Saratoga Sampler

What's her story? Well, Megumi has plenty

By Mary Ann Cook

JAPANESE STORIES: Megumi, aka Grace Fleming, told Japanese ghost stories at Hakone Gardens recently. Megumi, a professional storyteller, is the product of a Caucasian father and a Japanese mother, and she lived in Japan until the age of 10. From Tokyo to Turlock was an overwhelming culture shock: a cultural chasm, you could say.

Megumi became a licensed psychotherapist, in large part to understand her turbulent family life. Her storytelling career evolved out of her practice, where she used stories to help patients solve problems. The power of stories is incredible, she says.

After one storytelling session, an audience member approached her with her own story. The woman's family had been incarcerated in an internment camp for Japanese Americans during World War II and she recounted those days.

Megumi was so moved she decided these were tales that should be told before those who had lived them were gone. Reluctant at first, the internees were finally convinced of the importance of telling their stories.

Today Megumi tells Japanese internment stories, as well as Japanese fairy tales, in schools, clubs and libraries. Former internees appear with her for a question-and-answer period afterward. "Megumi" means "grace" in Japanese, so it was easy to anglicize her name when she came to the United States.

In other Hakone news, the exhibit currently on display at the cultural center celebrates Girls' Day with a collection of dolls. The fashions of different centuries are well demonstrated. Dolls are placed on tiers to illustrate the hierarchy of the imperial court, with emperor and empress on the top level, of course.

Women's faces were whitened and teeth blackened and hairdos done extravagantly: all in the name of fashion. No bound feet, though--that was strictly a Chinese custom.

Helen Metcalf, who was recently named co-chairwoman of the Emeritus Board of the Hakone Foundation, is in charge of exhibits at the center. The emeritus board honors past board members and serves as a resource for present Hakone leaders. "We all know what a treasure Hakone is and how much work has gone into preserving it," Metcalf says.

Other emeritus members are Marjory Bunyard, Kay Duffy, Cathy Foscato, Donna Harris, John Tauchi and Joseph Clevenger. Metcalf has also been president of Summit League and Montalvo Service group.

JANE AUSTEN APPEARS: Bonda Lewis gives presentations about literary women and political activists and portrayed Jane Austen as part of Women's History Month at a recent luncheon. The History Club and the local AAUW combined forces for this one.

Lewis enacted a theatrical written by Austen at 12 and quoted from a history of England written by Austen at age 14. Austen's "dance of phrases," as Lewis terms good writing, won't leave her alone. The impersonator even dreams about dialogues she has with Jane Austen: The revered writer tells her it's OK to portray her. Lewis also does Louisa May Alcott, Isabella Bird, Amelia Jenks Bloomer and Sara Bard Field.

Lewis trained at ACT and has a master's in theater studies from San Jose State U. Her latest project traces the history of nursing through personal stories. She writes her own material, and incorporates the words of the writer-activists themselves.

REUNION: Carolyn Bridgers Tanner has just returned from a Bridgers Family Reunion in Houston. Eighteen Bridgers reunited, and she was the guest of honor. Indeed, the reunion was built around her. The unusual twist is that Tanner was unaware, until just a few months ago, that she had any living relatives--anywhere.

At the reunion she stayed with cousins she didn't even know existed until recently. Her Texas relatives found her through sleuthing the Internet--and through reading this column, I might modestly add.

The column, printed in 1998, mentioned that she was a great-granddaughter of Revolutionary War veteran James Tinsley. (Such a close descendency, only three generations apart, is a graphic illustration of just how young our country is.) By the time the Texans looked up Tinsley on the Internet, the column popped up and, when they were tipped off about Tanner's whereabouts, they wrote the Saratoga News. By the time I contacted Tanner they had already been in touch.

PAN-AM LUNCHEON: Pan American Round Table of Los Gatos-Saratoga will hold its Celebration of Spring luncheon April 27 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Michael's Restaurant in Mountain View. Proceeds from the $30 luncheon tickets go to Pan Am's Scholarship Fund, the Flying Doctors and Interplast.

The contact person is Violeta at 408.377.8067. Checks should be made payable to Pan American Round Table, 24692 Olive Tree Court, Los Altos Hills, 94024.

SISTER CITY EXCHANGE: The deadline for applying to be an exchange student with Saratoga's sister city, Muko-Shi, is May 1. Four high school students will be chosen from this area to live with Muko students, who will in turn visit Saratoga for 10 days.

The exchange runs July 22-Aug. 16. For applications, contact Lillian Morgan at 408.867.2661.

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