Twists and Turns

Last night, I received an email or two about Bryon's father. I don't know if I will be cutting this last part of the trip short or not. Neal is unresponsive, in the hospital, and the family is there. Except for me, because I chose an unfortunate time to schedule my vacation. I know with a terminal disease it would be morbid to stay at home and be on death watch, but I wish this had happened when I was in Minnesota, say, or Madison later this summer.

At any rate, I am certainly appreciative of my good travel friend. Catrina has been very supportive and I think it would be a lot harder without her here. After her Iceland antics early in the week, she invested in an international phone, so at least I can call later tonight, and see how Bryon, his mom, and the rest of the family are doing.

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At the same time, while I was out here in the field, I have an acceptance on a short story I just wrote, The Turtle of the World. Pending a rewrite of the last super explicit sex scene, which tends to overshadow the subtle sexuality of the rest of the story, it will appear in Cucurbital 2 from Paper Golem Press. I know easily how to rewrite it so it's not quite so explicit. Just waiting on word from the editor about any other edit notes he might have.

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And I've had a big breakthrough with the Klarion books. One of those waking dreams which kept me from sleeping the other night. I took notes, so I will sit down to write and recapture that at first opportunity. Which isn't today. Today is all about folk research for the rewrite and sequel to the troll book. At least I will have that much for sure out of the trip.

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See you guys later. I have a bus to catch. And things to think about.

Catherine

Mirrored from Writer Tamago.

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Bryon writes to say that his dad is dying peacefully. He's in a hospice room, they're giving him morphine, and he hasn't been conscious since Tuesday. His bodily functions have stopped except for breathing. His lungs are filling up, and they think it will be any time. I've had my opportunity to say goodbye before the trip. When you know someone is terminal, you wisely take those last moments about every chance you get.

Bryon doesn't think I could be of much use right now. And he's probably right. When you love your spouse, you try to do the best you can by them. Thanks to the Internet and Catrina's phone, he has my words and my love. He'll have my presence soon enough. This is hard on both of us now. It will be over soon. I will be home soon.

I will do what I can with the rest of my time here. It's taken some of the zip out of my vacation, obviously, However, this is what being an adult is. Life is full of these sorts of things, whether they are minor or they are game changers. We do the best we can with the circumstances we're given every day, and we try to answer them with measured, intelligent responses. This time Bryon and I have decided that the emotional comfort gained by my return would not offset the further fiscal outlay for the trip.

That seems cold to me. When I was young, I would have struggled to embrace the drama of my situation, money be damned. But yes, my presence changes essentially nothing about this situation, and I will be there for the important business of helping Bryon and his mother grieve when I get home. Being grown up and practical sure does sting.

I'm sure there's a story in this some where that might be cathartic. Which could be all right. A little cathart, that is.

Just so you know, I am doing the things I came to do. Catrina and I spent part of yesterday at the Norwegian Folk Museum. The trip has been great just for catching the aspects of what it means to be part of this culture. We will visit the National Gallery and Akershus Castle tomorrow.

I think all of the natural beauty of the next two days at the fjords will really help me with the heart of the next troll book, as well as the condition of my heart right now.

It goes without saying that the troll book rewrite and its sequel will be devoted to Neal and Phyllis now. I'm sure that doesn't mean anything to anyone but me, but it is enough that it means it to me.

See you all stateside soon.

Catherine

Mirrored from Writer Tamago.