Sunday, August 3, 2014

Gratitude Monday– Sketches of Thanks

Another Monday rolls around and I've plenty for which to be grateful.
I'm recovering well from surgery. I feel good which helps cope with the pain as it makes it easier to ignore. I refuse to take pain killers on the grounds that they'll get in the way of me judging how well I am healing and they'll muddle my mind.
I am very grateful that I weaned myself away from all but the Tylenol 500s while in the hospital. I probably could have gotten away with refusing them, too, but I decided, why suffer?
They left me clear-headed enough to think and to create. The first morning after refusing Toradol I came up with a character and wrote a brief sketch of her.
Because I had assumed I'd be in pain and helping myself to the IV morphine, I brought neither pen nor paper.  But I had a pencil because a nurse brought me one. The hospital allows patients to circle menu choices for the next day and I had done so earlier.
The paper I used was from the print-out that came with the breakfast which ensures the proper patient gets the proper food.
It wasn't much, but it was all I needed. 
I wrote small.
So small that when I got home later I had to dig out a magnifying glass to read it.
I am so grateful I
a) had one
b) that what I wrote made sense.
I'd been kicking around an idea for a few weeks. This character has helped clarify the story and given me a start. 
She's also given me reason for a guest appearance from another character, this one in the book I have under contract with Holland House Books/Lost World Press.
And I am very grateful for both the guest appearance and the contract.

12 comments:

Ron Scheer said...

I realized during a post-op hospital stay that one nurse was encouraging me to take heavy-duty painkillers so I'd blank out for a while and not need her attention.

Leah J. Utas said...

Yikes, Ron. That's scary.

Anonymous said...

Lots of wonderful stuff to be grateful for!!!

Virginia Lee said...

I am grateful you are doing so well. That's totally the best thing ever! xo

Leah J. Utas said...

Thanks, Kimberley and Virginia Lee.

solarity said...

I'm grateful you're writing.

Mary Anne in Kentucky

Leah J. Utas said...

Thanks so much, Mary Anne.

messymimi said...

Such good news, that you are recovering and writing again so soon!

Leah J. Utas said...

Thanks, Messymimi.

Hilary said...

You've mastered the art of gratitude well. You're an inspiration, Leah.

Leah J. Utas said...

Aww, thanks, Hilary.

Leah J. Utas said...
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