Monday, April 16, 2018

Life Happens by Diane Burton


Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans. ~ John Lennon

I should stencil John Lennon’s quote on the inside of my eyelids. This has not been my best year, writing-wise. Oh, 2018 started great with lots of energy, ideas galore, a plan to release three novels this year. For two weeks, I was going great guns on the fourth Alex O’Hara mystery. Then, for some weird reason (which I won’t go into), I quit that book to finish one that I thought was 75% done. It wasn’t, but I’d committed to it.

Enter the doldrums of 2018. Winter blues, depression. Whatever. I was stalled during the month of February. I wrote but not as much as I could have. With March, spring was in the air. Sort of. For a day or two we had sunshine. Hurray! My energy returned. The finish line was in sight, just 10k words to write. I had the outline done, just needed to go from “telling” to “showing.” And I was looking forward to celebrating Easter with my family.

That’s when Life slapped me up the side of the head and said, “Unh uh.” I woke up one morning with a vicious sore throat and a cough. I guess Life thought I needed to remember all those people who got influenza, even those who’d gotten the shot, those who ended up in the hospital. When family members (Hubs included) had gotten hit with bad colds, I escaped. I couldn’t believe it. How lucky could I get!

My luck ran out. No Easter with the family, not with coughing my head off. Finally, I was bullied (Hubs and daughter) into going to the doctor. Guess what? Doctors take Spring Break, too. Off to Urgent Care, where I was diagnosed with pneumonia. Say what? That explained the lack of energy, difficulty breathing with the least exertion, wanting to sleep all the time.

Along with no physical energy, my creative energy disappeared. Even reading was too hard. So was Facebook and email. Binge-watching Netflix was all I could manage. Life must have thought I needed downtime while one course of antibiotics worked. Recheck at the doctor’s showed an ear and sinus infection. Another course of antibiotics. More downtime. After all that, I am feeling better. I even got to see the grandkids last week. Talk about withdrawal. I hadn't seen them in over two weeks.

The plan to finish my romantic suspense (Number Never Lie) by Easter didn’t happen. That pushed back the release by Mother’s Day even farther. I'm almost afraid to mention a release date. I’m disappointed, but what can I do? Buckle down again. Keep on truckin’.


We make plans, and Life laughs.


Diane Burton combines her love of mystery, adventure, science fiction, and romance into writing romantic fiction. She blogs here on the 16th and 30th of each month. She shares snippets from Numbers Never Lie every weekend on her blog.


18 comments:

Betsy Ashton said...

I really feel your pain, Diane. Your body told you that you needed to stop. It made you stop. The hard way. Sometimes, when we are busy being busy, we forget to listen to the warning signs. So glad you are on the way to good health. So glad your mojo is coming back. From now on, that inner voice doesn't lie. Listen to it.

Jannine Gallant said...

Pneumonia isn't fun. A few years back, I caught what I thought was a cold over Christmas. By late January, I was still miserable but doing everything I normally did. Finally, I went to the doctor and was told I'd had pneumonia for a month. Three days of antibiotics later, I was good to go. Sometimes putting off going to the doctor doesn't pay! Glad you're feeling better!

Diane Burton said...

Betsy, you must be right. My body needed rest. Not listening to it was stupid. LOL Thanks for your advice.

Brenda Whiteside said...

The Universe sets you right every time. As Betsy said, glad you got your mojo back.

Diane Burton said...

Thanks, Jannine. Pneumonia can kill--esp. if you have other health problems. You're lucky (and normally in such good health) you didn't end up in the hospital.

Diane Burton said...

Brenda, thanks. Now that I've caught up (mostly) on email, FB, blogs, etc. I'm back to my WIP.

Rolynn Anderson said...

Nothin' like being really sick to contrast to when you're healthy again. It's like a whole new world! My money's on you Diane. Continue on the road to happy!

Diane Burton said...

Thanks so much, Rolynn. I didn't realize how sick I was until I got better.

Rolynn Anderson said...

Diane, did you have the pneumonia shot...or not? Just curious.

Alison Henderson said...

Many years ago I caught bronchitis from a co-worker. It developed into pneumonia, and that's the sickest I have ever been in my life. There's nothing you can do but lie around and let your body battle the germs. I'm so glad you're finally feeling better.

Diane Burton said...

Rolynn, yes, I got the pneumonia shot. Flu shot, too.

Diane Burton said...

Thanks, Alison. You're right. All I did was binge-watch Netflix when I wasn't falling asleep. Between the antibiotics and rest (plenty of water, too), I finally am feeling better. Finally got back to my WIP.

Margo Hoornstra said...

So glad you’re feeling better, Diane. We’re so programmed to just keep going, sometimes it does take life to slap us up the side of the head for us to realize we can’t always do that. The best part is you get to see the grandkids again. Glad, too, you’re back to you wip.

Diane Burton said...

Thanks, Margo. I must have needed that head slap.

Leah St. James said...

I've had pneumonia several times, and I don't think I've ever been so sick. It knocked me flat on my back for three weeks when I was in my late 20s. I'm so glad you've recovered and are starting to get back into your writing routine. As others have said, sometimes you just have to listen to your body.

Anonymous said...

Ugh, I've never had pneumonia, but it sounds debilitating and miserable. I know what you mean about plans getting derailed. I'm glad you're back and I look forward to receiving your first MS for edits!

Diane Burton said...

Leah, that's how I felt. I'm still not 100%. Writing is slow, though, and I need to nap every day. I'm listening. LOL

Diane Burton said...

Ally, it was debilitating. I didn't so much feel miserable, just so tired. Life is messing with me about finishing that book.