It was a splendid start to the perfect day. I woke before my alarm and greeted bright sunshine as I went about my morning routine. I should have known it was all too easy. A hissing sound, like air escaping from a balloon or water whooshing through a garden hose, got my attention, and a frantic investigation. The noise originated from behind the refrigerator, and water seeped from under the unit. Attempts to budge 325 pounds of dead weight to find a shut-off valve were futile. The next stop was the basement to the mainline access valves, where my barefoot splashed into an inch of cold water on the floor. A flood cascaded down the wall like an indoor waterfall.

The bucket brigade soon arrived to help manage the mess, followed by the plumber. Thankfully, it was not a cracked pipe. It was a broken fitting to the ice maker. For eight hours, I wiped, mopped, and swabbed every affected nook and cranny. We reacted quickly, and while it lasted only a few minutes, even a little water creates enormous issues. With fans set to ensure everything was bone dry, I slumped, exhausted, into my writing chair. My characters patted my back, told me to relax, and assured me we would pick up our plan on Sunday. So much for my well-conceived strategy.

No matter the challenges and the obstacles blocking my way, I maintain the item at the top of my list as a non-negotiable. Yesterday I wrote 375 words.

Did you write yesterday?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer