I’ve been a bit quiet for a while.
It’s been a tough year. I’ve recently been officially diagnosed with fibromyalgia. (We all suspected it.) The week before Christmas, I mentioned (in passing), in the Behind the Scenes video, that this week had been a shitty one.
(warning – triggers follow.)
Tuesday I had a mammogram and ultrasound to check out a lump. An immediate biopsy was ordered. Results from biospsy weren’t great. I’ve got an appointment with a surgeon in two weeks (quickest I could get due to holiday closures).
Current information: looks like a lumpectomy+radiotherapy or complete resection, depending on next round of tests. Radiotherapy can last six weeks.
Already my writing has been affected (again, my apologies for the tone of this month’s Patreon short story reward. You got the raw emotions of it all). This was carthartic. I may need more catharsis over the next months. 2022 has really sucked!
I’m trying to wrap my head around my current WIP, trying to to go too dark with the story. To be honest, I may have to take a sabbatical from the current story, and possibly more, for a short time, so not to be too depressing. I will still try to reward your wonderful support with as much as I can muster. I’m apologising now if it becomes a bit bleak.
(And yes, I will accept prayers, good vibes, virtual hugs. I’m not precious about philosophical or theological doctrines.)
I’ve downed half a Terry’s dark chocolate orange (supposed to be for Jólabókaflóð) and lots of tea (day 23 of my tea Advent Calendar is Smoked Maple), and am about to sit down to a fave movie binge.
Hope you have a content Christmas and a blessed 2023.
Most of all, as I said in the preamble to this month’s Patreon short story: our loved ones are precious. We need to hold on tight. Enjoy the moment. And enjoy the heck out of the time we have with them.
Especially at Christmas.
(This post was posted previously on Patreon)