Truth vs the Story

A few days ago our city librarian asked me to read "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith and then lead a discussion for the local book club. I was a bit surprised that she approached me. Why me? I'm not even a member of the club. I'm not particularly well versed in the classics. I have no real education in literature. But, as most of you know, I do love books--all kinds of books--and I decided to accept the opportunity. I'm so glad I did. I'm only about a third of the way through and I am delighting in the experience.

One part that I really liked:
"I'll not punish you for having an imagination."
Gently, Teacher explained the difference between a lie and a story. A lie was something you told because you were mean or a coward. A story was something you made up out of something that might have happened. Only you didn't tell it like it was; you told it like you thought it should have been...........
"You know, Francie, a lot of people would think that these stories that you're making up all the time were terrible lies because they are not the truth as people see the truth. In the future, when something comes up, you tell exactly how it happened but write down for yourself the way you think it should have happened. Tell the truth and write the story. Then you won't get mixed up."
It was the best advice Francie ever got. Truth and fancy were so mixed up in her mind--as they are in the mind of every lonely child--that she didn't know which was which.......
If she had not found this outlet in writing, she might have grown up to be a tremendous liar.

I really got thinking about all the wonderful fiction that we would be missing, if others like Francie had only told the truth and never written the story. And think of all the truths that we learn from stories that are not necessarily true. I believe in being honest, in telling the truth. But I am grateful for the talented others who can so wonderfully share the stories.
What would life be without books.

I'm sure there will be more from this book to share later. I have a couple more weeks to finish reading before the review meeting.

Volunteers

Saturday night I attended a Bear Lake Memorial Hospital Foundation banquet in Montpelier, Idaho. A friend had asked me to sing following the dinner, before the report and awards were given. It was a lovely affair. I brought Seth along to enjoy the food and music. We were surprised at how interesting and heart warming the evening was. It is quite amazing how many hours of volunteer work are donated each year to keep the hospital running. Thousands of dollars are raised and donated, too. I couldn't help but think of Dede's time at LDS Hospital and Sue's with the Susan B Komen Foundation. I'm sure you could tell hundreds of stories about the amazing volunteer work that goes on in those organizations.
They also recognized two women that had been long time hospital volunteers. One woman continues to serve countless hours each month and her family was there to cheer her on. The other was an older woman who died this last year and her family had set up a scholarship for students from Montpelier in the health care field. An interesting little side note: I chose to sing two Broadway pieces and the whole room erupted into smiles and applause and then tears before I was even finished. (I thought, wow, I didn't know I was that good.) It wasn't until towards the end of the evening that the hospital administrator asked if I had known the woman who died. He then proceeded to explain that she was a "Broadway Babe" and was always singing for this and that and "would have LOVED my two songs and probably would have joined in"!
So, anyway, I can't help but ponder on what our world would be like if there were not people willing to share what they have--time, money, enthusiasm, talents, love, willingness, encouragement--to help others around them. I know I'm grateful and will be more aware now of all the volunteering that goes on around me and more willing to get out there and do my share.

So now I'm a blogger...

Saturday Ben and Heidi and the kids came up for a visit. It's so nice to have them close enough to do that! While Ben was here he set up the beginnings of this blog for me. And, while I'm not really too proficient at computer stuff, I decided that this was within my reach...and was something I could do...and was something I wanted to do. So if you are reading this then you will know that I have at least figured out the basics and will now begin some sort of journal/thought book/idea storage/news letter in a blog of my own. I'm not sure how often or how much I will write yet. But I believe this will be a great new outlet for me. I look forward to more later...........

Ben made me do this!

Here is a trial run.