Sounds of Summer--Outdoor Concerts, Kids Laughing, Splashing, Singing their Songs

While summer brings out the kid in everyone, it's really a grand time for children to run about on the green grass, play on swings and playgrounds, swim and even hear music outdoors or in, with time to sing along or meet the charachters of a play such as after The Little Mermaid at the Sharon Playhouse in CT or free concerts in Great Barrington MA.

Falls Village CT is famous for the inspirnig Music Mountain Classical Music Concerts (aired on www.npr.org) and now other offerings as well. The Guthrie Center comes to life each season with music (including Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Orion whose new release Wassaic Way is making waves around the country).

Meeting Sarah and Johnny's lovely kids was a treat for me at their concert which I afforded by volunteering, making a few friends along the way. That was shortly after seeing Circus Smirkus perform gynnastic and aerial feats along with playful themes of clowning under a big tent.

Made me recall my own childhood carnival we'd put on for friends, with a trick of using a rope to help us roll a big metal barrel by the great pine--a sign of peace for some Natives-- in our front yard. Taking kids along to see a show or concert leads to singing and dancing to keep the themes going.

Sometimes what a young one won't do one moment, she will the next if Ariel or friendly creatures are in a bind and need her help to pick up a mess or finish a meal...or go to sleep. Sometimes it is easier to imagine a story happening when the lights are out, so that can help with the getting ready for bed part.

While there is a trick or two to telling a story, working with a basic fairy tale or character who is having a rather reasonable problem (I had Ariel help patch up a leak in a ship from the outside which a shark had made, and then the sailors finished patching it from the inside since it was still trickling. )

With groups like Toastmasters sharing a Table Topics theme about Robin Williams for 2 minutes each for speakers to reflect on their response to his life, his passing, his work or whatever it meant to them--see my post on that and which I included in my short talk--the days can become times to gather informally to reflect on life's happenings.

Shopping in stores brought me face to face with a former nursery school teacher who I could report on how some of the kids she had were past their 25th birthdays now and reflect how quickly two decades could pass. Her 'boys' were now 33 and that seems amazing, and I've never met them in person. I told a friend that the teacher had shared she sang Silent Night to them every night for about  7 years. One was an early riser, and the other never quite got over the fact he'd have to get out of bed and stick with school routines for years.

They're doing fine now and worked together for a while too, maybe still do. I told her of being Guido's (an upscale grocery store with lush vegetable on displays where we happened to be) with our son Kaelan when he was about 5 and he said happily, "Look, Mom, an egg planet!" as he dashed to show me an eggplant. I thought I should mention this now to  Steven Spielberg since his Dome story relates to the mystery of an energized egg.

Meanwhile I need to get The Jewel story published here or 'for real..stay tuned. That was written for my kids who would insist on a story 'out of my mouth' not from a book..and 'a new part the next night'. To kids and storytellers the world over, may our summers and all seasons of the year be chock full of pleasant surprises and time to tell the tales...