A Lesson in Persistence:

or rather an Anti-Lesson... When I got up yesterday, the hubby was sitting on the sofa. He was supposed to be at class and I was surprised. I wondered if I'd been confused about the time change (or he had)—all those things that go through my head when things aren't as expected.

“Car won't start.”

Damn. “You could have taken a cab or something.”

“I didn't think of a cab. I just knew a bus would take me an hour and a half.”

Now while that's true... had he taken an hour and a half from the time he discovered the problem, he would have only been a half hour or forty-five minutes late... when it is a three hour class... I was a little annoyed he hadn't tried harder.

And then he starts rattling off all the OTHER things he can't do because the car doesn't work.

He can't get the money order for his test (the certified nursing assistant test is Wednesday). He can't GET TO the test and has to cancel at least 48 hours ahead. We are out of bread; we need something for dinner tomorrow.

And I start responding. I can pick up the money orders. TO ME, the post office is in walking distance, so I'll get them. I will get bread on my walk today (the grocery ALSO being in walking distance in my mind). Take a cab to your test.

Finally, I yelled. The defeatist attitude won't solve anything. You deal with the car and make a list. I can solve every other problem.

This has been a theme in our marriage. My husband is not just realistic, but debilitatingly so. Every problem that might come up he thinks of and worries over. And any WAY of getting anything done that wasn't the ORIGINAL PLAN can't possibly work. You see, he is borderline depressed and probably PAST borderline anxious (did I mention the OCD?)—not on medication—the side effects aren't worth it, as we can deal with almost all of it through having a regular routine, but when something like this throws a loop in his plans, MAN does he adjust poorly.

There is a not-so-bad ending. My neighbor helped jump the car and followed him to a place where a diagnostic said it was just the battery. He bought a battery and replaced it, and we are back on track (except he missed his 3 hour class and poo pooed all my 'get notes from this person or that person'--finally it comes out he can just go to another section of the class this week—he just needs teacher permission *rolls eyes*) The lack of problem solving BAFFLES ME.

But it also occurred to me that the fact these things are second nature to me, and are just what I DO, is why I will make it in this writing business. Anybody like him... computer dies and you have to rewrite 2 chapters? Forget it. I quit. First reader doesn't understand my MCs motivation? No point publishing. Nobody will get me. Rejection letter? Guess I'm not good enough. When in reality, we just need to keep AT IT. Obstacle? Go around the damn thing! Every problem has a dozen solutions and if you can come up with just ONE of them, you can move forward.

So to anyone inclined to have a personality like Glum (from the Gulliver's Travels cartoon, and somehow I think I might be the only person who ever watched this) 'we're never gunna make it'--be sure and surround yourselves with a couple instompable optimists who are willing to kick your butt when you need it.



ALSO!  Burrowers, Books and Balderdash posted our Contest for November yesterday--a selection of images to write drabbles for, and the winning drabbles for each image will be FEATURED on our Burrow Website as part of our countdown to New Year!  So go look, get inspired, and write a drabble!