Breaking Up

Grunts and crashes echo up from the field where the college football team is drilling. I have always appreciated those skin tight outfits, but today, I have no time to stop and admire the scenery. 

I push on, up the hill, my alternating heels marking allegro time as they hit the sidewalk. 

“Hey lady, where’s the fire?”

A couple neighborhood kids straddle their bikes. I can smell their prepubescent stink, these creatures from another dimension. I keep walking.

The door is cool under my fingers as I unlock it. I let myself in, slide the chain into place, and walk to the massive record collection on the opposite wall, selecting a rare Janice Joplin album titled Like One of Those Beautiful Men. I slide it from its sleeve and admire the round perfection. Stan loved this album, like he used to love me.

It isn’t long before footsteps approach, a key rattles in the lock and the door opens, just as far as the chain will allow.

“What the hell?”                                                                     

I take my time and saunter to the door, album in hand.

“Hello, Stan.”

“Gilda? How’d you get in? Open the door. Now!”

He puts his shoulder to the door but the chain holds.

“I don’t think so Stan.

I hold the record over my knee where I’m sure he can see what I’m doing, and snap it in two.

“That was music to my ears. How about an encore Stan? Maybe some Doors. Or maybe some early alternative rock.”

Chance

“That’ll be $800.”

Slowly I move my eyes from the window and direct them back at the Monopoly board. Damn. How does she always manage to end up with Park Place and Boardwalk?  

I hand over the money. All I have now are a smattering of little bills. Marge grunts in appreciation and rolls her Everlasting Gobstopper against her dentures, clacking like an abacus. Her lazy eye remains pointed toward the board – and her many properties - while she turns the other to Ginny.

“Your turn Ginny. And this time, don’t forget to roll both dice.”

“I know, I know.” Ginny’s voice recalls long nights spent in the company of whiskey and cigarettes, both companions now banished by her kids since her second heart attack.

My gaze flits back to the window, attracted by a movement in the parking lot. Just a medi-van dropping someone off and the sky shedding snow. Nothing unusual.

“I’m up to my elbows in bread dough when my daughter casually mentions…” Marge stops midsentence. 

“Ginny, just what the hell d’you think you’re doing?”

“I’m straightening my money. I like it so it’s all point in the same direction.”

Now, everyone knows Marge takes her games seriously, especially Monopoly. 

“Well if this doesn’t make you furious…” 

“OK. I’m going. See?”

Ginny quickly throws the dice, moves the thimble and lands on Chance. Her card says, Get out of Jail Free.

I wish there was a Get out of Here Free card.

Play for a Cause

Last year some clients at Marshfield clinic asked if our company would be open to working with them on a new type of health education event. Would we be interested in writing a series of short plays or skits that would give the audience important information about breast cancer screening and treatment? Oh, and could we make them funny? Well, I love a good challenge, so of course I said yes and ran with the project.

I got some background information from them, came up with a list of concepts (which they liked), and proceeded to panic. I write scripts for video projects on a regular basis, but it had been a long time since I'd written a play.

I did what any self respecting student of words would do - I found a class. I had planned to attend the Rhinelander School of the Arts, a summer program run through UW Madison, and they just happened to be offering a one week class on writing 10 minute plays (taught by Gail Sterkel). Halleluiah and pass the paper. I was saved!

The class turned out to be not only informative but fun. We read well written plays and shared our own work in the class. I got some great feedback on the first of my six plays, and I was off. I had a blast concocting scenarios and characters and getting them to work in tandem to entertain while still conveying important information about breast cancer screening, symptoms, and treatment. Other people who read the plays even laughed at the parts I had intended to be funny - no small relief.

The plays were performed on May 2, 2013 by the wonderful Artista Players for a sold out crowd of about 200. Attendees enjoyed delicious appetizers before the show and desserts at intermission. They laughed and cried thanks to the magic of the actors and the power of the information. And at the end of the evening, we learned that the event organizers had raised $10,000 for cancer patient care funds.

What a night!

There’s a chance we’ll take the show on the road to other regional Clinic centers which would be cool. But no matter what, that evening will always remain etched in my mind… being surrounded by people gathered for a common cause, enjoying the entertainment, and learning along the way.

spring clean up

truck crawls past me
headed to the
yard waste site

the trailer behind it overflows with
spring branches
sweeping the street
leaving only spinning orphans
in its wake