Wednesday, October 24, 2012

The New Path

            A year ago today; Chris was driving the girls and me to our favorite bike-riding path and telling us about a dream from the night before.  "This tall woman, she could have been a queen, came to me," he said.  "She made some kind of pronouncement like, 'Your orders have changed.  You are now on a new path.'  Then she walked away.  Weird, huh?”
"Wonder what that means," I said, flipping through a magazine, my foot on the dashboard. 

Minutes before the accident
Four hours later, an ER doctor announced Chris had broken his back and fractured his neck.  He had tumbled off his bike in what seemed like a harmless accident, but clearly was not.  Mere millimeters stood between Chris and paralysis, or death.
That day was a blur of phone calls, surgery, prayer, and deep gratitude that Chris had survived.  Friends and family were amazing.  Neighbors Megan and Larry Jowers drove almost two hours to the Destin Hospital to get our house key so they could let the dogs out.  They took the girls to dinner, and were a huge comfort to me while Chris was in surgery.  
My brother Dave drove in from Atlanta, arriving at eleven at night, to take the girls home to our house.  He stayed with us for days, helping take care of Chris while I tried to wrap my head around what had happened. 

And now it's been a year.  Chris has recovered almost completely, and much of it has to do with his own strength and will.  He had great doctors and physical therapists, but treating himself as if he were his own Personal Trainer, working hard to recover, has been downright inspirational.
The experience changed us both, set us on a new path.  Chris and I are more grateful for our dear family and friends, and more aware of the precious gift that is good health to enjoy this life.  So today we look back, with a little trepidation, then forward with gratitude.  We're going on a commemorative bike ride this afternoon.  Join us!
 
 

Monday, October 15, 2012

Words on a Runway

"So it's going to be a matter of taste, which you have absolutely no control over," he said, studying the garment with one arm crossed over his dapper Armani, a finger at his lips.  Then, somewhat off the cuff, he paid the designer his highest compliment: "This couldn't be more you."
I love Project Runway.  I love watching the designers make it work or get Auf'd.  I love to hear Tim edit their creations with his thoughtful observations.  And although they work in fabric and color, styles and sketches, and I work with words, there are similarities in our vocations. 
-We can listen to lots of advice, but in the end, it's our own choices that make the cut.   
-We can lose an idea in the details or be too literal with our work, but we can also pull together something amazing without even being sure where it came from.
-We can not make anyone love what we do.  As the venerable Tim has said, it's a matter of taste. 
-We keep working, hoping someone will get it, and we keep trying to get it ourselves.  They wield scissors and I wield a pen as we search for the elusive ideas we want to share, the ideas that make Tim Gunn say, "This couldn't be more you."  That's when we know we nailed it.
Oh, and there's one final similarity:  we get to have meltdowns just before showtime.  "Thank you Mood!"

Thursday, October 4, 2012

SpiderMines and HeartCells


Over the years I've developed a writing process that works for me.  I sit at my computer with a cup of coffee and check my email, Facebook, and Pinterest.  Then I turn on my writing playlist which is mostly jazz because it provides light background noise, and I play a game of Hearts, Spider Solitaire, threeish games of Minesweeper, and one game of FreeCell.  I don't deviate from the order of these games or my morning is screwed.  Then, with a sigh, I pull up my document and stare at it until it tells me what to do. 
I don't dare figure out how much time I waste with this routine because those games get my head where it needs to be so I can write.  I figure it's time well spent.  Gotta run, time for Hearts!
Here, play with me!   http://www.freeminesweeper.org/