What a beautiful night we had Thursday, with the perfect number of tellers and an audience that was ready to pop at any moment. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been coming to our shows for 15 years and never told a story. You are just as important as anyone who walks up to the mic. Love and support count for a lot at FGS.
First-time tellers Chris and Ujjwal both told stories we’re still talking about. Thank you for letting us get to know you through your stories. Please come back and tell more with us.
As usual, we learned a lot that night. We learned what happens when your life turns into a country song, and that the best way to ask a woman out might be to ask for her zip code.
We learned what happens when you miss a bus in Pittsburgh, that making the Olympics might not be the hardest thing you ever do, and how to set your mother free long after she died.
We know now that dogs can save us in ways that sometimes humans can’t, that aging parents can thrive in places where they’re appreciated and can go downhill fast in places where they aren’t, and that against all odds, love can be found at the Denny’s in Tumwater.
In the end, we learned what it means to put memories in their place and choose to live in the present.
I’m so damn grateful to everyone who walked up to the mic that night. I hope everyone who came out Thursday met someone interesting. A lot of friendships have begun with someone walking up to a teller after the show and thanking them for their story.
I also want to thank everyone who donated through Venmo or tossed a few bucks in Mr. Coffee. I convert all donations into annual memberships to the Swedish Club and give them away after the show. I was so happy to give away a record number of memberships this month. Not only does that allow us to keep doing our shows there, it also supports a place that gets people out of their house and spending time with each other in person. Viking disco, Bezerkaoroke, Swedish pancake breakfasts, Soup and Cinema, and Friday Night Dinner and Music are just some of the things you can do at the club. Next year we might even be able to go there and cheer on the women’s soccer world championship 🙂
Next month the club will be doing its first big renovation since 1962. The end result will be more room for us on the third floor where we hold our shows. Until then, we’ll be holding our shows in the lobby on the street level. It might take me a couple months to figure out the perfect chair arrangement, but we’ll have fun no matter which way we’re facing. Once the renovations are done, we’ll be back upstairs with the best view in town.
Our next show is November 19th. The theme is “Getting Lost.” I’ll get the invite out as soon as I can. If you’re working on a story, stop by our free monthly online workshop. The next one is Sunday, Nov. 1.
If you didn’t get enough storytelling last week, come out this Friday to 7 Stories in Burien. Some of my favorite tellers come from there to tell at FGS.
https://www.meetup.com/7-stories/events/316951748/
Now go out and make some bad choices so you can come back with a story.
See you next month!
Paul
freshgroundstories@gmail.com
