One Little Elephant

I avoid doctors. And medications. I won't even take aspirin for a headache unless my head is about to explode. But lately I've been way past exhausted. So when I could no longer write, I made an appointment.

After blood tests, sonograms, EKGs, x-rays, and exams all they could find of significance was that I was anemic. They gave me B-12 and other hero-maker vitamins and I felt better. I could write again!

So last night I went into my office to write. I sat down on the exercise ball I've used as a chair for several years and...Boom!

Like a popped balloon my seat disinegrated beneath me in one explosive instant. And in that split second before I fell an incredible number of thoughts raced through my mind: gas explosion? gun? are the kid's okay? oh, it's the exercise ball. falling. going to hit head on bookcase. how bad will this--?

My head whacked against the bookcase. It's a sturdy one, one I can't normally move by myself. Yet base and all it moved two inches into a wall. The whole house shook and the kids came flying down the stairs. And between that instant when my skull struck wood and my body traveled the final distance to the floor my mind raced again: what now? death? paralysis? brain damage? death is better. for me. for my family. but what about the kids? please God, if the kids still need me...and God, I haven't finished writing--.

I hit the floor and the air rushed out of me and almost before I could fill my lungs again my lifeguard son and my ROTC son and my compassionate daughter were there beside me, three angels, helping me.

Maybe God took pity or maybe I have a very hard head, but I got off easy: a gash, some blood, a goose-egg, adreniline shakes, and a terrible headache. So despite anemia and exploding seats, today I'm writing. And life is good.

What's that you ask? Did I take an aspirin for the headache? No, of course not. After all, my head didn't actually explode.

Something that's helping me write today: Gratitude that I can! And an experience that proves all those thoughts writers describe going through characters' heads in an instant of crisis really can fit into that tiny space of time.