It’s been one thing after another since I got home from OK in mid-September and my husband Don had his eighth operation in eight years immediately thereafter. He’s recovering nicely, doing very well, all things considered. He’s due for his post-op doctor’s appointment tomorrow (Tuesday Nov. 14), when hopefully he’ll be cleared to do whatever he wants.
I started teaching my creative writing class for Arizona State U. emeritus professors while Don was still in the hospital, and that is still going on until the end of November. Teaching takes a tremendous amount of time considering that the class is just two hours a week. I started my adult life as a high school teacher, and I have to say that I have nothing but admiration for teachers. Teachers should be paid as much as doctors in my humble opinion.
Nature trail at Lowe’s Ventana Canyon Resort outside Tucson, AZ
On the last weekend of October, Don and I drove down to Tucson so I could attend the annual Women Writing the West conference and teach a class on plotting a long series, along with the brilliant and lovely actress and author Mara Purl. The conference was held at a gorgeous resort up in the foothills north of Tucson. We had a lovely time, and my plan was to update my website as soon as I got home, but the best laid plans gang aft awry. I was developing a headache as we drove home and by Monday my headache turned into the flu. I felt poorly beginning Sunday night, and on Monday I began my descent into the mouth of influenza hell. I couldn’t believe it. I haven’t had the flu in decades. But by November 2 I was so sick that I had to cancel my class, and Don insisted that I go to the doctor, who confirmed the diagnosis and after a swab and an x-ray decided that my sore throat was not strep and my hacking cough was bronchitis and not pneumonia. The doc prescribed antibiotics for the bronchitis and meds for the cough and sore throat, and began to feel more human that very night. After a couple of relapses, I think I’m finally on the mend. No more chills or sweats. Headache and sore throat are finally much better, and cough is not as persistent. The worst problem right now is my sore ribs and back from hacking, and I’m still very tired. But I was able to teach my class last Thursday.
On top of my lying around wanting to pass peacefully away, we had our roof re-shingled this past week. Our roof was damaged during a storm back in the late spring, and Don interviewed eight different roofers, then paused for his operation, and finally picked someone to do it. Naturally it was during the week I was sick. But it’s done at last!
This coming Sunday, November 19, at 2:00 p.m.I will be joining some of my favorite authors, including Carolyn Hart, Kate Carlisle, Jenn McKinlay, Tim Hallinan, Rhys Bowen, and Daryl Gerber Wood at Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Scottsdale, AZ, for a holiday party and signing. Check out the details here.
And last but not least, November 15 is my 43rd wedding anniversary. Every year is a gift.
Forty-three years ago, before it was called a “selfie”
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