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blogging101, Memories & Reflections, Sandbox Writing Challenge, Uncategorized, Writing 101, Writing Prompts
Pure, cussed orneriness! That’s my answer to the Sandbox Writing Challenge #40 this week that asks, “What makes you a survivor?”
Though that seems like a rather simple answer, it’s absolutely true. I’ve always been a person who has to pull herself up by her own bootstraps. When my kids were in elementary school I was being plagued by headaches. After a bunch of tests to see if there was something physically wrong, my doc suggested I see a psychologist. At the time my blood pressure was sky high and I was a nervous wreck. He suspected, eventually, my difficulties had to do with one specific thing that was going on in my life.
I had hit a young boy right after Drollery and I were married in ’72. He came running out from in front of an ice cream truck without looking. Fortunately for me I had stopped before starting to pull around where the truck was parked, so I didn’t hit him hard. No skid marks, no ticket. He was ok. Just had a mild concussion. But that experience left me practically terrified to drive where there were a lot of kids around.
But these headaches were twelve years later. So how could that accident have anything to do with them? The thing was, at the time I was the only stay-at-home mom in the neighborhood, and every morning I drove 7-8 elementary-aged kids to school and then picked them back up in the afternoon — in a parking lot full of kids. I was a nervous wreck all day every weekday.
The counselor asked me why I was doing that when it was obviously contributing to my overall anxiety. I said I HAD to because the kids had no other way to get to school unless they wanted to walk a mile and a half. He made the mistake of telling me I must stop doing that. My response was “bullship!” (. 😀 ) I had no choice no matter HOW I felt about it, and by criminy I was going to do it because my kids weren’t walking all that way to school! Headache or not!
You don’t tell me I CAN’T do something, because nine times out of ten I’ll say, “Oh yeah? Watch me!” (Though now that I’m getting older sometimes my resolve falters a bit more.. 😦 ) So no matter how much I whine and moan on here about retirement or finding myself or whatever the peevish flavor of the day is, I will STILL go do what I have to do for the simple reason that I’m bullheaded that way. (Unfortunately for you that doesn’t mean I won’t whine about stuff!)
So in the end it’s that orneriness that pushes me to keep on keepin’ on. It’s my red badge of courage that will always make me a survivor.
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Picture Credits:
Grumpy — vocabadventure.weebly.com
Survivor — www.cowart.info
annacottage said:
Stubborn, it’s what gets you through.
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Fimnora Westcaw said:
Orneriness kept my dad alive until he was 95. I suspect, for his sister, Jeanette, it’s the reason she’s 96. Both stubborn as a mule! I know that was passed down to me, as well. So I get where you’re coming from, and that whole thing about, don’t tell me I can’t DO something. Of course, it could backfire on me, and Q will catch on to the fact that if he tells me no (which he pretty much NEVER does) I sure as shootin’ will do it. 😀
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calensariel said:
A girl after my own heart! (I’m getting ready to leave. I’m going to try to be back by 2:30. If I make it, I’ll give you a ring.)
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Soul Gifts said:
Orneriness is a fabulous word! Not used often enough, and goes so well with cussedness, both admirable, essential qualities for survival 🙂
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calensariel said:
LOL! Raili, only you would say that! 😀 Thanks!
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spiritualdragonfly said:
Oh gosh…can totally understand why you’d be stressing after something like that! But you faced your fear….
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calensariel said:
Yeah, with some kind of bad side affects. But fortunately the children grew up!!!
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Kay said:
Yes!! Me too. I’m sorry about the accident, by true story is some bring I can very much relate to! Thank you for sharing it.
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calensariel said:
You know, I still don’t know how to let people help me when I need it… 😦
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Kay said:
Me too. It’s a work in progress. I can ask my husband now, and even a couple close friends. Beyond that it’s tough, but I’m trying.
I’ve been spelunking as well, and I think I know, partly, at least, why I have such trouble. And I’m doing my damndest to tackle that, lol.
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calensariel said:
Spelunking is hard work. Been doing it for many years. But it’s been interesting and even fun at times. If you ever want to talk, give me a holler. I’ll be down in my cave. 😀
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Kay said:
It is, but I agree, it’s worth every minute and quite interesting at times. Thank you! It’s lovely to meet you. Should I call you Calen?
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calensariel said:
I followed you a while back. You’re gone from my reader. I had that problem not too long ago, too. So I’m following you again!
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Kay said:
It’s happened to me, too! Welcome back! I’m all over the place as far as my writing goes, but it’s a diary and whatever pops into my head is what goes there.
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calensariel said:
Yep, you can call me Calen. She’s my alter-ego. 😀 Have you read “Something More: Excavating Your Authentic Self” by Sarah Ban Breathnach? That’s what set me off on my journey.
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Kay said:
Awesome! Kay is my middle name. I have not, but I’ll check it out. What set me off was the exhaustion of stuffing my feelings away, of listening to a constant stream of negative inner dialogue, and the constant feeling that I held the key to something more. I knew I needed to leap. I knew I needed to feel safe to leap, but that meant trusting, in both myself and my husband. And off I went, off we went…
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calensariel said:
How involved is hubby with you on your journey. Drollery tries to understand my quirkiness, but I’m pretty sure I confuse the crap out of him sometimes. LOL
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Kay said:
Lol! M is very involved. It began as a personal journey, but morphed into one we are traveling together. There are parts, of course, which will always be my own work, and he, his, but we try to communicate our way through it all as a supportive unit. The results have been amazing.
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Opher said:
There’s nothing so effective as a bit of cussedness – good for you!
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calensariel said:
😀
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