I have yet to get through a November without something life-upsetting happening. It's tough when your train of thought never gets out of station, your mojo dries up and your muse falls into a coma because the rest of your life has intruded.
Today, at 9am, my older kid got into a car accident while driving on a field trip. She's fine, the other driver's fine, the car's in the shop. As anyone who's ever had a fender-bender knows, the real hassle is the millions of phone calls and pieces of paperwork and general annoyances that are the inevitable aftermath of even the most minor accident.
Then at some point between 11:30am and 2:30pm, our rooster got out, did battle with some kind of animal, and lost. We found him on our neighbor's property, still warm. The neighbors think a bobcat got him.
I've had family deaths, layoffs, weddings and moves happen during November, and I've won every year. It can be done.
I say this because I know that bad stuff is happening to people all over. I know that it's even tougher to focus when your mind is on solving the fires that your life is lighting under you. Sometimes, it helps to talk it out. Let other people know about it. Tell us, so that we can commiserate with you! We, your fellow writers, want to support you, help you, bathe you in the virtual glow of our writerly love.
Go ahead. Let it all out. We're here.
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Junglemonkey
Santa Cruz Co-ML
Nanowrimo Winner '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08
Future Winner 2009
Wearer of the Eyebrow Dots of Power
13,139 / 50,000
Nov 9, 2009 - 12 09
Again, your inspirational post is right on.
I'm in the middle of one of those life-crisis events. Last Wed. I went for a routine physical at the doctor's office. Since use a wheelchair, getting onto the exam table is frought with anxiety and terror. This time I thought I was on top. Backed up to the table with my walker, and it was 2" too high. When they tried to boost me, I slipped, fell down hard onto my knees, thighs excruciatingly overstretched. Two guys had to lift me bodily onto the table, crying and shaking.
Afterward, i got down from the table, "walkered" to my wheelchair, drove home. Legs were very shaky and extremely painful, but I functioned OK. Until I tried to get to the bathroom in the middle of the night--and couldn't get out of bed. Ditto morning. Since then it's been "total heck." Getting into my wheelchair from the bed takes at least an hour--have to "squiggle" to the bottom of the bed, my husband parallel parks the chair, stuffs a pillow between the edge of the chair and the edge of the bed, and it takes me another 20 + min to get over onto it. By then I'm totally exhausted. One morning the pillow slipped, and I ended up with half my butt on the bed and half in the chair. My husband, who has Parkinson's, couildn't get me over. Had to call 911.
I finally contacted my MD for a referral to home-care, and a PT came out yesterday to do an intake. Hopefully the OT can come today to get me set up with a transfer board and/or better way to get out of bed. Also help me to get a shower. I haven't been able to since Wed. and I STINK!
I've been trying to do a little writing every day, even a couple of hundred words, but I'm so down and despairing I can't keep my mind on it.
Your story will inspire me to try.
----------Camarec - Fantasy is the only truth.
54,048 / 50,000
Nov 9, 2009 - 12 51
I'm so sorry that things are this challenging for you! I give you a virtual hug and make you some virtual tea. Heck, I'd give you actual hugs and make you actual tea, and do your laundry and alphabetize your spice racks and paint your house if I could.
You're already a better person than I. Before 2003, I was in a series of crappy relationships and my life was on fire all the time. There was no way I had the mental or emotional space for writing, although I desperately wanted to (I was a journalist at the time, which is at least in a related field). I admire you for being in the midst of some very real challenges and writing anyway. It doesn't matter if you don't make 50k - it matters that you participated! I see you on the forums, I know that you're with us in spirit, and that's huge.
Be kind to yourself. Be forgiving. Be generous. Don't look at what you're not doing - look at all that you are doing and know that you are already more awesome than the BILLIONS of people around the world who didn't even have the guts to sign up, let alone actually commit words to paper (virtual or otherwise). Did you know that there are at least 25 MLs who don't have a single word in their word count? You're miles ahead of all of them!
And just because nano ends at the end of November, that doesn't mean that you have to stop. Even if you don't make it to the finish like with the rest of us, there's no reason on earth for you not to keep going. The forums will be open for months after nano, and if you'll be here, I'll be here to encourage you.
----------Junglemonkey
Santa Cruz Co-ML
Nanowrimo Winner '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08
Future Winner 2009
Wearer of the Eyebrow Dots of Power
35,080 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2009 - 02 04
An old friend died over the weekend. Have to shave the face, cut the hair and put on the blue suit for the funeral. I never did get a chance to see him since I got back.
24,540 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2009 - 08 47
I'm so sorry to hear about your friend.
I'm kind of in an emotional upheaval situation and it's taking the place in my mind where the story goes. And it doesn't matter what decision I make about the situation the pain and thoughts are going to be there. There is no way around it. The question comes down to do I end a relationship now and deal with the broken heart or keep it going and deal with the broken heart later? The choice should be clear but the circumstances make it difficult. The irony is that NaNo and my story are what will get me through.
----------~*~Jenn~*~
54,048 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2009 - 09 36
I'm so sorry. I don't know what else to say.
----------Junglemonkey
Santa Cruz Co-ML
Nanowrimo Winner '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08
Future Winner 2009
Wearer of the Eyebrow Dots of Power
54,048 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2009 - 09 46
Me, I'm always a fan of "get the pain overwith sooner rather than later." Just know that if you ever need company, love and support, we're always here for you - you're one of us!
----------Junglemonkey
Santa Cruz Co-ML
Nanowrimo Winner '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08
Future Winner 2009
Wearer of the Eyebrow Dots of Power
6,385 / 50,000
Nov 11, 2009 - 05 51
What the hell is with November anyway? It always seems to suck more the older I get. Its supposed to be my "Happy Birthday!" month...crappy birthday is more like it. For all the other people who have had a rotten start of the month, I'm sorry for all the mishaps and I feel your pain. But just get up and keep going! GOGOGO!
54,048 / 50,000
Nov 11, 2009 - 13 39
Good on you for cheering your fellow writers on! I think that November is the gateway month to December, which is always the darkest and gloomiest month of the year. My theory is that we load the crappy months down with holidays so that it keeps our minds off of how crappy everything is.
Let me know if there's anything I can do to help you! Donate some words, give you more chocolate...
----------Junglemonkey
Santa Cruz Co-ML
Nanowrimo Winner '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08
Future Winner 2009
Wearer of the Eyebrow Dots of Power