There are certain life-changing moments etched into our memories that we return to occasionally, and each time we think of them we smile.

For Carolyn Smith, of McKees Rocks, her epiphany happened in study hall during her freshman year of high school. That day, she knew that puppetry was her calling.

Years before, she had seen puppeteer Steve Abrams perform at Northland Public Library, where her mother still runs children's programming. But it was sitting in school during that ninth-grade study hall when it hit her. "I realized, if he can do it for a living, so can I," she said. "From then on, that's all I wanted to do."

	Andy Starnes, Post-Gazette Carolyn Smith with two of her puppets at the Northland Public Library. Her company Pizzicato Puppets, offers a program of Goth and Punk puppets in an attempt to draw an older audience of teens. Click photo for larger image.

Ms. Smith, 28, who has her own puppet entertainment business, returns to Northland Public Library on Wednesday to present an innovative puppet show aimed at preteens and teens. They will have a chance to make Goth and punk puppets and perform with them.

Her enthusiasm is contagious when she speaks about her craft and she hopes to pass that feeling along to the older kids she'll be working with. "I love puppets. I could not be happier. I could not imagine a better job, and anytime I get to work with teens is just extra fun. They always come up with some great ideas."

And this age group can slip through the cracks. "Teens kind of get the short end of it a lot of times. [There are] programs for kids, programs for adults. Northland does a great job of making sure teens don't get left out."

Her mother, Mary Morgan Smith, is manager of children's and young adult services at the library, which serves Bradford Woods, Franklin Park, McCandless, Marshall and Ross. For more than 20 years, she's seen the effects these types of programs have on visitors.

"Puppetry along with story-telling is really important in helping children and adults develop both their imagination and language skills," she said.

And although people might tend to think of puppetry as just for kids, she said, teens especially can find enjoyment working with puppets both as an audience and by creating.

"The Goth and the punk sock puppets allow teens the opportunity to be a little bit freer in using their imaginations, allow them to fool around a little bit," Mrs. Smith said, adding that not every puppet has to look like Kermit. "You don't have to be an animal, you don't have to be cute, you don't have to be cuddly. Oscar The Grouch proved that."

Mrs. Smith wants the participants to let their guard down, and if they do, the kids could discover something important about themselves.

"I hope the kids who might not have thought of playing this way because they're too cool would see you can enjoy yourself and still be cool. And that, maybe, libraries are not always as stodgy as we are portrayed."

She's excited that her daughter Carolyn will teach the workshop and has always known that she would do something that would touch children. "From the time she was little, she wanted to do something that made kids smile."

Carolyn Smith attended West Virginia University, one of two colleges in the country that offer a degree in puppetry through their theater programs.

"I wasn't even sure when I decided to become a puppeteer if I even needed to go to college," she said. "It was a great experience and I learned a huge amount about theater and puppetry ... that I wouldn't have gotten just trying on my own."

She loves to create strange characters and fascinating lighting, and fulfill a lifelong dream of writing her own stories. It's not just a puppet show, it's a performance. "It's everything you get in a full-sized theater boiled down to one person in a van," she said, laughing.

She's been a professional puppeteer for 10 years, the past four full time with her company, Pizzicato Puppets, traveling to churches, schools, parties and libraries to stage shows and teach the craft of puppet-making.

In her upcoming program, students will be designing and constructing simple sock puppets with an arm that will work with a rod, but it's what the puppets will be decorated with that will make the difference.

"It's all in the trimmings," Carolyn Smith said. "Lots of different colors for hair from black, pink and blue and even some standard colors, and lots of things for them to create their own characters with."

And when she puts on a show or workshop at the library, her mother couldn't be more proud.

	Andy Starnes, Post-Gazette Detail of one of Carolyn Smith's puppets. Her company, Pizzicato Puppets, offers a program of Goth and punk puppets in an attempt to draw an older audience of teens. Click photo for larger image.

"They usually need sunglasses because I'm beaming so broadly," Mrs. Smith said. "It's always so cool to see your child grow up to do something they enjoy and that is useful. I'm sure there are plenty of people who wouldn't think being a puppeteer is useful, but all you have to do is see her with kids."

And her daughter wants to give what she received. "Like what Steve Abrams did for me, I hope, maybe, someday some of these kids will end up being full-time puppeteers."

A variety of puppet crafts and shows will be held at Northland Public Library, 300 Cumberland Road.

Children age 3 to 6 can make their own dinosaur shadow puppets at 10 a.m. Wednesday with Carolyn Smith.

The Goth sock puppet workshop with Ms. Smith will be held at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday for age 12 and older.

An "Aesop's Fables" puppet show will be presented at 7 p.m. Friday by Ms. Smith's inspiration, Steve Abrams. Children 3 and older will learn to make hand puppets.

To register for these events, call 412-366-8100, ext. 123.

Learn more about Carolyn Smith and find out how to book her for your event at www.pizpuppets.com .