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You Get to Vote on a New TGB Feature

For eight-and-a-half years, from 2007 to 2015, I published a companion blog to this one called The Elder Storytelling Place [ESP].

On each of five days a week, there was a new story written by a reader and in total during that time, about 300 individuals delighted, entertained and informed us with somewhere in the vicinity of 2200 stories.

They are still online and you can browse them here.

ESP came to an end when I realized I needed to cut back on the seven-day work-week I had maintained since Time Goes By [TGB] launched in 2004. A short time later, I also stopped publishing TGB on Tuesdays and Thursdays to give myself some breathing space.

Nancy Leitz, who died last week at age 89, was a star contributor to ESP and as I scrolled through some of her stories while preparing the announcement for last Saturday's post, it struck me that on a limited basis maybe we could resurrect this feature.

Perhaps, I thought, we could use those two empty days, Tuesdays and Thursdays, for a mini-version of The Elder Storytelling Place – two stories a week.

Here is part of what I wrote at that blog about what ESP was for:

”Everyone loves a good story. Long before there was written language, cavemen told stories by firelight, passing on the lore of their tribes to the next generations. When we elders were children, our parents read stories to us.

“At family gatherings, grandparents and aunts and uncles retold the incidents and events of our family histories. And today, we continue the tradition with our children and grandchildren.

“Among Carl Jung’s seven tasks of aging is to find meaning in one’s life and one way to help in this task is to pull together, piece by piece, one’s memories – great and small – into a coherent storyline.

“In doing so, there is a natural shift of our attention inward, says Jung, leading to the removal of regret and to reconciliation. In telling our stories we not only fulfill Jung’s task for ourselves, we pass on the wisdom we have gained to those who listen or read.”

And here are some of the guidelines we used then and I would use again:

Anyone who is age 50 or older may submit stories.

You do not need to keep a blog or any other kind of website to submit stories.

Stories may be original or may have been previously published in a magazine, other website or blog. To avoid this blog becoming a promotional tool for authors and publishers, stories may not be excerpts from published books.

Of course, all stories must be written by you.

Although Time Goes By is copyright by me, story contributors retain the copyright their their stories.

It seems to me that I should be able to prep two stories a week for publishing without burying myself in extra work. So if you are interested in bringing back ESP on this new, limited basis, let me know in the comments below (in the comments only; no email).

You can just type yes or no. Whichever gets the most votes will determine if I go ahead with this feature.

Because all that is a bit dry, for those of you read this far, here is an amusement for you from our friend Darlene Costner. It is called The Amazing Human Body and I have no idea if these facts are true. But just go with it and you'll be rewarded with a good laugh at the end):

It takes your food seven seconds to get from your mouth to your stomach.

One human hair can support 6.6 pounds.

The average man's penis is two times the length of his thumb.

Human thighbones are stronger than concrete.

A woman's heart beats faster than a man's.

There are about one trillion bacteria on each of your feet.

Women blink twice as often as men.

The average person's skin weighs twice as much as their brain.

Your body uses 300 muscles to balance itself when you are standing still.

If saliva cannot dissolve something, you cannot taste it.

Women will be finished reading this by now.

Men are still busy checking their thumbs.

Don't forget to vote yes or no in the comments below.


Comments

Yes Yes
Loved the stories

Yes, please.

I did not read the stories; but, that doesn't mean that they should not be brought back for those who enjoyed reading them. I know how to skip a posting - lol.

Yes, please. At the rate of only two a week, I might be able to keep up.

Yes, please. And thank you, thank you, thank you ... and all your contributors, whether readers who comment or posters.

Yes

Yes! In 2014/2015 I contributed ten stories. They were written during a period of convalescence. When I was not able to do many normal activities, my personal goal of one story each month gave my days a purpose... beyond pt appointments. I enjoyed reading the stories but writing them and especially reading the comments were a high.

So ESP-2 readers... if Ronni does resurrect this blog... please remember to comment. It makes the writer's day.

And with that in mind... YEA DARLENE!

Yes --- great idea -- it will give those of us who visit your site every day something to read on Tuesdays and Thursdays!!

Yes - missed it before and would love to take part in it again, as well as read other seniors' stories. Thank you for thinking of making it a "comeback."

Yes

What a wonderful idea, so YES.

Yes.

Still can't find that dang tape measure. Do I include the metacarpal bone?

Yes, Please!

Resounding Yes.

