Well, we’re nearing the end of another year. Around this festive time, we, at Better Said Than Done, like to have a storytelling party, sharing tales and warmth and love and light.
And that’s just what we’ll be bringing you on Thursday, December 12th as we present Comfort and Joy: Year-End Celebration and Storytelling Show. The show starts on Zoom at 8 P.M. Eastern. Grab those tickets now!
Your emcee for the evening is Chetter Galloway, and he’ll be bringing you this merry and bright bunch of superb tellers: Willy Claflin, Tobey Ishii Anderson, Jim Kissane, Joan Leotta, Roopa Mohan, Andy Russell, Anne Shimojima, and Liz Weir. Additionally, we’ll be showing our annual Year-in-Review video with our group’s highlights over the last year. On top of that, everyone who buys a ticket will get a PDF copy of our annual recipe collection, with dishes from the night’s contributors and our wider storytelling community. And finally, BSTD fearless leader and Executive Director Jessica Robinson closes out the evening with a special holiday toast.
To wet your whistle for what the night has in store, I asked our tellers to let us know what has brought them comfort and joy in the year soon ending. Here’s what they had to say…
Willy Claflin: After 80 years of working as a solo artist, I finally discovered the joy of collaboration! This past year I have been working with storyteller Dovie Thomason to create a 90 minute performance called A Space Oddity. What a marvelous feeling it is to be engaged in co-creation!
Tobey Ishii Anderson: Walking the El Camino in Portugal with my daughter, Aja, brought me great JOY! We walked 15 miles a day and I had her total attention when telling stories of how her dad and I met in the Peace Corps. She also got doused with stories about the grandparents, journey to America, the internment camp. Stories got us through the El Camino!
Jim Kissane: My beloved spouse and I celebrated our 40th anniversary, my major source of joy and gratitude. Writing and telling stories continue to be my passion; with two more books published. Not only does this keep my mind sharp and creative, it’s enabled me to expand my circle of storytelling friends globally, finding joy in our shared experiences and mutual respect.
Joan Leotta: This has been a year to trust – selling our house in a difficult market for resales, then finding a rental here in Northern Virginia. All worth it to be near our daughter. If she gets ill again or we become ill our drive is only twenty minutes instead of almost seven hours! All the difficulties of the move pale in comparison to the joy and comfort we have in being able to see our daughter often and know that she is close by.
Roopa Mohan: My greatest joy has been my one and only grand-baby, Kiki. This year I have had the pleasure of watching him grow into a very active and curious toddler. I feel especially happy and blessed when he appreciates my Indian cooking, responds to my songs and stories and seals it with big hug and kiss!
Andy Russell: In 2024, like most years, I find comfort in joy in things that don’t make the news – reconnecting with an old friend, the birth of twin lemurs at an animal rescue I care about, and feeling like I’ve found my tribe, a place where I belong.
Anne Shimojima: I’d have to say that I’ve gotten a lot of comfort and joy from my friendships. Besides my best friend, my husband, of course, I really treasure my friendships with my women friends. They are a wonderful support and a joy to know.
Liz Weir: This has been quite a year for me. I got comfort and joy from receiving good news about my health. First the all clear from cancer for which I had undergone treatment and then I had my heart jump started which was an interesting experience! Presenting at the National Storytelling Conference in Seattle was another highlight as I got to hang out from many of my friends in the U.S.
Jessica Robinson: One thing that has brought me comfort and joy this past year is storytelling. Whether it was listening to the fantastic stories my colleagues told at the Women’s Storytelling Festival, or the National Storytelling Conference, or sharing stories myself at shows in-person and online, or watching people discover the joys of telling their own stories in one of my workshops – I absolutely love the feeling of connection I get when listening to and sharing stories. And since I have been doing this a long time, I absolutely love the many friends I have made over the years thanks to storytelling. And this past year, as I am sure in years to come, I have needed to lean on many of those friends. Storytellers make great friends to lean on, as storytelling builds empathy. So yeah, I have gotten a lot of joy and even more comfort from storytelling, and more precisely, the storytelling community I am blessed to be a part of.
Come join these wonderful yarn-spinners for what is sure to be an evening of fellowship and fun. Get your ticket now! Suggested contribution is $15 dollars, with a minimum contribution of one dollar and an option to tip your tellers. All proceeds are shared among the evening’s stars and Better Said Than Done, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
