HEARTWARMING EVENING OF STORYTELLING

By Diane Mullens, WAL Book Club Leader

Last month, the Watergate community came together for an enchanting storytelling show, sponsored by the Watergate Book Club, which left everyone brimming with joy and laughter. The event featured the renowned and award-winning storyteller, Sufian Zhemukov, who offered an exclusive preview of his upcoming performance at the prestigious Jonesboro Storytelling Festival in October

The most moving story was about becoming an American citizen; Sufian almost blew it with his answer to the last question. His friends, unable to be with him during COVID, waited in the freezing cold, and when Sufian emerged a sworn American citizen, they welcomed him by singing "This Land is Your Land"/ By the end of the show, the entire audience was singing this song and applauding Sufian's performance.

I had the opportunity to open the event with my own story to warm up the audience. Stephanie Garibaldi, an awarding winning storyteller and co-founder of a new storytelling group in Alexandria" housed in Murphy's Grand Irish Pub in Old Town, acted as the host for the evening. None of this would have been possible without the collective efforts of the Watergate community. Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to the Communications Manager, Activities Office, Environmental Services, Resident Services, and, of course, to each and every one of you the spirited audience who made this extraordinary event happen