December 2019

For years now, Peggy and I have made a retreat in December – for reflection, writing, and just being quiet. This year, with both of us retired now, we are spending twelve days at Sequim, Washington, on the northern coast of the Olympic Peninsula. Peggy has finished the first draft of a new play, and I’ve been working on my ancestor’s Civil War letters. Peggy’s also wrote our annual Christmas Letter in the form of a play, which I present for you now:

2019 Christmas Letter Play

Synopsis

A couple discusses ideas for their annual Christmas letter, but forces they can’t control may make the decision for them.

Cast of Characters

Peggy O’Donnell                 a woman in her sixties
Ken Peterson                      a man in his seventies
Jakey                                    a Pomeranian of a certain age

Setting and Time

A fireside with an armchair on either side, with a rug in the middle.  Jakey lies on the rug, baking in the heat.  Peggy and Ken are in the chairs, and are reading silently at rise.  It is the present time, nighttime.  Sounds of rain on the roof.  Spotlight on the couple gives the feeling and mood of an ancient hearth in a cave.

PEGGY

(lowers her book, sighs, pauses, then speaks) It’s time to write the Christmas letter, isn’t it?

KEN

(lowers his book)  Oh.  Yeah. The usual list of what we did?  I can write down my stuff.  Got my website up and running.  That’s my big news.  That great trip to Canterbury and Salisbury for the Compline Choir tour.  Loved that.  Those four days in London, going to the Proms concert at the Victoria and Albert, eating at Ottolenghi…

PEGGY

But do people really want a list of what we did?  That’s kind of boring.  Like, I sold my law firm and retired in August and I love all the time I have to write, get my plays submitted to theatres, forest bathe, blah, blah, blah…

KEN

I think it’s interesting! That workshop I did in November, on Julian of Norwich, people liked it.  I mean, 14^th century women mystics are fascinating!  They’ve got so much to say to us today.  I send the workbook to anyone who wants it…

PEGGY

I’m not saying what we did is boring.  It’s just the list that’s deadening.  Okay, I’ve got an idea.  How about we put it in a poem, or re-write the lyrics to a song everybody knows?  Or a video?  We could choreograph a little dance while we tell the story of the year.

KEN

Yeaaah.  A dance, huh?  Naw.  Better be a song.  Maybe to the tune of ‘I Took my Girl to a Ball One Night/’ ….

PEGGY

People don’t know that song anymore!  It was totally out of fashion in my dad’s time, even.  How about ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’?  People still know that.  Seven syllables, then five, and repeat.

KEN

Okay. 
‘Twas a year like many years,
But now let’s dissect,
The women’s choir on Bainbridge
Asked me to direct.

PEGGY

Sounds good!  We can go on with how much you like directing the choir, and the volunteering and classes at the genealogy library…

KEN

Yeah!  And you can rap about how the Playwrights Salon has taken off with great new leadership, and you’re just doing the blog for it, and you’re writing a new play using all the new structural ideas you’re getting in the classes, and learning a lot more about trees…

JAKEY

Not so fast, people. 

PEGGY

What!  You’re talking!

JAKEY

Of course I’m talking!  I talk all the time, but you people…never mind.  You never even mentioned me for this letter.

KEN

We didn’t know you wanted to be included. Sorry, Jakey.

JAKEY

Yes, I want to be included!  Duh!  I do a lot of interesting stuff.  All those fascinating smells on my walks, people should know about it.  Those other dogs I’m always meeting on the street and all the stuff I tell them.  It’s wisdom, people. And you’ve never even once asked me for my thoughts on the Christmas letter.  So this Christmas letter, it’s payback time.

PEGGY

What does that mean?

JAKEY

It means here’s the Christmas letter.  It’s called Jakey’s Wisdom.  Write this down.  (Peggy scrambles for a pen and paper in her pocket, and writes as Jakey speaks.)  Take time to walk in the woods or even just among the trees on your street.  You’ll learn a lot about being part of the earth.  And take time just to be, preferably with a dog by your side.  Let others be, too.  You’ve got enough on your plate with just your own business.  Got it?

PEGGY

Got it.  Anything else?

JAKEY

Yeah.  Include lots of pictures in the letter.  Worth a thousand words, and all that.  And some of me, so people can get inspired.  Now get busy and get this thing out before Christmas.

(Jakey returns her head to her paws, and stares again into the fire.  Peggy and Ken look at each other, wide-eyed.)

KEN

I guess we know what to do now.

PEGGY

Yeah.  Let’s go.

(They stand and dance, miming taking photos, typing, printing, folding, stamping, and mailing the Christmas letter.  They waltz off stage.  Jakey rises and stretches, then speaks.)

JAKEY

People, people, people.  They need so much guidance!  Tires a body out.  Least they can do is get me a big old Christmas stocking.  Those little treats shaped like a bone.  I might even share them with them this year, if they’re good.

THE END