Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

If it's not one thing, is it another?

Lisa A. McCombs
4 min readAug 16, 2022

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I awoke this morning full of enthusiasm for the day ahead. Using my nifty Ninja Writer's organization system, I always know what I expect of myself. I write every morning from 8 (or before) until at least 10:30 AM.

I like structure. I need purpose.

I am a disaster magnet.

That guy, Edward Murphy, Jr. knew what he was talking about.

At least once a day I have a fall or a spill, a stumble, or an “accident” (you know what I’m talking about). Yea, so what? you ask.

Well, nothing is as simple as a stumble, or a disobedient bladder when the MonSter is involved.

I wear an AFO, so when I cannot get to the bathroom in time, the following 20–30 minutes of my life comprises of removing the AFO (not as easy as t sounds) so that I can remove my socks, shoes, undergarments, and trousers. Then I wash up, dry down, and waddle around the house in search of a dry change of clothes. If it’s a not-so-messy accident. Often times the bathroom floor requires a wipe or two and bathroom rugs need to be removed. All soiled items get pushed down the laundry shoot for a later activity.

This is all contingent on my location. Hopefully, I am home. That is not always the case.

I fell for you unexpectedly, but now I plan to be with you forever.

I am doing better with my falling. Mostly, I land in slow motion and score a 10 on my landing. There are times, though, when I kind of blackout during the fall. Not really, but I have no warning sensation until my face (and/or other body parts) hits the pavement. Cleaning up a fall requires an extensive list of options depending on the severity of the incident. I have suffered black eye(s), a bruised tailbone, a twisted ankle, a sprained wrist, and a stitch-worthy bump to the head. (Since it was the middle of the night, I opted to design my butterfly bandage.)

Photo by Dayne Topkin on Unsplash

So far, I have avoided a 911 call. Regardless, immediate action is mandatory.

I don’t do things halfway. I’m all in or all out.

A friend of mine once told me as we contemplated New Year’s Eve plans, “Let’s just have a house party and leave the drunk driving to the amateurs.”

I know that paints a not-so-wholesome picture of me, but it's good advice.

No matter what I do in life, I strive to be as good at it as possible. When we retired from teaching best friend and I took knitting lessons. She is a really good knitter. My skills aren’t as impressive, but I continue to work on my technique.

When I began putting my writing out there for public consumption, I did it with pride. I love to write. I love to read. I love the written word. With seven published books, two anthology publications, and a brain locker full of future story ideas, I realize the odds of making a living from doing what I love are thin. BUT, since the publication of my first young adult novel, I have honed my skill. I see improvement in my writing. I am in a writing group and respect their opinions. Just yesterday, I received the ultimate compliment (from a magnificent writer) during an editing session. Zach told me that my writing is STRONG.

Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash

So, I implore you to find something you are passionate about and give it a run for the money. Be consistent. Be faithful. Give it your best effort.

Ask yourself: What do I do well? What is something I am interested in pursuing?

Learning about rose bushes?

Home manicures?

Cooking French dishes? (After watching Julie and Julia years ago, I thought it was a great idea to work my way through the recipes of Julia Child. My advice? Be realistic about your goals:)

Learning to crochet?

Completing a Goodreads reading challenge?

Good luck!

Lisa, Lady With the Cane

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