Serious Questions

This is not the blog I planned to write this morning but life intrudes.

Friday evening, around 6:00, the daughter (actually, stepdaughter) of a very close friend was struck by a car while biking.  She suffered massive head trauma, even wearing a helmet, and has undergone extensive brain surgery.  She's hour to hour now.   Her doctors have told the family it's in God's hands.

Why would I start everyone's Monday morning with such depressing news?  Well, crisis always brings questions, questions we tend not to think about until we have to.  This young woman was in the peak of health and fitness.  She was biking that day as part of her triathlon training.  Illness wasn't on her radar anywhere.  Neither was this.  She is single, no kids.  So it's not surprising she had none of those things that we start to think about as we get older - a living will, designated power of attorney, designated power of medical authorization, etc.  I'm not sure she even has a will.  Her parents are with her but neither has the legal right to speak for her, to make major decisions, even to access her records and pay her bills.  What would she want done?  Who would she want to speak for her if she's unable to speak for herself?  Who will take care of her?  There will be lawyers and court rulings and lots of unnecessary stress on top of the incredible pain of what is happening to their child.

She is the same age as my oldest.  I love my sons and make it a point to end all phone conversations with a quick 'love you'.  And they do the same.  But it's just a sound byte:  'love you, bye', said without thought or feeling.  How long has it been since I've really told them what they mean to me, how incredibly proud I am of the young men they've become?

If this happened today in your family, to you, to one of yours...what questions would need to be asked?  How would they be answered?


My current word count: 18,308

I'm currently enjoying: Just finished Absolutely, Positively by Heather Webber.  Another absolutely, positively, delightful Lucy Valentine.

Groaner of the day: Adding my usual groaner doesn't feel quite right today so I'm offering these.  The poem came to me in an e-mail, I don't know the author.  The quote is from the incomparable Erma Bombeck.

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.
He sends you flowers every spring.
He sends you a sunrise every morning.
Whenever you want to talk, He listens.
He can live anywhere in the universe, but He chose your heart.
Face it, friend, He is crazy about you!
God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.

For me, heaven on earth is using up every bit of life before I leave it.  ~ Erma Bombeck, February 14, 1988

A Little Saturday Sex?

Very few of the blogs I follow do much on Saturday but I'm working on a goal of three posts a week and I've only done two so I'm slipping this one in.  This is an excerpt from my WIP, HUNTER'S WAY...just an encounter between my main character, Kiri Hunter, and the gorgeous Nick Cassetti. 


Kiri poured them each a glass of white wine and handed one to Nick. They drank, standing there by the kitchen counter, and they talked, but later Kiri could remember nothing that was said. The air around them was becoming charged until she could almost hear the crackle. Then Nick sat his empty glass on the counter.

“Kiri, put your glass down.”

“Why?” She knew why.

“Because I’m going to kiss you now.”

He was - she had to admit - an excellent kisser. His lips coaxing her response as his tongue lured hers into play. The kiss went on long enough to ignite several small fires in various parts of Kiri’s body before he pulled back. He turned away slightly, reaching for the wine bottle, while Kiri leaned against the counter, grateful for its support.

Nick had picked up the bottle and both glasses. “Don’t you think we’d be more comfortable on the couch?”

Oh yeah. Lots more comfortable. Well, at least he hadn’t suggested they head upstairs. Okay, enough of this nonsense. You know when to draw the line, Hunter, and you are well past it already.

“Yes, I suppose.”

Shit!

They sat close together on the long leather sofa. Nick refilled their glasses and they each took a slow sip. Then he carefully removed the glass from her hand and set them both back on the low table. His face was close to hers but he let the moment draw out, let the anticipation build until he slipped one hand behind her neck and drew her lips to his.

Kiri’s hands slid up the front of his shirt and one found its way into his thick black hair. Those small fires began to flare dangerously and Kiri had to force herself to breath. Clever fingers were wandering over her throat, up and down her back, and – oh God – brushing over the taut nipple of one breast. She tried once more. Hunter, you don’t want to do this. You know you don’t want to do this. But she did. She really really did. She ran her hands over the firm muscles in his back, pulling him tighter against her. It had been so damn long. And he felt so good.

The ringing of the telephone was like an alarm clock, dragging her abruptly out of a fabulous dream.

Nick tried to save the moment, murmuring against her lips, “Don’t answer it.”

But Kiri was already pulling away.


So...would you have answered that phone?

Unwriting progress: From the original 150,000 words down to 116,912.

I'm currently enjoying: Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear

Quote of the day: If love is the answer, could you rephrase the question?  - Lily Tomlin