Dangerous Ideas

I just got a save the dates e-mail for the 21st Bay Area Storytelling Festival: May 20 and 21, 2006. It’s an event I’ve always liked the idea of, but have never managed to go to. Although when I was in the Do-It-Herself Collective, we did do a Stories in Dolores event, where we met in Dolores Park and for a story circle. People could bring whatever they wanted, but we especially encouraged stories that were handed down. It turned out quite nicely. I talked to my parents about stories they had from their youth. One story they told was about Qu Yuan, whose death and life are celebrated by the Dragon Boat Festival. This is a story I had heard before, too. My Grand Aunt was probably the first to tell the story to my sister and I, and it was probably around the kitchen when she was making joong (aka zongzi). A lot of Chinese stories seem to have to do with food. ;-) My dad also told stories about his mom, who was a very strong woman, dealing with all kinds of troubles from snakes to violent neighbors.