What I didn't share in that post was my first attempt to have a St. Nicholas Day Eve party. In my first library system, we hired a featured storyteller for the event. In my naivete, I decided that it would be great if everyone shared a story. When I invited people, I asked them to prepare a 3-5 minute story or memory to share.
Instead, many people brought stories to read. Long stories. Plus, I had 25 guests. What had started out as a merry gathering turned into an excruciating example of the alternate definition of "captive audience." I should have had a little bell or timer. Better yet, I should have been the featured storyteller or asked someone else to fill the role. I may yet host another St. Nicholas Day party. You're invited, but remember: keep it short, keep it sweet, and know your audience. (I neglected to mention that one of the few oral stories was a hair-raising memory told by a friend of a friend in cheerful oblivion to the presence of children in the room.)
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| The Claus Family with trees by The Enchanted Cupboard |
Next year, I may sew a St. Nicholas or Father Christmas, but this year I made Santa Claus, joined by Mrs. Claus and a Noel Gnome. If you follow the link, you'll see a photo of Santa Claus hanging out with his good friend, King Winter.
Happy December!
6 comments:
So cute!
Ho boy. Yes. I remember inviting someone to tell Halloween stories at the Library - he was a boy scout leader and was "renowned" for his good ghost stories. WRONG. I don't think it is being a control freak to LIMIT.!!!! People can be nuts.
LSM: Thanks!
Melangell: I had a harder time setting boundaries and limits before I had a child. Now, I feel I set boundaries and limits all the time. It gets exhausting, as you well know. Maybe that's why I've not tried to have the party again?!
Just be on a family vespers committee, and you will learn to shut people up with a vengeance. It's terrible, but I have learned to walk up to someone at a microphone with a smile, put my arm around them, and essentially drag them away.
I have suffered through one too many storytelling events like the one you mention! We really do have a timer at our church...
Oh wow! That's the cutest, most friendly Santa I've ever seen. His beard reminds me of cotton candy :)
Tanita: I am grateful when there are people in church specifically assigned to end "sharing time" when it needs to be ended. Every church I have attended where there is "sharing of joys and concerns," there is one person who Has To Share. Once that person gets the floor, s/he doesn't want to cede it. Once that person gets around to asking us to pray for her friend's neighbor's second-cousin's sprained toe, audience revolt is brewing....
Lisa: Thank you. The fluffier beard is a relatively new edition, as I gained confidence with the felting needle.
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