Everyone that has spent any time in Stanley, even just passing through, can feel its magic, with its lingering “anything could happen” feeling in the air- unique for such a small town, I would say.
So when an opportunity comes my way, even if I haven’t a clue what I’m getting into, I take it. Enter recent event: “Storytime with Carole King.” You know Carole King? I first heard mention of her here when sis and I floated down the Salmon River and our guide, Stephen, pointed out a magnificent looking house sitting atop a hill and explained that the dwelling belonged to Carole King. At the time, it was one of those smile-and-nod moments where, in my head, I’m wondering, “Do I know her?”
Come to find out, she’s one of those individuals that all Americans are likely to know, without necessarily knowing they know. She’s a singer, songwriter, pianist and, most recently, book writer- she’s finishing up her memoirs, called “ A Natural Woman,” aptly named for the hit song she co-wrote for Aretha Franklin (“Looking out on the morning rain I used to feel so uninspired. And when I knew I had to face another day, Lord, it made me feel so tired. Before the day I met you, life was so unkind. But your love was the key to my peace of mind….”)
She wrote for such names as Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, James Taylor, The Righteous Brothers, the Monkees, and on and on…
King will be 70 years old this year, and she told her life story to an intimate gathering of 75 of us at the Redfish Lodge on Wednesday evening. After filling paper plates with scrumptious looking appetizers- sushi, hummus, fresh veggies, and ordering beer or wine, the small group of us mingled before settling into our chairs to hear Carole speak.
From the first story on, she was likeable, personable, and genuine. What stood out to me was that she didn’t appear to censor her words. It felt raw. She spoke to the audience as if we were her best friends- sharing everything from her relationships with men (she’s been married four times) to what life “in the industry” looked like for her, and what she was seeking at various points in time. It got me thinking that anyone could be up there telling their story and, so long as the individual was doing so in an honest, heartfelt way, it is likely that the folks listening would be engaged, for there is something captivating about one candidly expressing human-ness. No matter how our life stories may differ in context and circumstances, we can always relate to one another on an emotional level.
I wish I could share more with you about what made “Storytime with Carole King” so memorable, but I am finding that words aren’t flowing to mind because what was moving about her talk wasn’t so much about the stories she shared as it was the energy she created in that room (with the stories serving as a vehicle). Case in point. Carole teared up a number of times while telling her story and, by the end, had us all in tears (yes, even the burly, tattooed, pony-tailed cowboy sitting a couple rows in front of us) as she somehow managed to get the entire room singing the chorus to “You’ve Got a Friend,” a song she wrote for James Taylor. C’mon, you know the one.
That event was the highlight of my week last week. And, tomorrow, it’s off to Missoula, Montana with the sis for a couple days for. We wanted to take advantage of the fact that it’s only 5 hours from Stanley. The agenda: hiking, brewery visiting (and beer tasting!), thrift-store shopping, and aimless meandering. It’ll be a first-time visit and one I am very much looking forward to. I’ll keep you posted!
Much love,
Annie
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