Yes.

Thanks for a morning grin, Darlene. You know how it's mentioned that men will often "steal a glance" at woman's breasts? Well now....

Yes, please. I'm trying to go back and read some of the old stories.

Yes, please!

Yes, please.

Yes!

How many times can I type 'yes'?!!!

Sure, bring it on!

Yes.

Yes. Please.

Yes!

It looks like the Yeas have it. Add mine to the list.

That would be lovely! I've missed the stories. Really hope it's not too much work for you.

And thanks for the morning chuckle Darlene!!

Yes, please.

Yes! Yes, please!

Yes. Brilliant idea.

I’d say the “ ayes” have it!

If you’re up to the task of prepping the stories I’m certainly up for enjoying them. So Yes- and Thank you!

Yes.
You might want to start at one, however. Just thinking of you.

Yes please

Yes please

Yes!

Yes. Thank you.

Yes, please & thanks for the laugh, Darlene.

yes

Yes please!

Yes

Yes, but how about once a week. Keep the load lite.

Yes.

Yes!

Yes, yes, yes! I have missed it so much. Now I will have the incentive back to edit and try to perfect my weekly writings--missing for a while! Thank you SO MUCH!

Yes, wonderful idea.

You are going to be inundated. But I still vote yes.

Yes, thanks for offering!

I have stories on ESP so I vote YES!

YES, and BTW....Thumbs up. Both of them.

Only if you feel up to it. You might find that one a week is enough. As Mom would have said, don't bite off more than you can chew.

Yes and yes.

Yes

Yes! A fine way for individual elder voices to be heard.

Yea

Love the idea. I don't see any dissenters here!

Yes, yes, yes!

Yes, indeed!

Yes, please! And thank you!

Thank you, Darlene, I did indeed laugh!

and YES. Think it is a great idea to devote time to stories.

Yes, yes. I have many stories. I love reading true stories.

Ditto CopCar. I don't get much out of these stories but I can easily skip the posts. Would rather see your energy spent on something else tho.

Yes, please!

Yes, please.

yes ... still laughing at the last line. Will have to share this with my daughter!

Yes please

A sea of yeses!

Yes!

Yes

Yes

Yes please.
Thanks Darlene.

Yes please - but don't overburden yourself, start with one a week.

Yes! Yes! I vote for "one a week" for starters . The last thing any of us want is for it to become a chore. You should find as much pleasure in the new feature as we do. Ann

Yes! (and Thank You!)

YES, and thank you for letting us weigh in on this...

It seems redundant to add another resounding YES but YES it is.

The stories were what brought me to TGB years before I began commenting I was a lurker reader who came for the wonderful stories.

6yrs indeedy....I got a few.

Being a newbie I am not familiar with the Blog. It sounds interesting...so Yes

Yes, if you don't get overwhelmed.

Yes! I always enjoyed reading the personal stories.

Yes please!

Yes

Yes!

Yes please!

Yes, please.

No.
Just kidding! Of course yes - and thank you!

I love reading stories, so I vote yes!

Yes, definitely, but I might agree with Mage--once per week just to keep the load light and "see what happens" (to quote the eminently unquotable current--and I SO hope temporary--occupant of the Oval Office).

Yes, but... With more than 80 yesses already, many of whom seem to be ready to go with stories, I have a feeling you are going to be overwhelmed with submissions. But it’s your blog. You can change your mind again if or when you want to you. I look forward to reading the stories.

Yes, good idea! I visited sporadically— wrote a couple or so stories — others wrote more really good tales than I had time to read, but could always go back anytime which I have — even years later. Trust you’ll wisely know your limits.

Yes, sounds good!


yes! Yes! YES!
and Thanks!

Yes, once a week, please. You may want to think about doing it in the winter only—since we all have more time to read then, and it’s the traditional time for storytelling.

Big yes!

Yes, please!

Absolutely YES and I will definitely contribute again. I loved this feature .

XO
WWW

Yes
So enjoyed the former blog

Excellent idea!

Yes!!❤

You hardly need my yes to make it unanimus

Yes!

I do think once a week would be the way to start. Weekly features are fun. You have two here already: Saturdays here are rich with Interesting Stuff. On Sundays I can always count on learning something about music.

I'd love it if I could also look forward to Teller Tuesdays!

And, you know... if you have the energy for more, that would leave Thursdays open for your next brilliant idea!

Yes, please!

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