I’ve lived long enough to know that a new year brings expectations that will be met along with a number of things one would never supposed could happen. As I look back on this year, I have to admit that 2019 brought more than its share of unexpecteds.
Some things I knew or was fairly certain about before the year began – the end of my stint as afternoon entertainment for preschooler Owen as he entered all-day kindergarten; various routine and celebratory events with the two grandsons and their family who lived about fifteen minutes away; a wonderful Kaigler Book Festival in April; a couple of SCBWI workshops with my MS/LA children’s writers group, and a significant birthday. The year held anticipation and surprises.
In the first surprise, I was completely shocked when I was asked to write a blurb for Kat Pigott’s new picture book. Pelican Publishing gave exact requirements since they planned to use it on the back and perhaps in advertising. They were going to use 50 words in the blurb. If I wrote more for other use, they would choose the 50. Trust me, I whittled my comments to exactly 50 – you can count them:
Kat Pigott’s text and author’s note in The Flying Horses of City Park enhance a trip to the carousel in City Park in New Orleans. Prereading prepares for a search for kinds of animals, types of rides, and decoration locations. Reading afterwards recalls a child’s own experience on the rides.
Other events met or exceeded expectations, but as the significant birthday neared, the unexpected events began to feel like an out-of-control rollercoaster. Our daughter-in-law came up with an idea that we should buy a place together, eliminating the fifteen-minute drive. My doctor got nervous at a routine visit when I mentioned after-exercise pressure in my chest and he found my father’s death of a massive heart attack in my family history. He made an appointment with a cardiologist. Family coming from afar for the significant birthday brought a nice unanticipated respite. I broke my humerus at the next writer event, making it impossible to raise my hands above my head for a stress test at the cardiologist the next week. He compensated by doing a catherization and putting in three stents.
In the final unexpected happening, unless something happens in the next two days, we made the move to the compound. I count my blessings as the exercises prescribed by the orthopedic surgeon have my shoulder almost back to normal, I’m lengthening my walking in this rural setting, and I can watch my two favorite schoolboys out my window.
Now let’s see what 2020 can bring!