Wednesday, April 7, 2021

The Insecure Writer and Not Knowing What Life Has Planned For You

 


Today is April's contribution to Alex Cavanaugh's Insecure Writers Support Group.

What makes me an insecure writer this month?

Not knowing what life is about to deal you.

I’m a bit late with my post today. Not particularly unusual for me, but this time I have an excuse. Instead of spending Tuesday writing a post about the insecurities of editing your manuscript based on your beta reader’s input, I spent most of it in the emergency room after my wife and son were in an automobile accident.
 
Long story short, a car ran a red light and T-boned the passenger side of our car. My son was driving, so my wife took the brunt of the impact. The ambulance came and took her to the hospital. I took my son there a few hours later when he started developing some pain too.

Notice the several deployed airbags


As a writer, I suppose I should wait until the end of the post to let you know how it all came out, but since we’re all friends here, I’ll let you know that, besides some aches and bruises, everyone is okay. 

But that doesn’t mean the ten hours we spent in the emergency room were not without some scares. They found a fracture in my wife’s C1 vertebrae, the one at the very top of her spine, so they put a neck brace on her. The neurosurgeon told us that, assuming my wife didn’t need surgery, she’d have to wear the brace for at least 6 weeks. They did some more tests, then an orderly came by to do a COVID test, suggesting that they were planning on admitting her to the hospital. Then they performed another test or two, and then finally two hours later, the doctor came by to announce that my wife could take the brace off. The fracture was small enough it would take care of itself.

Talk about a relief. I thought my wife’s eyes were about to bug out when the doctor told us. So now we're back home, resting and recuperating.


The moral of the story is simply this. While you’re sitting in front of your keyboard and slaving away on your story, always remember that you never know what life has planned for you. Maybe your next story will be a success, maybe it won’t. It doesn’t matter. You’ve always got another story waiting inside you. Your job is keep pecking away at the keyboard and let life figure out what’s going to happen with it.

Oh, and always wear seat belts.

Take care everyone, and stay safe! 

ChemistKen

17 comments:

  1. I'm so very glad that everyone is okay. That's terrifying. The photo speaks volumes. Sending hugs to all of you and hopes for a speedy recovery for all physically and emotionally.
    Life does have a habit of derailing even the best laid plans. Take care!

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  2. I am so glad that everyone is fine. What a scary time for you all!

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  3. I'm so glad your wife and son are all right--except for the C-1 fracture. Hubs broke his in 2 places falling. He's been in a neck brace since Feb.1 and hates it. Buy lots of straws. He even drinks his coffee thru a straw. lol Get extra pads for the brace (Amazon). They get dirty easily. Because there's a gap in the break, the doc is hoping it will heal itself. Hope your wife's heals quickly. Sending her hugs.

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  4. This is why when I open my eyes in the morning, the first thing I do is list all the things I'm grateful for. Like my arms and legs and sight and hearing. I'm very glad your son and your wife are okay. Very glad indeed.

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  5. What a scary thing to happen. So glad both your wife and son will be okay.

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  6. Wow. That is relief. I'm glad that your wife and son are okay and that the fraction in your wife's vertebrae is small enough to heal on its own. So many blessings right there. <3

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  7. I'm so glad everything worked out. C1 is pretty much the end-all. I can see why writing was skipped.

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  8. Geez Louise! I'm glad your family is safe and things weren't worse. That must have been terrifying for everyone.

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  9. Great to hear it turned out as well as it did. The car looks sad though. Rough day. Sorry you had to go through it.

    I just realized you could get some writing material out of it; Sounds like a good piece of a subplot for a story.

    How did the person or persons in the other vehicle fare?

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  10. I'm so glad you and your wife are okay. Maybe this experience will give you material in some way.
    You're so right that you never no what's next, but that is what makes writing and life so exciting.

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  11. What a scare. Glad neither was hurt badly. And yes, I always wear my seat belt.

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  12. What a shock! I'm glad everyone is okay. You take care as well. *hugs*

    Anna from elements of emaginette

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  13. Oh my goodness! I'm so glad your wife and son are okay.

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  14. That is so scary. I'm so glad they're fine. A C-1 fracture could have been so much worse.

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  15. Ouch! That looks scary, and I imagine the recovery is still painful.
    I'm glad you're all okay.

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  16. I am so sorry to hear about your wife and son. Glad to hear they are okay. Life certainly does create a few hurdles having experienced it recently with my family. Keep well.

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  17. I'm sorry to hear about your family. Sudden emergencies are very scary and I'm glad you didn't hold us in suspense until the end. Yes, it always seems when I have a solid block of time to write, some sort of emergency erupts :) Happy IWSG Day.

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