Strange how, in the course of our busy lives, one of the best talks can come at 4:30 a.m. in an emergency room with machines beeping and nurses conversing in the hall.
3:12 a.m. My husband stands specter-like beside our bed, shocking me awake with, “I need to go to the hospital.”
The hospital (where our daughter was born) is a three-minute drive from our home, so I drive.
3:14 a.m. At the emergency room, my husband is a man experiencing chest pain; there is no wait.
3:18 a.m. Once we’re in the examining room a nurse–handsome, calm, good-natured–asks, “Pain level from one to ten?”
“Ten.”
Tests.
Embarrassment as a huge team of student doctors surrounds my husband’s bed with questions and conjecturing.
More tests.
My husband is wise and smart; he tells excellent stories; and, so far, he is not dying.
4:30 a.m. Morphine drip. My husband relaxes into its relief and enchantment while I, seated on a chair with my head resting on his bed’s side rail, float in a woken-in-the-middle of the night half-dream
We nerd out on Game of Thrones.
“How could Maester Aemon have access to milk of the poppies in Castle Black?”
“George R. R. Martin is a genius.”
Then…
“Remember when we first met in the writers’ workshop at UCI?”
“You used to wear a cowboy hat.”
“You were good at stroking the instructor’s ego.”
In the daily crush of earning a living, raising a family, and Keeping It Together, we rarely have the time–or take the time–to say how proud we are of one another, which makes me feel all the more grateful for what my husband says next.
“I’m proud of you for pursuing your writing dream,” he says, “You’re doing everything right. You will get there. There’s just one more important thing you have to do…” This is where my husband, master storyteller that he is, closes his eyes for effect and employs his trademark dramatic pause. At last, he says, “Don’t quit.”
I look at him and love him and memorize this moment. And I commit his words to memory.
Don’t quit.
— Eve Messenger
P.S. My husband is fine.
That’s really beautiful.
I hope he’s okay.
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Thanks, Morgan. He’s okay, but it was an important wake-up call for him.
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I’m glad, and I can only imagine.
My partner’s dad recently passed away unexpectedly due to his heart, no fault of his own, just a sad freak of nature, and even though he’s only 21 he’s noticeably more concerned with his health. Silver lining maybe?
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I’m really sorry to hear about your partner’s dad.
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This is beautiful and written in the most perfect style for this piece. I’m glad that he’s okay and that you are able to share this with others to remind them of how short lives are and how important each one is. Thank you for your words.
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Thank you! I really appreciate it!!
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You are a wonderful story teller, as exemplified by this post. Don’t quit 🙂
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Thanks so much. Will do! You don’t quit either, my talented friend.
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Trying to keep momentum….
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Your blog is amazing! Sorry I’m late logging in to take a look at it. Inspiration = you! (and I’m glad your husband is ok) 😉
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Emma! It’s so nice of you to drop by. Thank you for the kind words.
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I’m glad your husband is ok! Hope he’s recovering well. And everyone needs those inspirational words at least once in their life 🙂 Glad you have such a great support system
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Thank you, Carolyn. You deserve an award for Sweetest Blogger.
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lol nah you should give that award to yourself 🙂
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Hahahaha.
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So glad to hear your husband is okay! It’s beautiful that he supports you so much in your writing career.
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Thank you! Or maybe he was just being nice because he woke me up at 3:30 in the morning. 😉
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I’m sure he meant every word! We all need cheerleaders when it comes to our writing, and it’s so great that he is one for you 🙂 I hope you and your husband stay well!
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This was a really special. You’ve really got a knack for conveying a balance of tension and emotional impact.
I’m grateful you friended me. I need more writer friends in my life who understand the need to tell a story and not to give up until the story is told.
Glad that your husband is doing fine and hope he’s home now.
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I really appreciate that, Jennifer. I’m grateful for you, too–I mean it!
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This is so beautiful! It’s amazing the places and moments where the best memories can occur. It’s crazy how in our daily lives we can get caught up in the motions that we forget to have talks such as these. I simply adored this! 💗
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Josie, you’re so sweet to say that. I appreciate it!
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This is so sweet and inspiring. Just very glad to read in the comments that your husband is ok!
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Thank you, Pippa! That really means a lot.
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Excellent! It’s the small moments that create such big impact! “Don’t Quit!” I really needed to read this today…thank you!
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I’m so glad it’s what you needed to hear. I love when that happens.
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