Persphone: One of Jim’s Caregivers
Since the beginning of July, my ultra-quiet, writing-focused life has had more than a few disruptions.
I’ll spare you the ups and downs of sick pets, temperatures of over 105 that started cooking the garden, and the advent of squash bugs. Instead, I’ll focus in on the event that was the straw that nearly broke this camel’s back.
On Monday, July 6, Jim went into the hospital to be treated for a severe urinary tract infection complicated by extremely low sodium.
It’s never great to have one’s partner in the hospital but, because of restrictions due to Covid-19, I couldn’t go into the Urgent Care clinic with him. I’d taken him the previous Sunday, when he started feeling unwell, and since he was running a fever, even he couldn’t go in. On Monday, when he went back, he wasn’t running a fever… Then.
(Yes, he’s been tested for Covid-19, and came up negative. That pretty much means that, as of that testing, I was negative, too.)
We didn’t learn until Tuesday that I could visit him at the hospital. Visitors were restricted to one per day. Not one at a time. One per day. New Mexico has been very careful, and I am grateful for this.
Anyhow, Jim came home on Wednesday, mid-afternoon. He’s not well, but he’s getting better. However, for now, I’m without someone to run the errands at a time where there are more errands to be run. This has a ripple effect down the line, up to and including hitting my immersing myself into polishing the manuscript of SK4, the yet-untitled fourth book in the Star Kingdom series I’m writing with David Weber. Not only do I have less time, I’m really, really wrung out.
The situation would be worse, but I had fantastic support from various friends who helped with getting Roary the kitten to the vet for his booster shots, picking up groceries, delivering packages to the post office, and suchlike.
On a more cheerful note, I have a new short story out! “The Problem with Magic Rings” appears in DreamForge, issue 6. It features the same characters as in “A Familiar’s Predicament,” which was featured in the anthology Sword and Sorceress 33 back in 2018.
Although the illustration makes “The Problem With Magic Rings” look like a kid’s story, it has more in common with adventure tales and sword and sorcery, such as Fritz Leiber’s stories about Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser, where a sprinkling of the outrageous enlivens clashing swords and creative spells. The narrator is a very tiny dragon…
You can learn more about subscribing to DreamForge here. They’ve just revised the website, so you can see what else is featured in issue six, as well as in prior issues.
Enjoy!
Our Bold Band
Jane Lindskold: Wednesday Wanderings 
July 15, 2020 at 4:09 am |
I am sorry Jim has been sick. I hope he feels better soon!
July 15, 2020 at 7:25 am |
Thank you! He’s been reading Starsight, the second book in a Brandon Sandersen series I believe you recommended. He’s really enjoying.
July 15, 2020 at 9:33 am |
I hope Jim is getting some relief. And the illustration for your story doesn’t look like a kid’s story, it looks like a comic book! I love it.
July 15, 2020 at 10:23 am |
I’m glad Jim is on the mend. Our lives run along fine until one tiny grain of sand slows a cog, and before you know it, the whole “works” is out of sync. Hurray for helpful friends and a new story when my DreamForge comes in the mail!
July 20, 2020 at 2:11 pm |
Getting better is the name of the game for everyone. Let Jim know he also has a role to play so he needs to get better soon so he can arrive home in time to rest up for the rest of the year.
Having these “bumps” is always a challenge but so is living. The heat of this summer is not a memory–Yet, but soon it too should be gone.
My plums and peaches have arrived but so have the birds. When you have time, order some fresh fruit from a local farmer since it always tastes better fresh picked.
July 21, 2020 at 8:41 am |
How good fresh tastes is one reason we have a garden!! Wish I was close enough to come get some of your produce. I don’t mind cutting out minor bird damage.