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Life of a Writer Mom Column February
2002 Column Time For a Sick Day? Winter and sick kids. It seems in my house at least the two go together. And the rule is, as every parent knows, you can't just bring it into the house, you have to spread it! Such was the case at our house last week. That feeling of dread came over me the minute my middle child, Halden, began to run a fever. I knew right then that this bug was headed my way, and I had no choice in the matter. So what's a mom to do? Take sick days, sort of. I admit that the first day or two were forced sick days. Forced because I could do no more than lift my head from the pillow and moan. That and run to the bathroom as the necessity arose. This morning though, I awoke a little better-meaning I could eat again. Although still achey, I was able to wash through a load of dishes and put in a basket of wash before retreating to our very comfortable overstuffed couch with my favorite afghan and a box of tissues. After overcoming the flu most would be very satisfied to hear the hum of the dishwasher and washer running. That would be their work for the day. They would give themselves another day to feel better. Maybe even time for a couch nap. Instead though, while my on-the-mend children build with clocks on the floor, I sit here, notebook on my lap and pen in my hand working on my book. The project that everyone in the family refers to as my other child. It was while on the couch that I started musing to myself, "Why am I doing this? I have no boss telling me to write. No deadline to meet. " Whether it's the call of my muse or the draw of the book or my ingrained Yankee work ethic, there's something about my book that draws me back to it during every spare moment I could find. If I can eat, I can lift a pen. I open my notebook and almost before I know it, I'm lost in Victorian America, in the pages of a world, a book, that I have created. I find myself walking like a ghost, among Claire, Micah and the other characters in my book. As the pages begin to pour out as they always do, my achiness disappears. I reach for a tissue as one of my characters heart breaks before my very eyes. As I finish up my day's writing, I look around me. My daughter has retired to her room for a nap. Both of my sons have climbed up on the couch and are now snoozing happily on either side of me, and thus I have become a human pillow. In front of me, sit pages of a world that I alone have brought to life. Not a bad way to spend a sick day, not a bad way at all. Carla Charter is mom to Samantha (11), Halden (4), and Mathew (3). In addition to being a mom, Carla is a freelance writer specializing in newspaper and magazine journalism. Among her publication credits are Woman's World, American Indian Report and New England Business Journal. Online she has been published in Scubasource.com and Military.com. She teaches creative writing courses at Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner, Ma. Recently her novel Across Lots has been serialized at http://www.newenglandwow.com. She may be reached at cjfreelancewriter@earthlink.net. |
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