“Everything you want is on the other side of fear.” – Jack Canfield
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A Cross-Dressing Frosty the Snowman Meets Jesus at the Dump
Here in my small New Hampshire town, we take our garbage and recycling to the dump, or “transfer station” if we’re being proper. One of the highlights of the dump is visiting the swap shop — a room loaded with either trash or treasure, depending on your perspective. It’s one of my favorite places to go and Mama’s, too. Forget NH’s natural beauty. Whenever she comes to visit, she always asks, “When are we going to the dump?”
Away in a (Whacky) Manger
Last year, I couldn’t help but notice the fabulous nativity scene that swap shop attendant and fellow artist Evelien Bachrach created. Sure, baby Jesus lays in a manger (with blonde hair, which of course every Jewish man sported 2,000 years ago), and some version of Mary watches over him, but the rest of the characters make up a motley crew of discarded items. There are chickens, a pig, what might be a rabid red dog, alarmed sheep, and a small Trojan horse-like ornament. There’s no Joseph, shepherds, or wise men to be seen, but there’s an African woman in native dress (or maybe she’s from the islands) and Frosty the Snow Man, who looks like he’s cross-dressing with Little Bo Peep. Santa looks concerned, the angel’s content with her doll, and a plaster Teddy bear — joyous despite the hole in his stomach — stands guard. A handmade star hangs from a yellow plastic push pin and just over the particle board roofline, a plate that looks like a photographed pepperoni pizza completes the tableau.
A Christmas Metaphor
To me, this nativity scene provides a handy metaphor for our lives.
Sure we’d like our lives to be a matched set, with all the right parts and players present, to appear dignified so we feel like we have some control. But the truth is, our lives are messy and chipped, and some of the important parts and players are missing. Instead of hosting a conventional family for Christmas dinner where we use the good china, we serve a rag tag group that includes a cross-dressing Frosty the Snowman who eats off a photographed pepperoni pizza plate. Personally, I think that’s much more interesting.
And I think our messy lives make Jesus happy, because there is nothing judgmental or conventional about Jesus. He was always hanging out on the fringes, with the folks that didn’t quite fit in, with the discarded and the despised — lepers, prostitutes, and refugees, an important point to remember this particular Christmas. To Jesus, everybody was family, no matter how different or crazy or broken they might be.
And Speaking of Families
Starting December 15, I’ll be part of The Moth Radio Hour’s Second Annual Holiday Show, which will be broadcast over more than 500 public radio stations nationwide. I’ll be telling “The Tricia Ball,” a story about my parents’ divorce, our Christmas “celebrations,” and the ornament Daddy made for me when I was very little. The story resonates with anyone who’s ever tried to navigate family drama and heartbreak at a time when we’re supposed to be happy. But as always, humor and redemption can abound even in the bleakest situations.
If you miss the radio show, the story will be available on their podcast beginning December 22. And you can always go to The Moth and listen to the show online.
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Quote of the Week for December 14
“The whole culture is telling you to hurry, while the art tells you to take your time. Always listen to the art.” — Junot Diaz
Big Risk, Big Reward
I’ve always wanted to be a country music singer. The trouble is, I don’t really have vocal range. I can sing about an octave, which limits my song selections but not my dream. So when I’m alone soaking in a tub or driving in my car, I belt out what I can — usually Tammy Wynette.
Friends in High Places
As it turns out, in the past several years I’ve reconnected with my dear friend Amy Grant, who knows a thing or two about music. And last weekend, I had the great pleasure of performing “How to Draw a Nekkid Man” and conducting storytelling workshops at a Creative Discovery event she hosted at the Ritz Carlton’s Reynold’s Plantation in Georgia. Veteran songwriter Leslie Satcher joined us and conducted songwriting workshops as well. Leslie’s written huge hits, including Martina McBride’s “When God Fearing Women Get the Blues” and Willie Nelson’s “You Remain,” which Willie told her was his favorite song he’d ever recorded. Basically, I was running with the singer/songwriter big dogs. And as long as I stayed securely in my storytelling world, I felt like a big dog, too.
We spent the day telling workshop participants — many of whom were not artists — to get out of their comfort zone, take creative risks, and be vulnerable; to not worry about being perfect. They fearlessly plunged in, having already shown tremendous courage by just showing up. After two days with these incredible people, their bravery started to rub off.
No Time to be Timid
At the concert Saturday evening, Amy stopped her set to invite several special guests on stage to sing. I was the first one. I said, “I’ve been asking y’all to take creative risks all day; it’s time for me to take one, too.” Frankly, I was a wreck. Then, with Leslie accompanying me, and Amy’s band joining in, I sang Tammy Wynette’s “I Don’t Want to Play House.”
Now, I’m not sure it was well thought out to make my country music debut with a six-time Grammy award-winner and Willie Nelson’s best friend, but I decided either to go big or go home.
I wasn’t terrible.
Without the support of Amy and Leslie, who rehearsed with me and literally talked me through the performance, I could have never taken that risk. I couldn’t have done it without the workshop participants either, who gave me inspiration, and bless their hearts, a standing ovation (for effort, not talent). Two days later, I woke up with a host of new storytelling ideas rolling around in my head and later that week, I faced a first-time work challenge with a newfound confidence. Apparently, stepping out of my comfort zone and scaring myself to death has jumpstarted my creative juices and helped me confront other fears as well.
Note to self: take a big risk, get a big reward.
For now, balance has been restored and I’m back to singing in the tub and in the car. Just in case, I’m going to start working on a new song. And I’m happy to take requests — but only if it’s in the octave I can sing.
Photo credits: Matt Huesmann
Let’s Stay in Touch
- Share this blog with your friends — just use the icons below.
- Leave a comment. Feedback is great.
- Want to receive these blogs in your email inbox? Please register at the top right of this page. While you’re there, you can like my artist’s Facebook page and follow me on Twitter.
- Spread the word — your voice is invaluable in bringing my work to new audiences.
- Thanks for your support!
Quote of the Week for October 30
“Country music is three chords and the truth.” — Harlan Howard