Today's Sunday Passage is brought to you in seven chapters. (That way you can skip through any that are not of interest to you!)

Chapter 1: Rain
Chapter 2: PBS Television Special
Chapter 3: Talent Show
Chapter 4: Storytelling
Chapter 5: The Vagina Monologues
Chapter 6: Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera Chapter 7: Rain (Revisited)

Chapter 1: Rain

Today was a day to sleep in...the first for a long time. But then again..sleeping in for me is about 7:30 or so. With my curtains open to the night sky the gray dawn greeted me with cold rain falling hard enough to splash upon my balcony. I love mornings like this..especially when I am home. What a perfect morning to put the coffee on and snuggle down under the covers to read. My book this cold rainy morning is Ireland by Frank Delaney. When I am in school or on the road on mornings such as this, I long to be home. What a gift today is. As a child I loved these mornings as well...tucked into the world of literature of Little Women or Treasure Island.

Chapter 2: PBS Television Show

It was just a couple of weeks ago that I met Amy O'Neal, the producer of PBS documentaries often broadcast as Across America on WFYF, an Indianapolis affiliate. We talked. We E-mailed. We met at Starbucks in downtown Indianapolis.
Amy is young, pretty, talented, and enthusiastic. She also is a lover of stories (even more so now than before) and we both knew that something wonderful would come of this. She wanted to do a piece on preserving family history through storytelling. Amy spent the first part of the week filming at the Historical Society in Indianapolis with Ellen and the Oasis group that Storytelling Arts has funded for this same purpose.

By Friday morning everything was in place for Amy to bring the videographer, Chris, (and all the equipment that could possibly be placed into a large van). They arrived at my school by 11 a.m. to film one of my third grade theatre classes on storytelling. Amy actually chose this class as she loves third grade (often subbing in local schools between producing films)! The kids and I and their classroom teacher, Mary Dutton, spent the week getting permission, working on their stories, and talking about TV behavior! (Try not to look at the camera, don't use one word responses, don't play in the mud during recess Friday morning!) You know the usual third grade stuff.

Amy and Chris spent the afternoon filming our principal, Kimberly, about the value of arts in education, my class, and interviewing students. Chris packed up all the lights and cameras and followed me home where we hauled everything up to Annie's Attic (a wonderful storyland over my garage)! We filmed a tea party with the three little girls across the street...all of us dressed up in old dress up clothes for a tea party. Following that was my interview in my twinkled lighted, antique filled attic. By this time it was close to 6:30 as Chris packed up all the equipment to carry into my house at White Picket Gardens. I had a dinner party planned for some of my closest friends (planned a long time ago), decided to order pizza at the last minute (which was the smartest thing we did)! Aaron and Karen brought the boys over for the last segment of filming...telling stories to my grandbabies. It was quite the event. My house was full of folks...lights and cords strung all over...Matthew was tired by then and just wouldn't sit still for stories, but Jonah was ready and willing for his nighttime story even with the camera and lights in his face. What a wonderful way to end the end...passing stories on to my own grandchildren. By the time Chris and Amy left, our pizza had arrived and we partied til after midnight....some parties are just the perfect time and this one was!

I'll pass along the time the show will be aired!

Chapter 3: The Talent Show

This week was our annual talent show at school. For the first time we had an evening performance which appeared to captivate the town as we were full bleacher to bleacher. My fourth grade theatre students produced the show and it was so well done. I gave the beginning speech and then left our stage area....they had put weeks into this show...auditions..choosing the acts...arranging the show...introductions..stage crew...technical crew.. We had magicians and singers...cowgirls...dancers..twenty acts in all. Several of us teachers did the finale with Grease Lightning...We were attired in rolled up jeans, bobby socks, sneakers, white tee-shirts, scarves, pigtails..we were choreographed with dancing and singing..the kids went wild. Is it possible we could take this on the road?????

Chapter 4: Storytelling

I'll make this short (are you tired of reading yet)? I have also been on the road...and lots of night programs...is that good enough???? One show was at my children's elementary school. I had not been in there for a long time...I had to start the evening bragging about my boys (just a little)!

Chapter 5: The Vagina Monologues

Well, here is my newest project just getting underway after a couple months of planning. As you may remember (my older readers out there) I was in the Vagina Monologues in Fort Wayne last year. The director was Larry Life, the head of the theatre department at the University in Fort Wayne...but, oh, I just couldn't help but thinking...we need a woman director. A friend of mine, Jamie Lemke-Barrand, said to me if every I want to do something with it in Steuben County give her a call. Needless to say, I gave her a call. We have had to get permission for the theatre...get our sponsor...hold auditions...tickets...advertising...lots and lots of work..but, today is our first rehearsal. We have a wonderfully diverse group of women in the show. I must say I am proud to be the director of this show...I know we are on the edge in my small town, but I expect to have a sell out with all the interest this is stirring. If you would like to join me, the show will be Saturday, February 25, my house at White Picket Gardens is open for anyone needing a place to stay! I'll keep you posted on our progress!

Chapter 6: Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera

This week's was Mozart's 250th birthday...I was not able to attend any live performances because of my schedule..but I did turn the NPR station up loudly yesterday afternoon as I cooked supper! It is also the Chinese New Year..so lots of celebrations happening this week.

My book, as I mentioned, is Ireland by Frank Delaney. My music this week is from Home to Me by Coyote, a husband and wife team from the Outer Banks....and it is so beautiful.

Chapter 7: Rain-Revisited

In a few minutes, I'll be wrapping myself in my old yellow raincoat, picking up scripts and notes and my umbrella and walk to town for the first rehearsal.
I am glad I still like splashing in the puddles and hearing the sounds of rain on my umbrella. I'll come home to homemade vegetable soup...light a few candles..and curl up for an evening of reading before Monday morning starts the week all over again.

Until next Sunday....Lou Ann