Episcopal Homes residents collaborate on recently released collection of prose and poetry

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A new collection of prose and poetry is a result of two writing groups at Episcopal Homes, Storyweavers and Scribblers. The Storyweavers group has been meeting for the past three years, and Scribblers was born a year and a half ago. Writers at Episcopal Homes meet with a Monitor reporter to talk about their recent publication. (Photo by Paul Hagen) A new collection of prose and poetry is a result of two writing groups at Episcopal Homes, Storyweavers and Scribblers. The Storyweavers group has been meeting for the past three years, and Scribblers was born a year and a half ago. Writers at Episcopal Homes meet with a Monitor reporter to talk about their recent publication. (Photo by Paul Hagen)

By JAN WILLMS

Some have been teachers and professors. Others have spent their lives in business and industry. One has been in politics for many years and another is a member of the clergy.

But with a myriad of backgrounds, these current residents of Episcopal Homes, a retirement community along University Avenue in Saint Paul, now have one thing in common. They are all published writers.

Working with Roger Barr, who has been a professional writer for the past 30 years, they have put together a book, “Weaving Life: Prose & Poetry,” that was published in June.

The book is a result of two writing groups at Episcopal Homes, Storyweavers and Scribblers. The Storyweavers group has been meeting for the past three years, and Scribblers was born a year and a half ago. The groups are facilitated by Julie Niewald, manager of Cornelia House, and Andrea Erickson, services coordinator at Seabury.

The groups meet once a week to talk about their writing and provide feedback to one another on their work.

“It’s cheap group therapy,” quipped David Girard, one of the participants. But it is much more than that. It draws on experiences from individuals who have led lives that have taken them across the world, as well as dwelling in Minnesota.

“What is fascinating is that we all come from different backgrounds,” said Ruby Hunt, a member of Storyweavers.

And the book focuses on those backgrounds, from stories and poems of the Depression to a tribute to an unborn child to youthful adventures to a prosaic description of willows. There is much more, stories that trace the fabric of lives that have been lived fully, and provide the reader with a look into history, both local and global.

“I have a lot of great grandchildren,” explained Marjorie Fletcher, “and the reason I’m writing has to do with the way my generation lived. It’s important for future generations to know the past—it’s why we have history.”

LaVon Woodcock said she started writing memoirs when she first began telling some stories to her son. “He asked me to write things that he and his siblings wanted to know, and they would suggest topics for me.” Woodcock said she first began writing for her school newspaper when she was in junior high. When she married, letters home became very long because of where she and her husband lived.

Jim Daly began writing memoirs for his high school graduation class for their reunions, putting a lot of humor into his anecdotes. He said that if he can write pieces that he finds funny, his hope is that readers will also find his writing humorous.

Bob Willis, who started writing poetry when he was teaching at Hamline University, said he has found the writing groups to be a wonderful opportunity. “There is good feedback and good personal support,” he said.

Irma Wyman has another purpose for her writing. She has endowed some scholarships, and she makes it a point to have lunch with the recipients and visit with them.

“Thirty years from now, I won’t be going to lunch with them. So I have written some things that I want the endowing institution to supply them with,” she said.

For Father Jogues Epple, the writing provides stimulation as well as friendship.

“I had just started with Storyweavers when my 80th birthday came up,” he said. “Jim Palmer wrote a poem, Ode to 80. And I thought it was just for me.”

“I am here for the mental health,” Epple continued. “You have a choice in old age to keep your brain active or not.” He quoted his friend Palmer about the writing. “Jim said history is made up of imagination and facts.”

Palmer had been an active writer, and his piece on the Depression can be found in the book. However, he died before the book was published. His picture is there when the writing groups meet, and his presence is still felt.

“Our time together is so highly valued and so precious,” claimed Niewald. She said that Creative Ventures was a program established before the writers’ groups began meeting. “The foundation has supported our efforts and paid for publishing the book,” she added.

Erickson said that the Scribblers and Storyweavers have brought together individuals from all parts of Episcopal Homes: the independent living, assisted living and nursing home residents.

“It’s nice to get to know the people from all the buildings,” she said. “This has built a lot of community and friendship.”

For Barr, it seemed like an event waiting to happen. He said he has had a history with Episcopal Homes that has unfolded over the years. He had given some readings to the residents and was asked by them to assist them with some writing instructions, to help them review their skills and hone their writing abilities.

He did so, and when the groups agreed they wanted to become published writers, he served as the editor of “Weaving Life: Prose and Poetry.”

“These are very educated people with very strong writing skills,” he said. “I told them to work on that piece you have always wanted to write.” He said editing the book was both fun and challenging, bringing together stories from such diverse backgrounds.

Barr said the writers look upon him as a mentor. “And I look at them as the kind of person I want to be.”

Anyone who is interested in a copy of the book can contact Niewald at JNiewald@ehomesmn.org

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