Liz Warren | Storyteller

Let's start the year with a splash of Champagne and great traditional storytelling!

Did you know that according to
French law only wine produced in the French region of Epernay can be called
Champagne? All other sparkling wines must use a different name. Otherwise they
will be guilty of misrepresentation if they insist on calling their brand
Champagne.

There are many traditions around
the production of champagne. In France, the Champagne makers have a tradition of
presenting the spirit of the vintage bottle, which means the year champagne
will be sent to market. Just like the Champagne makers, we have stories that
are full of traditions that have been passed down for generation to share with
others.

The way I chose to
start my year is with a toast of Champagne and fabulous traditional
storytelling. Every New Year’s Eve my husband and I have a tradition of
toasting each other with champagne.  I
tilt my glass towards my lips, and then thoughts flow of stories, adventures
and dreams that have passed by that year. 

Now
I pass my stories to another generation of children in hopes that someday they
will also tell them. At the end of 2012, I had spent many hours preparing,
practicing and telling stories at different Boys and Girls Clubs.  I was
excited about my storytelling time but I was also nervous about it. There were
interruptions with loud speakers calling out many times through the
storytelling and there were mishaps with impatient children, and some misbehaving.
Then there were the days of doubting myself, wondering if was I ready with my
storytelling. Regardless I still fulfilled my commitment to the children.

I also had my treasured days,
including children laughing with sparkling eyes of captivation and the
unexpected hugs.  I know that I was true to my passion for storytelling,
and I picked the stories that I loved.  At that time I did not know it but
the love of the stories flows from telling of the story.  The final day of
my storytelling practicum came, or was it just the beginning? The children gave
me a thank you card that was hand- made on the last day of my storytelling. On
the outside of the card they drew open books and on the books it said, “Storyteller,
Miss Peggy.” The children called me Miss Peggy.  The books drawn on the
card showed imagination, thoughts and dreams. Inside of the card it said,
“Thank you, Ms. Peggy the buddies loved the stories and the adventures you took
us on.”  The children had each printed their names.

I told my last stories that
evening and once again I saw the enjoyment from the children in their bright
eyes. They asked me when I could come back. I learned to have fun with my
telling and it shone through in my stories.

Love the story you tell and
that love will flow out to your audience. It is like a spray of a newly popped
bottle of champagne we can share with others. We can plant new adventures of
stories in the children's minds and perhaps they can become storytellers
too.  We pop open a vintage bottle of Champagne like a new story from a
traditional source to go along with the New Year. Now I sip my Champagne with
sparkling thoughts of tomorrow.