Tags
blogging101, Creative Writing, Family, Journaling, Memories & Reflections, Sandbox Writing Challenge, Self-actualization, Writing 101, Writing Prompts
Taking risks! OML! You’d think to hear me blabber on in this blog that I never do any of that. But actually Drollery and I have taken quite a few risks in our nearly 44 years together.
Just getting married was a risk for us. I came from a strong protestant background, his family was LDS. Neither of us were sure how our parents were going to react when we got engaged. In fact, the day we GOT engaged we went back to my house and my folks and my grandmother were playing cards. So we sat down to play a few hands of Rummy thinking they would notice the ring on my finger. They didn’t. We finally pointed it out. The first words out of my grandmother’s mouth were, “He’s not one of those Mormons, is he???” I thought Drollery was going to turn around and run! 😀 In the end it was his parents who were upset about it. Our family was never really treated the same as the others. Our kids’ school pictures never went on the TV. ‘Nuf said.
For six years we tried to start a family. When I finally did get pregnant, we lost that baby at three months and the doc said not to try for several months. But it was so close to Christmas and I had gifts for my parents that said “Grandma and Grandpa” on them. I wanted so much to give them that first grandchild for Christmas. So it was we decided to risk complications again. On Christmas Eve, before I should even have suspected I was pregnant, I saw the doc, and “lo and behold” we were having a baby! It was nothing short of a miracle.
And a second “baby” risk was our deciding I needed to quit work when I had Bran as we knew by then there’d be no more babies. Suffice it to say we haven’t had a pot to p*ss in since then, but we have never regretted that decision.
We also wanted very much to be a family united in faith, so after much study together, his lordship decided to leave the LDS church and give his life to Jesus. Whether we realized it or not at the time, it turned out to be a risk. I was suddenly receiving hate mail from his family accusing me of luring him away from his faith. But it was the right decision for us.
So into our financially stressed lives we felt called to adopt. Probably our biggest risk of all. That’s how we were blessed with our beautiful daughter Stefanie Kavitha. There were sure times before she got here when we wondered about the risk we were taking. But our family would have been incomplete without her. (See Choosing Adoption)
It was then we decided Drollery needed to go back to school to get his BA in accounting. We knew it was going to be hard. Hard financially, hard on the family time, and even physically hard as he was also working full time. After stumbling around for almost 15 years, he made it just in time to graduate with Stef (high school) and Bran (college).
But probably one of the most risky decisions we’ve made over the years (and we talked about this together before Drollery decided what to do) was for Drollery to tell his boss at the place he’d worked for 20 years that he wouldn’t do something illegal regarding the taxes for the business. The result? Drollery got let got. But we never looked back and never regretted it.
* * * * *
As I read back through what I’d written here I realized all these risks were risks we undertook together as a couple. Perhaps there truly aren’t any that I took on my own, other than I felt like every job I took was a risk. Perhaps I’ve been lucky? Spoiled? Or just plain not brave enough to find myself in that position. So maybe I can’t really answer this question with the intent she meant.
Well, it’s never too late, I guess. I still have a lot of years left. Maybe a big scary Risk will come along and bite me in the butt! 😀 THEN maybe we’ll see what I’m made of!!!
Andrea R Huelsenbeck said:
I’m just reading this today (I’m a little behind on checking my emails…). What a wonderful life you have lived!
LikeLiked by 1 person
calensariel said:
And that big “event” to test my metal (can’t call it a risk) showed up in May 2017 when I was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis – and autoimmune disorder. Been a long road, but I’m hanging in there!
LikeLike
Fimnora Westcaw said:
I just finished writing my SWC, and I’m sitting here laughing as I titled mine, “Risky Business.” LOL But seriously, I have to put that Fim Spin on it. You may have risked things, with LD at your side, but they were just as much your risk as both of yours. I can recall many things you posted which spoke of risk. It’s kind of that thing where, I’m sure you wouldn’t jump off a bridge if your one and only said he was going to… would you? I see you’ve risked at every turn, it just happened that you were one of two people who were taking the risk together. JMTC.
LikeLiked by 1 person
calensariel said:
I wondered when someone would come up with “Risky Business!” I was tempted to include a picture of Tom Cruise in the blog. LOL I probably wouldn’t be standing on the bridge! I have positional vertigo in my left ear from getting knocked down by that wave in Oregon when I was six. I don’t do high things! You should see what elevators do to me! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fimnora Westcaw said:
I am trying to come up with another catchy title for my post. It’s a challenge, which I love anyway. 🙂
How well I understand vertigo. I can’t stand near the edge of subway platforms, or on a cliff overlooking anything. And elevators have been really difficult for me as far back as I can remember. When I worked at a hospital, on the 10th and 11th floors, I’d ride up to the 9th floor, get off and walk up the stairs to the 10th, to offset the dizziness. I used to walk down the 10 flights of stairs at the end of the work day to avoid the elevator. No carousels for me. Or even machines at fitness centers that swivel and move. Escalators are the same. I don’t actually know why I have it. Just that I do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
calensariel said:
When you’re up on an upper floor and just standing, have you ever felt the building move and gotten dizzy?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fimnora Westcaw said:
Yes, to answer about just getting dizzy, standing, doing nothing minding my own business, and the higher up, the more fierce the sensation becomes. What are the odds of having both agoraphobia, and acrophobia? Probably more than I think.
LikeLiked by 1 person
calensariel said:
I hate that feeling!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Of Rituals and Milestones | Impromptu Promptlings
Pingback: Of Rituals and Milestones | Impromptu Promptlings
spiritualdragonfly said:
I think we all take risks daily..choosing to get in the car or walk…getting on a plane…the food we eat….all come with risks now a days! ❤️❤️❤️
LikeLiked by 2 people
calensariel said:
If you want to come at it from THAT perspective, just BREATHING the air is a risk these days sometimes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
spiritualdragonfly said:
LOL…ain’t that the truth!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fimnora Westcaw said:
which is why I don’t fly, eat, walk, drive, get out of bed, breathe… 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
spiritualdragonfly said:
Exactly!! 😄😜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Colleen Keehne said:
Maybe Beth will bite you in the butt
LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
calensariel said:
Maybe! She’s not going to be quite as docile as Claire! I could be in trouble, couldn’t I… I just have to find some time and space to get at it again. Sigh…
LikeLike
nonsmokingladybug said:
Well, there is still time for bungee jumping or wild water rafting 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
calensariel said:
😮 I think I’ll pass on that, thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Walking My Path: Mindful Wanderings in Nature said:
Nice to know you a little more. Thank you.
Blessings,
Mary
LikeLiked by 2 people
calensariel said:
Well, that’s what these challenges from Roberta Allen’s book are supposed to. Help us get to know ourselves. Hope you join in. 🙂
LikeLike
Pingback: The Sandbox Writing Challenge 15 — Risks! | Impromptu Promptlings