WHY I TOOK MY FIRST "WRITE YOUR LIFE" WORKSHOP

Darling Alice Anne!

Mililani, Hawaii 2004

Alice Anne, my long-time “out there’ friend is at it again, badgering me to take a workshop.

“Out there” refers to not only where she lives (out in the country at a former Tibetan Buddhist retreat center) but also to where her mind roams.  She’s a psychic.  But otherwise normal.

For years she’s been telling me about this Hollywood guy who does something with writing or storytelling.  Sounds good, and yes, I write and I like telling stories, but my calendar is already chock full with more important things.  Plus, what?   I have to rough it?  Sleeping dormitory-style with… who-knows-who…?  Puh-leeze!

And this guy, Mark Whatever, I’m sure Alice Anne has a crush on him, the way she goes on about him.  Spare me, please.   

So, okay, he’s special and my writing will take off and I will be transformed and get discovered and be rich and famous and go to Hollywood and… 

Alice Anne just shrugs her shoulders and, turning away, says, “The meals will be catered by Henry.” 

Oh, wait, now you’re talking.  I love Henry and I love whatever he makes.  He is divine!  Totally divine!  I’d do anything to be married to a chef.  Except, it would have to be Henry.

And that’s how I got lured to take Mark Travis’ workshop ten years ago. 

That first workshop was everything I wanted and needed.  I wrote about my mother, wrote things I never imagined I would write.  

In all the years since, and continuing, I keep answering Mark’s challenge:

What would you write about if you had no fear?

 This is how I remember Mark the first time I met him

For the 15^th year Mark Travis will teach his Write Your Life workshops!

Friday-Sunday, January 23-25, 2015

Friday-Sunday, January 30 - February 1, 2015

Sign up now!

Remember, Henry caters the meals.

For more information: http://aliceanneparker.com/marktravis/

HONOLULU MARATHON & WALKING ON WATER

Elsha Bohnert, "Annunciation"

Mixed media collage on mahogany wood panel

Since Christmas gets recycled, again and again, I figure I may as well recycle some of my older paintings too.  Above is my warped version of the "Annunciation."  Better not ask me to explain. 

Meanwhile it's raining cats and crocodiles tonight with storms, wind gusts, and flash flood warnings.  My heart goes out to the (as of 3 days ago) 21,286 marathon runners in town for the annual Honolulu Marathon.  If any came with hopes to better their records or even set new records this year, the weather is certainly not playing in their favor.  

The standard distance for the marathon race was set by the International Amateur Athletic Federation in May 1921 at a distance of 42.195 kilometers or 26 miles 385 yards.  That's a long way to go without resting!

The current world record time for men is 2 hours 3 minutes and 38 seconds, set in the Berlin Marathon by Patrick Makau of Kenya on 25 September 2011, an improvement of 21 seconds over the previous record.

The world best for women was set by Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain in the London Marathon on 13 April 2003, in 2 hours 15 minutes and 25 seconds.  

It boggles my mind how someone can run that fast that long.

Compare that to the average:

4 hours 32 minutes 8 seconds for men

5 hours, 6 minutes 8 seconds for women.

And how about the following two record holders?

The world’s oldest runner is 100-year-old, Fauja Singh, who finished the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, and became the first centenarian ever to complete a run of that distance. Singh, a British citizen, finished the race on 16 October 2011 with a time of 8:11:5.9.

Gladys Burrill, a 92-year-old British woman and part-time resident of Hawaii, previously held the Guinness World Records title of oldest person to complete a marathon with her 9 hours 53 minutes performance at the 2010 Honolulu Marathon.

Don't you think that people who accomplish these astonishing feats of running long distances without pausing,should also be able to automatically walk on water?  That way, if Kalakaua Avenue gets flooded (which it often does during heavy rains), they should have no problem.

Elsha Bohnert, "Walk on Water"

Mixed media collage on canvas 

And now for something non-related to running marathons and walking on water:

Elsha Bohnert, "Running in Place"

Acrylic on mahogany panel

Elsha Bohnert, "Telling True Stories"

Mixed media collage on mahogany panel

Ah, telling true stories.  I look forward to the workshops on auto-biographical storytelling by Mark Travis in January.  Here is a description of his workshop (see his website: www.marktravis.com).

"Autobiographical storytelling is more than telling your stories; it is taking the audience on a journey. This is a journey designed and controlled by the storyteller. And performing the solo show is perhaps any actor’s greatest challenge. Not only do you tell the story but also you create a unique and powerful relationship with the audience. You play all the characters, you play yourself at a variety of ages and you narrate the story from various different points of view. Ultimately, and most importantly, you get to take the audience on a very personal journey and allow them to share with you your life experiences in a profound and meaningful manner. For the performing artist this is pure self-expression." 

This is my annual treat, an opportunity to shed new light on my old stories; find the deeper, more subtle patterns; and practice weaving magic... watching my stories walk on water.