The first story I listened to was entitled “A Neighbors’ Bond That Transcends Age”. It was about an unexpected friendship that sparked between two decade-long neighbors: an elderly woman (Natalie) and young woman (Kellsey). Natalie wanted to understand how to speak to her grandson who is part of the queer community, so she approached (with the help of her dog) Kellsey and her girlfriend to gain some insight. They grew closer as they realized that they both grew up with the same trauma from childhood sexual abuse, and Natalie goes on to reflect on how Kellsey helped her feel less lonely and respark her desire to live. This story started without an introduction and proceeded as a casual conversation that two friends would have. I appreciated the naturalness that this story provided and the raw emotion behind Natalie’s voice as she recalled her past. It ended with a somber yet uplifting song that brought the story to a nice close.
The second story was entitled “How the Drum Helped One Man Find His Rhythm and Purpose”. It was a story about a man named Tony from Philadelphia. This one began with a short introduction about what a drumline is and who would be reminiscing on the past. Tony launches into how he has been involved with music since the 1st grade. He recalls how he moved from the trombone to the snare drum and the hardships he was able to overcome in order to pursue his love for drumming. He shared a moving story about how a woman left him a note and $20 to thank him and his drumline for their uplifting and inspiring performance. He feels like he has found his life’s calling as a music teacher and performer. I loved the format of giving a short introduction then allowing Tony to tell his story because it gives the audience just enough context to understand his tale. Another thing I loved about this story was the drum audio in the beginning; it was able to set the tone. Also, like the first story, it ended with an upbeat and hopeful tune once he reached his final statements.