Grown-up storytime

Storytime was always my favorite time.

Grab a blanket, close my eyes and pretend I could see the characters and run through the scenery. I could sit back and watch the story play out or pretend to be a lead character.

Too often in this world stories get shoved into the toy box and hauled out to the curb during the spring cleaning between childhood and adulthood.

Imagination and suspension of disbelief go the way of the morning cartoon habit.

In adult life we sit through speeches at conferences, listen to orations by government officials, hear stories at funerals.

We need to take the somberness and forced attendance out of these situations and make storytelling a fun activity again.

The first weekend in April looks like a good opportunity. The Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau has planned the second annual Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival for April 3 to 5.

Just like last year, national and regional storytellers will bring their stories — funny, sad and just plain true — to downtown Cape Girardeau.

The 2008 Storytelling Festival drew around 1,100 people. Folks from Michigan drove down to Cape Girardeau to hear the stories and see the town.

The CVB sold more than 480 three-day passes and sold out every night event.

The 2009 Storytelling Festival features national figures Andy Offutt Irwin, Barbara McBride, Bill Lepp and Bobby Norfolk, a St. Louis native. Regional storytellers include Rosie Cutrer and Joyce Slater.

Hopefully blankets will be obsolete by April, but storytime will be back in the popular culture.