Word for the Week: Story

"People tend to forget that the word 'history' contains the word 'story'." --Ken Burns

The word for the week over my way is: story. As in querying my story, and immersing myself in others' stories in preparation for my next historical fiction book now in the plotting stages.

Story is also a fitting word as we commemorate Memorial Day.

Memorial day was originally set aside as a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. From Memorial Day History: "Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868, by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was first observed May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery...Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all."

Think of the stories embedded in all the Memorial Days down through history. There wouldn't be enough history books to hold them.

From Wikipedia: "Begun as a ritual of remembrance and reconciliation after the Civil War, by the early 20th century, Memorial Day was an occasion for more general expressions of memory, as ordinary people visited the graves of their deceased relatives, whether they had served in the military or not."

More stories, passed on generation to generation. Beautiful stories, sad stories. Courageous stories. Hopeful stories. Stories of endurance, love, adventure, sacrifice. Multiplied over and over again. Story is a word that speaks of humanity, and of living life.

Story:

• "You have to understand, my dears, that the shortest distance between truth and a human being is a story." --Anthony de Mello
• "There have been great societies that did not use the wheel,but there have been no societies that did not tell stories." --Ursula K. LeGuin
• "Stories are the creative conversion of life itself into a more powerful, clearer, more meaningful experience. They are the currency of human contact." --Robert McKee

 Story happens to be my word. What's your word for the week?

*photo courtesy of  sxc.hu/

From (Not For) the Birds

"Chorus Line" Print by Artist Wendy Wegner

The woodpecker started it all. I heard the tapping--actually, it was more like hammering--before I saw him. I was surprised at how small he was compared to the noise. He sure worked hard for his supper.

Then a flock of goldfinches sprang up. Have you ever noticed the gladness in a goldfinch's flight? They dip and soar like iridescent bubbles blown from a child's wand. A little farther on and a cardinal flitted by, a splash of red on green canvas, and a dove cooed. An owl hooted.

And I took messages from them home with me...

Woodpecker: Dig deeper for the good stuff, even if it sometimes feels like you're beating your head against a tree (or computer). Your writing--and relationships--will be better for it.

Goldfinch: Write, and live, with as much gladness as you can. There are many things to be thankful for that are often taken for granted. Just like you can't hold bubbles or a goldfinch in your hands, time passes too quickly to get bogged down in the little things.

Cardinal: Brighten someone's day at the birdfeeder, water cooler, supper table or any other gathering place. Your stories, and your days, will be better because you reach out to others.

Owl: Give a hoot--for what someone else has to say. We might feel like we'd like to hole up alone in a tree sometimes, but we can learn a lot from others.

Dove: Go in peace as much as you can. Find ways to reduce stress. Work out the tension in those tight muscles. And tell someone how much you appreciate them. Especially this Memorial Day--a day to reflect on our blessings, and to remember and honor those who sacrificed to help make them possible.

Happy Memorial Day.