When Things Go Sideways

When something goes wrong in your life, just yell “plot twist” and keep moving.

Sometimes you think you have everything under control. You’ve got something to do that you’re looking forward to the way I was looking forward to going to Rowan County Library Wenesday to talk to readers and writers. I packed up some books in case I could encourage someone to carry a book home with them. I checked to be sure I had some cash in case I needed to make change. I had bookmarks packed up to give away. I was ready to give my spiel about how I got started writing spiel and talk about my books and where the ideas came from if somebody decided to ask that question.  I was ready to leave to get to the library early. That way I could get things arranged and ready.

So far so good. I was prepared. I was ready. I was eager. Except…

A person can trip over those excepts. So, except I didn’t check the interstate for roadwork. Does it seem to you as if every road anywhere close to you is getting worked on this summer?  Anyway, I’m tooling along, maybe going a little over the speed limit but practically standing still in comparison to the cars zooming past me. I stay plodding along at 5 miles over the speed limit, hoping the fact that the gas gauge shows I have less gas than I thought I did won’t be a problem. Then I pass a sign with the dreaded words “Prepare to Stop.  Road work ahead” flashing in warning. Road work ahead is bad enough, but a big message board with flashing lights? That is not something you want to see when you are out there on what is supposed to be the “fast” road.

For once in my life, I happened to be in the correct lane – the one that was actually moving a little. Five miles an hour. Sometimes hopping up to fifteen miles an hour for a few car lengths. And then we narrow down into one lane and stop moving at all for a while. The clock keeps ticking. The gas gauge keeps sinking until the light comes on to let me know it’s time to fill up. I am no longer going to be early to the library to get things organized. Instead I am going to be late. Things have gone sideways.

But sometimes even sideways, you can get things done.  I made it to the library. The library was right off the interstate. I didn’t run out of gas. I was a little breathless as I hurried in to meet the librarian. People were already there. She talked while I hurriedly set up my book display. Then after gulping down a drink of water, I talked. The people politely listened. They asked great questions.  So things did stop going sideways and all was well. I’m hoping things won’t go sideways when I visit the Henderson County Library on September 21, but if they do, somehow I’ll hope it works out.

A Super Blue Moon & a Moon Flower

I got home in time to see the super blue moon rising up in the sky. Super moons are when the moon is closest to earth and a blue moon is when there are two full moons in one month which doesn’t happen often which is why we like to say something might happen “once in a blue moon.” But that blue moon does happen and so if you’re waiting for something to happen once in a blue moon, don’t give up. There’s a chance you will see that blue moon.

I also got home in time to see our moon flowers blooming. These blooms open up at twilight, stay through the night and wilt when the sun warms the day. I took this picture in the dark but the flash lit up the bloom to make the picture.

Have things ever gone sideways for you?