Taking Tea in the Kasbah



Dear Benedict,

Thank you for the thoughtful videos you sent in your letter last week on perfecting my British accent. I am chuffed to bits to not only know what a BaDonkaDonk is, but also to have learned every possible way to insult someone whom I deem inferior to my intellect. While I’m not one to go around hurling insults at others nor do I tend to think of myself as being intellectually superior to others, I’m sure all of it will come in very handy the next time I’m in London.

Birthday wishes are still in order for you, but first let’s talk about how completely awesome it is for Sherlock to have received so many Emmy nominations. And on your birthday no less! A total of thirteen nominations for the show, including a Best Actor nomination for you. AMAZING. America has definitely taken notice of the show and of your incredible talent. Big, big congrats to you and all of Team Sherlock. 

And then, as if that weren’t spectacular enough to have happen on your birthday, fans from all over the world raised over £9,000 ($14,000) for the Teenage Cancer Trust in the UK – all in honor of your birthday. The impact of your kindness, integrity and talent are clearly felt and noticed all over the world and your fans generously paid it forward in your honor. How cool is that? Has it sunk in yet how adored you are?

As for my birthday gift to you, I debated for a long time over many ideas, several of which were temporarily abandoned due to the heightened security measures in London, what with the Olympics going on and all. Don’t worry, not all of them were questionably legal. I’m saving those ideas for another time.

So, after much debate in the awkward temple of my mind, I decided to give you some help in your search for the writing cave. As much as I enjoy The Game being ON between us, your career has taken off like a rocket and I don’t want you to be too distracted by searching for the cave.

So, in the spirit of giving and in honor of your latest trip around the sun, I’m enclosing some photos of where the writing cave is NOT located. I know, it is quite the generous gift. Not exactly a £9,000 gift to a cancer foundation, but in some ways worth so much more.

The writing cave is not in the middle of Jackson Lake in the Grand Teton National Park. I am talented at a lot of things but paddling a kayak while typing on my laptop or writing in a notebook is not one of them. I was barely able to manage taking a photo of my friend without falling out of my kayak into the water.

The Cloud Gate, a.k.a. the ‘Bean’, Millennium Park, Chicago

This might be self-explanatory but I’ll spell it out for you anyway. The writing cave is not located around, near, underneath or inside ‘The Bean’ sculpture in Chicago’s Millennium Park. Why? For starters, there’s too many people milling about. And then there’s the distorted way in which you appear on the reflective surface. I have a hard enough time being nice to my reflection in a regular mirror and the Bean is even less forgiving in this way.

The Younger at the top of the Empire State Building, NYC

The writing cave is also NOT at the top of the Empire State Building in New York City. NYC is one of my favorite cities in the world and the Empire State Building has some fantastic views from its observation deck, but it can get a bit windy and chilly up there. And then there are all of the tourists and Meg Ryan waiting to meet Tom Hanks and… Wait a minute. That should actually be a check in the ‘pro’ column of this pro/con list. I may have to think this one through some more.

Moving on…

Rue de Chartres, New Orleans

For reasons that are too lengthy to put in this letter, Rue de Chartres is my favorite street in another favorite city of mine, New Orleans. As much as I adore both the street and the city, I simply could not have the writing cave there. You see, the whole point of the writing cave is to limit the distractions that seep into the awkward temple of my mind. Distractions like classy British actors with amazing talent. New Orleans is filled with delectable distractions of all kinds: food, music, historical haunted buildings, ghosts, and *ahem* beverages of all sorts. Hmmm. Then again, all of that could be the inspiration for a new novel…

And speaking of going to New Orleans, how devilishly thoughtful of you to entice me down there. Luring me to one of my favorite cities with promises of Brad Pitt serving beignets while helping you practice speaking with a southern accent? You know the seductive call of the city is enough to make me start packing my suitcase, but then you go and throw all that in?

Well played, my friend. Well played.

You win this round. Consider it a bonus birthday gift.

I can’t say I’ll leave all of my disguises at home, though. I may need them to make a quick escape from all of the decadent distractions that might conspire to keep find me there.

Just sayin’.

Divinely yours,

Tami

~*~

*Editor’s note: The views, ideas, and opinions expressed in the Letters from Benedict series are works of fiction and obviously did not come from the actor himself. This series is just my way of expressing adoration for Mr. Cumberbatch and his work and is not intended to be taken at face value or seen as a true collaborative writing endeavor with him.

18 thoughts on “Dear Benedict: On Emmy Nominations & Birthday Gifts

    • If someone gave me a cozy cabin near Jackson Lake to use as a writing cave, I’d take it. 🙂

  1. I’m guessing you’ll attend the Emmy Awards in Benedict’s honor. In disguise, of course! Love your NOT writing cave hints. 🙂

    • I was thinking of asking Ellen if she needed a correspondent that evening. I wonder what kind of disguise I could get away with on the red carpet…?

  2. Dear Tami,
    I will make sure to visit Rue de Chartres, New Orleans where you do not have a writing cave but have enjoyed the offerings. I plan to be there in a week or so. It’s probably not the best place for a writing cave anyway. I would love to have one located at Jackson Lake. Ah…

    Brinda

    • So jealous you’re going to NOLA very soon. You might not find Rue de Chartres as interesting as I do. Some of my reasons are quite silly. Nevertheless, I hope you have a wonderful time and if you see Brad, remind him to find a good apron for serving those beignets. The powdered sugar gets everywhere. 😉

  3. How very clever of you to “re-route” Benedict’s quest to locate the writing cave by tempting him with these marvelous non-writing cave sites. I’m starting to wonder which of you is the better Sherlock Holmes! You yourself clearly have a mind for mischief, Mrs Cumberbatch, uh … I mean, Tami.

    I so admire how carefully you considered Benedict’s intellect in selecting your gift by giving him so much to consider and ponder over. Others, not so wise as yourself, likely would’ve chosen to do something cheeky, like jump out of an enormous birthday cake, or something equally non-inventive and overdone.

    • Lol! You manage to make me laugh and blush each time you comment on these silly letters of mine, Barbara. 😉 Thank you for that – it was much needed today.

  4. I’ve never been kayaking before, but after seeing your photo, I totally want to go. That lake looks like a great place 🙂

    • All of Grand Teton National Park is gorgeous. Kayaking on Jackson Lake was amazing, though I was really nervous about doing it at first since it was my first time kayaking and motor boats were creating large wakes. Once I got over the fear of being dumped out of the kayak by a rogue wave, it was lots of fun. Breathtaking scenery. You should definitely go.

  5. on ,
    jodileastewart said:

    How I love these letters, Tami! You are a smart, hip writer with the potential to entertain the masses!

  6. on ,
    marcia said:

    Pack light…..keep your disguises to a minimum…in other words live on the edge, it can be exhilarating! Oh, and when you get to New Orleans drink an on-tap Rolling Rock for me!

  7. on ,
    Mary Ann said:

    I enjoy the whole cave-finding thing…very amusing

  8. New Orleans of the Drive-Thru Daiquiris? Party on, Tami, party on, Ben!

    In one more sleep, Gloria Richard will be with me at my writing cave. You should pop by, Tami.

    • I would love to stop by your writing cave and hang with you and Gloria! I can only imagine the hijinks and shenanigans that will ensue once Gloria arrives. I hope to see a post or two about it, ladies. Perhaps a blending of interests, like, say haunted loos? 😉

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