Song for Kaelan Paton (1-6-1993 to 6-16-2009)-- by Catherine Palmer Paton, his mom on 6-16-2011

Here's to our Kaelan Alexander Palmer Paton

Who acted without hesitation

To do all he could to save each friend

Even if that might mean his end.

After school their group headed to the river

Trusting all to the life giver

To keep them safe as they jumped and swam

Celebrating summer and ways to win.

Yet whitewater trapped three boys

Kaelan hand-signalled "9-1-1" amidst loud noise.

Kaelan saved John and Richie by reaching out a hand

Skillfully and bravely while barely on land.

But to save

Listening to a story by Terry WolfishCole @tell_me_another (that's her twitter) on a zoom call from the Norfolk Libray in CT with a couple dozen folks was a nice way to start December...and there'll be more to come with sharing stories. She gave tips and overall the idea is to 'cut to the chase' in terms of engage the audience with 'stakes' in terms of what you are facing, wanting, hoping for..what you have to gain or lose...then let the listeners experience what you go through to reach a major point and then 'bring it home'.

She told a story of 'running away from home at age 5' to her