Kipworld

Last night, I saw the Storyweavers (Dennis and Lucinda Flodin) at Uncommon Storytelling. The place was packed with storytellers, there to see them. Dennis has cancer, and no one’s sure quite how much time he has left. Instead of the usual format for the night, the open mic and featured set was interspersed, to accomodate Dennis.

I didn’t get to tell, but that’s probably a good thing. I had 2 stories to choose from, but neither one really fit the mood of the evening. It wasn’t somber. The feeling I got was that everyone was glad to be there, to celebrate the performers and to show them some love. I haven’t gotten hugged by so many people in so long (it was a very huggy night).

Gary showed up to watch me, and he and his friend were going to leave halfway through, but they stayed. I told him it was a good thing, since walking out in the middle of the show would have been like killing baby Jesus.

Anyway, watching the Storyweavers perform was pretty amazing. They sang songs. Some covers, and some that Dennis wrote. He seemed to gain strength throughout the evening. Some of the other tellers remarked that Dennis has always been able to rise to the occasion. They told the story of their wedding. No one was going to follow that. Megan asked me if I didn’t mind not telling. “Super cool with that, Megan.”

The Storyweavers sang some more. They thanked everyone for being there for them. I’m glad I was there to see it. Telling my wisp of a story really wouldn’t have added anything to the night.

Afterwards, Gary and his friend and I met up with Dan, Rebecca, Laura and Mark, down by Second City. We tried to hit a bar, but Gary’s friend didn’t have ID on her, so we tried Starbucks, which was packed. Final destination was a diner (parking my car sucked). Mark’s in town for the Titanic 10th Anniversary show tonight. After, they went to another show at Second City and I went home.

So, yeah, tonight’s the big show. Haven’t done improv in months, maybe a year. Time to dust off the old memory banks.