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January 14, 2008

Time to write the Franklin County play. So many wonderful stories to choose from. Usually, my dilemma is not having enough material. But I've got enough right now for several plays, and this is their very first time doing a project like this. I'm really impressed, not just with the amount of stories, but the quality. And I only ever get good stories when I've got story gatherers who, without judgement and expectations, allow people to speak their deepest truths. It usually takes a community a few seasons to learn the art of story gathering, but this group has really done it on their first try. And there's a lot of delicate material here. Hotter than I've seen in years, and it touches on so many different topics. Usually race is a touchy, subject, but I think another of the touchiest of all--at least in the South-- is actually religion. And people talk about it in these interviews, in really honest ways. They spoke of Sunday morning being the most segregated day in the community- and 5th Sunday is a way they chose to close that gap.
"5th Sunday". I wrote about it already earlier- and have spoken personally to some of you about it- a truly outstanding community building activity. In a nutshell- every 5th Sunday, one of the area churches plays host to all the other churches and provides refreshments. Another preacher from one of the other churches will preach and hold the service in the host church. And all church goers from other churches attend. Black and White. Baptist, Methodist, Episcopalian. And they've been doing this since the 70's. I believe it started after some riot- it was a way to try to bring healing between people-- and it stuck. They continue to practice it today- and it's totally unique- I've never seen anything like it in any of the other communities where I work. That's one of the big stories I have to work with.

Their moonshine past is, of course often spoken of. How can it not be? They were the moonshine capital of Georgia. Also- The founders of the region- even if not of the town proper-- veterans of the Revolutionary war- great-greats- uncles and aunts- because of course, the men didn't win that war alone-- all those great-greats, whose names are still spoken, remembered and revered- also figure in the stories. There is a fierce independence in this county, and hearing about it's founders, I can understand where it comes from.

I've read so many stories. I have many more to read. But now is the time I need to allow myself to hear how the stories are talking to each other. How do they all fit together and make sense in a coherent piece? Ah. That's the work. Or magic. However you call it. That's the time when everything goes in and pretty soon, out pops a new baby play. I was telling John about a month ago (actually, for the past several months) that I wanted a new baby- wouldn't it be neat to adopt a little one. But he reminded me I give birth at least three or four times a year. He also jokingly said that I didn't have to worry about whining and dirty diapers with these babies. But I reminded him that, oh, no, sometimes, there's waaaayyyy more caca involved with these than with the real thing. But in the end- we forget about the caca days, don't we? And just admire the beautiful children. Believe it or not, I've now mothered thirty of these precious babies, and I love every one of them.