#welcometomyjourney#thehitskeepcoming

Forgive me, friends, for I've been remiss. It's been a month since my last blog post. As usual, life got in the way of my best intentions to blog more often. Perhaps when I'm officially retired (8 days from now), I'll be able to schedule dedicated writing time. I suppose I could make that my New Year's resolution. Nah, I don't usually make those.

In the next eight days, I still have to finish cleaning out my classroom (and that's 34 years of accumulated teacher stuff), wrap up virtual teaching and bid my last group of students good-bye, and finish end-of-the-semester paperwork. All of this, while dealing with a blood clot in my leg! Yep, you heard that correctly-and; the hits keep coming.

To make a long story short, I had excruciating pain in my calf for 5 days that wouldn't go away. After much procrastination and denial, I went to Convenient Care, where the diagnosis was made. A blood thinner was quickly prescribed, and I was sent on my merry way. Many kudos to the staff at Carle's Convenient Care Plus and at the HVI Clinic. These medical professionals made me feel reassured and well-taken care of the entire time I was there...alone.

Alone to receive news that will change the rest of my life. I had a few moments of self-pity and shed a few tears, but then I thought about the patients facing more dire diagnoses than mine and having to face it alone. My heart went out to those people who are lying in hospital beds fighting Covid without the love and support of their families. I came home to my husband, who has taken amazing care of me. Those poor patients have to rely on the hospital staff to provide that care and support. Again, God bless our medical professionals for everything they do.

I have a deep respect for those who've chosen to serve in the medical fields (both human and animal). My recent experience has given me several ideas for new characters and storylines for my cozy mystery series. If all goes according to my plan, you'll be able to read about Dr. Kate Butler, the gorgeous new veterinarian at Best Friends Animal Clinic, Dr. Robert Madison, who will be the CEO operating the new cancer clinic at St. Francis Hospital, and Trixie's older brother, Tyler, a former nurse in the United States army who moves to town to be closer to his baby sister. These characters will all find happiness, friendship, love, and danger when joining the Willow Hill community. So many ideas-can't wait to get started writing all their stories.

I'm still waiting to meet with the publisher who is interested in acquiring my first novel. She and I can't seem to get healthy at the same time, so that part of my saga continues. I will let you know if and when something positive happens.

I hope you all are staying healthy and being safe out there. Please stay vigilant even when you feel your determination waning. We will get through this together, hopefully, sooner rather than later. My husband/ nurse tells me it's time for my next dose of meds, so I must sign off.

Until next time,

Jodi