Happy new year!
As you may or may not have noticed, and as I myself barely
noticed, I haven't posted on this blog since May. I was too busy with my sweet
new romance, and feeling discouraged about the current children's book
marketplace, and trying to decide whether I would ever write another book again,
and then finally falling in love with a new book idea and spending the rest of
the year happily scribbling away in my upstairs writing nook on my hour a day
of writing bliss.
But now it's the new year, and I was filled with plans for
starting all over again with every once-beloved activity under the sun.
Blogging again! Teaching an online course for the graduate programs in
children's literature at Hollins University! Working with my mentees through the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators! And revising my beautiful book
to share with my writing group and then with my agent and editor. I could
hardly wait for the new year to begin!
Alas, two days before Christmas, I was off to the grocery
store with my two little granddaughters, and one of them was leaping and
bounding with wild, uninhibited joy for the coming holidays, when she leaped
and bounded so exuberantly that I tripped over her and fell hard onto the
parking lot of King Soopers. “Are you okay?” a concerned stranger asked me. “No!”
I wailed. Because I wasn't. He helped me up, both my grown sons were summoned,
I was off to urgent care, and it turned out to be a broken elbow, with surgery
now scheduled for this coming Thursday.
What is to become of all my cherished plans? How can I type
with one arm in a sling? Thank goodness it is my left elbow and not my right,
but it is much harder than I realized to accomplish the tasks of daily life
with only one good arm. Adjustments will need to be made. In fact, I am composing
this right now, as an experiment, using the dictation feature on my laptop.
Somehow this will all work out, right? So many of my friends have had similar
surgeries, and they have survived. I suspect I will, too.
At least I am writing this blog post today, just as I
promised myself I would do. So I'm counting this as an auspicious start to the
challenging first month of this new year.
Wishing all of you health and happiness, and avoidance of
unpleasant encounters with gravity, in 2024!
Oh, what a bummer! I hope the surgery goes well, and your recovery is as quick as possible.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Joan!
DeleteI know how difficult having a broken bone that requires surgery is, and I wish you a speedy recovery. I’m so sorry this happened to you.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I am gobbling up all the good wishes I can get!
DeleteDear Claudia—I’m glad your life in writing and love is going well despite the elbow mishap! Happy new year!🎈
ReplyDeleteThank you! I am so glad about this, too!
DeleteOh goodness Claudia ! I pray for a successful surgery and a recovery without any complications!
ReplyDeleteThank you! From your lips to God's ears!
DeleteI hope you heal quickly and can return to all of your beloved projects. Like the others, I love reading your blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lisa! It felt so good to be writing it again!
DeleteI, too will pray for a successful surgery, and I look forward to someday reading your new book .I broke my elbow last January and typing seemed impossible, but it worked out that I could type much sooner than I had thought. I hope it's the same for you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this encouragement! I have heard that elbow woes are easier to recover from than shoulders, knees, or hips!
DeleteLifting you up in prayer for surgery and your recovery!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I love prayers!
DeleteHappy to hear your writing is going well again but sorry about your elbow! Heal well, and I will look forward to blog posts again when you're able.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pam! I will do all I can to heal! And it feels so good to be blogging again.
Deleteoh Claudia, thank you for checking in. Sending healing thoughts!
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear Lisa. I know you are no stranger to the need for healing thoughts....
DeleteDearest Claudia you are amazing and you can get over any hurdle. That comes your way. Hugs and well wishes to you my friend
ReplyDeleteThank you! I will hold on tight to these encouraging words!
DeleteOh dear! Hope you have a quick recovery and meanwhile Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteOh, Claudia, I am so sorry to hear about your accident. My prayers are with you for a successful surgery and for your quick healing and recovery.
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear Rhea. Your prayers will be extra good ones!!
Delete