ft) trail up the bridge. Haha! The sight of him gave me strength. ;-)

Oh, by the way, I am not a Twilight fan, so I didn’t know that these waterfalls were featured in the 2008 movie Twilight ;-) No wonder I saw Twilight photos, posters, etc. at the souvenir shop there. ;-)

Also enjoyed the ride along Columbia River Gorge. Fascinating to be standing in Oregon, while watching Washington just right on the other side of the river. ;-)


Day 14: Tawanda!

19 July 2010

No surprises for this trip, or so I thought!

I went to see a long time friend Miriam and her family in Portland. I had no idea of the big surprise that awaited me.;-)

Jack and Miriam drove me around downtown of Portland and took me to a house later. They said they would like to introduce me to a friend. The one who opened the door for us was no other than the person I also wanted to see one day soon  - Tawanda! ;-) )) Haha! I was just thinking of emailing her and just let her know where I was at the moment. I had no clue I was scheduled to have dinner with her and her family at a Mexican restaurant last night. Aaahhhhh! Haha.

Mt Hood

19 July 2010

Just about a day after I arrived in San Francisco, I left for Portland to see a friend. I was sleepy on the plane, confused with time, tired yet excited at the same time. ;-) Just few minutes before landing, I was suddenly wide-eyed. From my window, I saw a snow-covered mountain – the first time ever! ;-) Later I found out it was Mt Hood, home to 12 glaciers, the highest mountain in Oregon. Oh, lovely!

Eternal summer

18 July 2010

“There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart.”  ~ Celia Thaxter

(Photo taken on a day out with friends Katya, Arlene, Amy, and Angel at Crystal Springs along Half Moon Bay (San Mateo County). One of my favorites.)

A sea of wonder

17 July 2010

I was in Singapore for only about 24 hours from my trip to the Philippines. Yesterday, on Day 12, my colleague Angel and I took off for San Francisco. It was an 18-hour-and-50-min flight. Flew 8,441 miles. ;-) I was lost in transition.;-) I didn’t care. I just marveled at the sight of the sky.  The thrill of not knowing time.

I would wake up and fall asleep, eat, read, etc. I would look at the clouds during the day, and look at the stars when it was night. I would fall asleep and wake up  again and so on.  Awesome! The thick clouds were fascinating! It looked like a sea. If I haven’t seen land and if I live up in the sky, I wouldn’t know land existed at all! :-) Lovely!

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