Wordy Words

If it goes without saying, then don't say it.

Short Story

Alanna's Death

by Rebecca L Elliott

He looked at her, hiding the pain that ripped through his heart. He had no way of expressing how he felt. Words were inadequate. How do you express losing part of your soul? She was his mate and now she was vanishing before him. Her body glowed and shimmered as her last breath escaped her lips. Her eyes brightened and lost all color.

Her body rose and twisted, weightless in the air. The glow broke through her skin around her heart and eyes. The light flared burning away her skin and clothes. Soon all that remained was a pulsating bright globe which pounded in rhythm with his own heartbeat. It pulsed several more seconds and then the light winked out.

She was gone. The light that had glowed within her had dissolved. His heart was torn apart and shattered. She was his soul and now she was gone.

Just keep swimming

Okay, If I hadn't already been diagnosed with a form of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) called Pure O (Obsession), I'd swear that I was bipolar. Yesterday was a great day. Rick's b-day, riding high = no headache. Today, after a few hours dizziness, the full onslaught came to bear and no defense could stand against it. It's amazing how much better I feel when I don't have a headache, and looking back over the past year and a half, those days have been very rare.

Anyway, at least now I know why I'm having headaches so severe, and in that I have peace. After being sent to the chiropractor to help relieve "tension" headaches (with the year our family has had, this is a very understandable diagnosis), the chiro helped some but didn't really eliminate the pain. I went back to the doc. I'd had a CT last year so he ordered an MRI. I didn't really worry about it. I thought there'd be nothing. I be told, "It's just a headache. Take some Tylenol."

However, the doc found a cyst in my head near my pituitary gland. In an odd sort of retrospect, I'm very relieved. The doc believes the cyst is benign. I will see a neurologist in a couple of weeks to discuss treatment. I've done some research and the prognosis is good. If they remove it, this may reduce some of my other health problems that I've been dealing with for years. In a crazy sort of way I'm excited for the possibilities. Of course, right now that doesn't stop the current pain or dizziness.

What should you do when life tries to get you down? Do as the salmon do:
Just Keep Swimming.

Ambiguity is more than one syllable

I've been working on a book for the past couple of years. It's almost complete and ready for professional eyes. I became discouraged the other day (perhaps the FEAR of failure) when I noticed that some of my narrative did not sound like an adolescent but an adult. Of course I am an adult and I use very big words. Even when I was in my teens I still used big words, and I've come to realize that this is probably not the norm. Anyway, then I came across a friends blog (Mark) and he wrote a piece using mostly one syllable words. I was deeply impressed. His piece was masterful. I would actually have to concentrate very hard to not use multiple syllable words. I find myself daily re-explaining what I thought was a simple explanation, but my children have no clue what I was talking about because I used a word they didn't understand. If I had only realized this 8 years ago, when they were not yet one I may have saved myself a lot of headache and heartache. ANY-Hoo, I'm rambling. This is all to say that my friends writing is a work of inspiration and he should be aware of this. Not only for my writing but perhaps for everyday communication. I come back to the KISS. Always Keep It Super Simple. Why have I overcomplicated my life?

What inspires you? What makes you keep on going?

Funerals

I don't like them. They are a reminder of my own mortality. The one from this week was most troublesome. Afterward, I felt a desperate need to spend the day with my Mom. We went to lunch and then did a little shopping. Funerals are also a reminder that I do not have control. I'm reminded of a quote from one of my favorite shows (which was recently canceled).

"Control is just an illusion meant to comfort us." -Stargate Atlantis.

Yeah, this pretty much sums up my year. However, I have also learned that I have had little trust. When we trust God with our lives, than we really have no need to worry about our life or our death or those around us. Sometimes it is hard. Especially when things don't turn out the way we want, but in the end He knows what is best for us, though we may not always see that at first.

It Is Finished!!!

Hey, Hey, Hey:

The first draft of the entire book is finished. Now for the fun part. Fixing it and pulling it all together.

Let's do the happy dance together. Woot! Woot!

Almost there

I just started chapter 24. Some of you may not know what that means, and some of you might not care, but to the chosen few, it means that I've started the last chapter of my book. The work in progress for the past three years. Why three? Well, I'm not very good at multi-tasking and two years ago I had another son and last year was one fraught with disaster. We survived and my hope is renewed. I really hope to get this chapter done this week. My goal for 2009 = Introduce it to a publisher and/or agent.
Here's hoping. (BTW: this photo is not mine. I got it off the net. But he is a great representation of one of the characters in my book. I guess you'll have to read it to find out which one.)