The Unexpected

      I fully expected to write a brief blog at the end of January despite being scheduled for hip surgery on the twenty-fifth of the month. Hey, I'd spend two or three nights in the hospital and be home in time to write my message before February arrived. Instead, I was transferred to a PT rehab facility for eleven days to rebuild my strength.  Physical therapy three times a day, decent food, sponge baths--but no computers. When not exercising, we were to stay in our rooms with no visitors thanks to the Covid epidemic. My husband could visit at a open window where we passed my laundry back and forth, not love notes.

     Of course, The Aussie Sinner had just come out, and I was unable to promote it from my room.  I also expected a shipment of The Greatest Prize paperbacks that I'd been trying to order since December, but the publisher had changed printers and complications ensued. Before, we just sent a message on how many copies we wanted and after paying through Paypal, the books appeared two weeks later. These showed up days after I'd returned home.  Not that I had anywhere to sell them because all events had been cancelled.  I wanted to drop the usual number of copies off at the local bookstore and the library--still sitting in the box.  Why? Because I'm not allowed to drive yet--and the roads are covered in ice.

     Yes, I live and often write about south Louisiana, but weather in the twenties and a sleet storm on Lundi Gras (the Monday before Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday) rank right up there with the highly unexpected.  Parades and other Mardi Gras activities had already been cancelled and thank heaven for that. Cajuns simply aren't equipped for black ice and slippery roads. I can only say the theme of my Mardi Gras books is "anything can happen on Mardi Gras day" in a city, small town or the country. If you can't get out, try reading Queen of the Mardi Gras Ball, Mardi Gras Madness, or Courir de Mardi Gras.

     Lest you think I did no publicity while in rehab, you'd be wrong. As usual, my purse was stocked with book cards showing my covers and having blurbs and ordering information on the back.  I freely distributed these to nurses, LPNs, and patients, many of whom were readers with time on their hands during the long night shifts and endless hours alone.  I know one of them is now reading her way through the Sinners series which is greatly gratifying. So, you never know what the unexpected  will bring your way for better or worse. Just be prepared to roll with it.