May 12th, 2010
This is my youngest daughter Liv.
Tonight at dinner I was invited into the most fanciful story I’ve heard in a long time. Spurred on by the laughter and sensing the delight of her audience, Liv spun a tale taking several characters from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and inserting herself in the story.
In Liv’s tale, there is an Oompa land, a Loompa land, an Oompa Loompa Land, the chocolate factory has exploded and Willy and Charlie now come to our house to live with us until the factory can be rebuilt. Like most good storytellers, Liv weaves details allowing the extraordinary to break into the everyday in a plausible way. I was surprised at the depth of detail in Liv’s story and at the longevity of her story. She would probably still be going if we hadn’t had to move on with the rest of our evening!
Later in the evening as Liv was going through her bedtime routine, during her prayers she thanked God for our imaginations. Which got me thinking, when was the last time I thanked Him for imagination?
As I was leaving her room, Liv said to me:
“You don’t have to be little to imagine stuff like that.” (She was talking about the story she told.)
“I know” I said, smiling.
“What do you imagine?” Liv asked next and before I could answer she said:
“You haven’t got time to?”
Although the statement was asked innocently enough, with no ulterior motive in sight (except perhaps putting off bedtime) it served as an indictment:
This storyteller needs to start weaving some tales of her own again.
No time to imagine? I don’t think so little one.
Let the stories begin…
Family, On my mind | 
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October 16th, 2009
While traveling a few months ago, Jocelyn asked me what my favorite season was. I told her. A few minutes later she handed me a small piece of paper. On it she had written a poem. I’ve been waiting to share it . . .
Autumn
written by Jocelyn Berry
The cool mountain breeze rustles the colorful leaves on the ground
A soft sound echoes through the night
Whoo-Whoo
Whoo-Whoo
The sound of the stream trickling over dark rocks completes this autumn scene
The leaves stops rustling
The owl stops hooting
All is quiet
A full moon lights the night sky
Family | No Comments »
July 9th, 2009
This is my daughter Jocie. Her last writing assignment in 4th grade was to write a memoir. Not just a collection of thoughts or an essay about who she is, but to zero in about something specific she would want others to know about her.
If you were to write your memoir and could only write about one specific characteristic, trait or quality, what would it be?
Here is Jocie’s memoir.
Laughter
By Jocelyn Berry
Laughter is like a large wave in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It crashes down, pushing you into the giant pool of excitement, happiness, and giggles. The pressure of laughter pushes you down, down, down into into the endless surroundings of happiness. The feeling is sensational. Before you know it, the pressure becomes too much. You shoot to the top, bubbling over, spitting out giggles.
Laughter is never stoppable. It is possible to hold in the noise type of laughter, but not the laughter on the inside. Laughter is a sign to an emotion everyone knows: Happiness. Laughter is like a dog waiting for the right time to dash for the hot dog. Inside you, the dog runs for the hot dog and grabs it. At the same time, you burst out laughing. I rarely go a day without laughing. Whether its funny book, a strange joke, the combination of pizza toppings they have at restaurants, or just a simple mistake I made, I’ll take the pleasure to laugh.
I know laughter is the key to having fun. I remember, one day in the backseat of the car, there was two sister time bombs. My sister told one joke, causing us to explode with laughter. Laughter helps to top off my day, like the cherry on top of a mountain of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream, surrounded by two ripe bananas, chocolate syrup lava dripping down the sides. That makes it a wonderful day.
Laughter is like a fisherman luring you to take the bait, pulling you to the very different world of laughter. Laughter is a joyful cry bringing moisture to your eyes. Laughter is tossing away your fears away, seeping into your body. Thoughts of clear happy images fill your mind, until the laughter fades away.
Laughter is a tool impossible to lose, or throw away. You can spread, or give away laughter; still keeping it yourself. Laughter is your friend, there to brush away a tear, or to clear away upsetting thoughts. Laughter is like a towel for your mind, wiping away thoughts of anger, sadness, and loneliness.
To me, laughter is a shadow, waiting for sadness to fight. Laughter helps me get through tough days. Laughter is the key to having fun.
Oh how I enjoy watching this creative soul unfold.
Authenticity, Family | 1 Comment »
