Archive for July, 2009

Welcome to my first foray into Excerpt Monday! First, I must thank  our hosts: Mel Berthier and Bria Quinlan. Mel writes Urban Fantasy at a PG-13 rating; Bria, RomCom at PG. I would like to share with you a prologue to the first of the colonial series. This is being cut from the current draft, but will hopefully be enough of a taste to gain your interest.

The rain had finally stopped and little Constance Delaney stood on the long porch of the plantation house and inhaled the fresh after-the-rain smell. It was too crowded inside the home with so many guests milling about. Ever since Mama went to sleep and didn’t wake up everyone was acting strangely. But Connie wasn’t sad. She never cries.

Mama, you told me you’d still be here even when I can’t see you.

A large dragonfly garnered her attention. A bubbly sound escaped her as she chased it. She felt the air beneath her as she jumped off the porch. Her feet sunk in the mud and water splashed up from the puddle. The dragonfly lured her around the corner of the great house and landed on the white rhododendron. What a pretty bug. A murmur of sound eased out of the open window. A familiar voice piqued little Constance’s curiosity, but the tone sounded strange. Papa?

“Dora was my life. What am I supposed to do with two girls?” The muted voiced filled her head. It was her father, but why was he so sad?

“I’ll never love another.” The ensuing sobs rang in her ears. Her brows knit. The insect darted to the next bush. She reached to catch it.

Papa never cries. He always says be strong.

“We wanted so much more from life; she wanted to give me a son. Damn the pox! Now I’ll never get to teach my child how to run the plantation. What difference does it make anyway?” His voice turned sour, giving her an ache in her chest.

Papa can teach me, he said I was a big girl. I don’t want Papa to be sad.

Now the tears came. The salty drops fell from her face and onto the white flowers; the dragonfly flitted away.

Thank you for playing. I’m learning, so bear with me. And check out these other authors:

Kinsey W. Holley, Paranormal (PG)    Babette James, Fantasy Romance (PG13)  Christina DeLorenzo, YA (PG 13)

Caitlynn Lowe, Epic Fantasy (PG)     Nika Dixon, Romantic Suspense (PG 13)  Kaige, Historic Romance (PG-13)

Dara Sorensen, Paranormal (PG)   Bryn Donovan, Paranormal Romance(PG13) Julia Knight, Fantasy Romance (PG 13)

Adelle Laudan, Contemporary Romance (PG 13)  Jeannie Lin, Historical Romance(PG13) RF Long, Paranormal (PG13)

Rebecca Savage, romantic suspense (PG 13)  Crista McHugh, Paranormal Romance (PG 13)

So, I spent of time there tonight. In and out. Not even seen. So, that’s a plus I guess. (Since the patient had improved.)

But we’ve all had our share of that interminable wait. Right?

So, I thought I’d come up with thirteen things to do while waiting in an ER waiting room.

1)Count the fellow waiting patients who are wearing slippers/bedroom clothes. Really. The lady across from me tonight must have been feeling bad or felt that her attire would at least give off the impression she was not well. A satin-lite pajama top. Non matching sweats and blue fuzzy slippers. I prefer the pink fuzzies, personally. At home.

2)Play at the kids table. You know, the one with the metallic sand inside and the magnets on the bottom. It’s fun for about five minutes. That, and my knees/hips couldn’t take the kiddie chair much longer.

3) Watch the weather channel or whatever news station they leave it on and memorize the loops being played.

Now if you do get to be seen before you get to number 4, then you can resume the wait in the examining room. A minute fraction of the time spent is actually face time with staff. Compounded by the fact that each new face asks for the same story. Come on, no communication or reading of the chart?

4) You could count the spatters of, I hope that’s JUST blood, on the privacy curtain.

5)Imagine shapes out of the flecks in the linoleum. Ooh. I see Lincoln’s face.

6)Elevate the bed straight from the floor and when someone comes in pretend to be in a panic and say, “Help! Get me down!”

7) Wear the gown backwards and complain/remark about how cool the air conditing is.

Make a rubber rooster out of a glove.

9) Use the otoscope to look up your nose. Wow. That’s different.

10) Build a ‘log cabin’ with the tongue depressors and see if there is anything to use as ‘little people’ for your new town.

11) Count the tiles in the ceiling.

12)Count the tiles on the floor, again.

13) Play a one sided staring contest with the nurse at the desk ignoring you while she eats. Wow. That’s a big mouth.

Do you have any fun waiting games to add?

It is said that in life, every person you meet has the potential to touch and affect your life; and you, theirs. Yesterday was such a day for me. In my day job, I met a remarkable young woman and her husband. Jennifer and Steve O’Neill. Their pleasant demeanor and open personalities are not the only traits making them so spectacular. Their inr love for eachother, while exceptional and beautiful to behold, and quite inspiring, drew me to them. But their story, their struggle, and their positive attitude: these are what piqued my interest and my compassion.

At  first, it was another report, another patient. “You have a young female patient who has had a bilateral mastectomy.” Further information was given as to the particulars of her care; what was necessary to hear in order to provide her with the plan set forth from the physician. I’m not so callous that just a name or just a diagnosis is how I see my patients. But sometimes, a face, a story to match those benign identifiers makes their case all the more special. She never was just, “the mastectomy in 57. ”

But I went about my day. I did my best as her nurse to serve her. Attended to her pain. Held my breath with her as she saw her chest for the first time. (Jennifer, I really did.) Listened as she told and retold her story.  And became amazed at her fortitude.

Near the end of the day she told me about being on a website for cancer patients and their trials and tribulations.Caringbridge.org
Jennifer

Knowing she’d be discharged home before I arrive to my next shift I gave her and received a beautiful hug wishing her well. And this post is my public prayer for her. Keep me informed, Jen, and I’ll watch for you on Caringbridge!

Thank you for touching my life. As I said, you have affected mine. I’m hopeful I help you in yours.