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Note to readers: Christina's journal entries are added periodically as the seasons of the year roll around. To read previous journal entries, choose from the menu on the right.
January 2007:
Journal Entry #5
Dear Storycatchers,
I love to share examples of Storycatching that come across my desk or to my
eager ears, and this new year's greeting actually comes from my mother,
whom many of you will remember from chapters in the book. A few years ago,
since the family children are all young adults, we decided to shift the emphasis
of Christmas to giving away, rather than giving to each other. The following
is a slightly adapted version of the letter my mother wrote to her grandchildren
this holiday season.
To My Grandchildren: Kyle, Bryn, Colleen, Erin, Brandyn, Alicia--and
Joey
Last Christmas, there was a consensus that the families forego any usual Christmas
gift exchange and, instead, do something different with that money and then
tell the story.
Well, I did something different, and here is the story. First, I took a fistful
of twenty-dollar bills from the bank–or rather from my account at the
bank. Then I set up six envelopes with this little blessing included: "This
small gift is yours, receive it and be blessed. If it's a bit of help
today, that is enough and then someday when you are able pass the blessing
along."
Pass-along #1 & 2: I went into the local thrift shop that supports women
who are breaking away from abusive relationships. As I was leaving I passed
two young First Nations women coming into the store. They were very animated
and enjoying their time together. I turned back into the store, handed two
envelopes to the clerk, asking her to give them to those two women after I
had left. So, trusting the experience, I left.
Pass-along #3: WalMart--which I don't go into for ANYTHING at all--however,
I thought there would be an opportunity to perform my little activity. I saw
a store cart loaded with three little girls. The mother was looking at little
girls' clothing items. The oldest girl looked at me and called me a witch
(I was wearing a black hat). I smiled and said, "There are good witches
and bad witches". I noticed the smallest girl in the saddle seat looked
to be a Down syndrome child. I hung around for a few minutes, finally just
walked up to the busy mom, handed her the envelope and said, "I think
you dropped this", turned and walked quickly away.
Pass-along #4: I was entering the local thrift shop again with a stuffed animal
to give away when I met a young girl with her mother. I offered her the stuffed
animal, asking if
she was collecting them. The child took it and the envelope I handed along
with it and
we went our separate ways.
 Pass-along #5: the man who had just installed my new kitchen flooring came
back to do a small repair. He had been telling me his 16-year old daughter
had left school and was pregnant. I asked him to give her my envelope without
saying how he got it.
Pass-along #6: I recently met a woman on disability, recovering from hip surgery
and living in one of the town's subsidized residences. I just pressed
the envelope in her hand and said, "Forget where this came from, and
use it for your care."
Blessings and Happy Christmas to you all.
Love, Grandma Connie
Remember the invitation to share some of your stories is always available on the www.storycatcher.net web site, and books signed to your friends available at the office: www.peerspirit.com.
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