Two weeks ago today I went with my dad to move cows. My old mare Fawn is lame, so I looked around and decided to ride Cinnamon, the young mare. She should be broke. I've ridden her all over the mountains. I've put my time in on her. I've done the groundwork, built the foundation.
But she surprised me. Bucked me off. Hard.
I landed on the backs of my hands, flipped over onto my back. I was knocked out. Came to looking at my dad's boots.
I sat up, lip quivering a little. But then I cussed, stood up and got back on her. I rode her.
I was hurt pretty bad, both hands swelled like basketballs, my spine looked like it had been slashed with black and blue paintballs. I didn't have a spot that didn't have a bruise. I think I had a concussion.
Cinnamon needs some more work before she goes out again.
Kind of like my book. I thought it was ready, polished. I've entered it in some contests lately. And got bucked off hard.
I was bruised up pretty bad.
Like Cinnamon, the book isn't ready to go out yet.
It needs some more groundwork, some more fixing.
But I will get it back out there.
And ain't that the whole point...get back up and get back on?
But she surprised me. Bucked me off. Hard.
I landed on the backs of my hands, flipped over onto my back. I was knocked out. Came to looking at my dad's boots.
I sat up, lip quivering a little. But then I cussed, stood up and got back on her. I rode her.
I was hurt pretty bad, both hands swelled like basketballs, my spine looked like it had been slashed with black and blue paintballs. I didn't have a spot that didn't have a bruise. I think I had a concussion.
Cinnamon needs some more work before she goes out again.
Kind of like my book. I thought it was ready, polished. I've entered it in some contests lately. And got bucked off hard.
I was bruised up pretty bad.
Like Cinnamon, the book isn't ready to go out yet.
It needs some more groundwork, some more fixing.
But I will get it back out there.
And ain't that the whole point...get back up and get back on?
Yes, it is! You are knocking on the door of publication, D'Ann! It won't be long :) Creative post as always. Send me more of your work soon!
ReplyDeleteWow. Too true. The short that I subbed and was thoroughly rejected is now on my revision block.
ReplyDeleteThanks to you lovely ladies I am getting it polished - ready to be ridden.
Let's hope for both of our sakes we won't be bucked again. Or if we do, we land on a nice feather bed known as our friends.
Nice post.
Love this post! I've had to dust myself off several times both as rider and writer. But you gotta do it. Glad you're feeling better. :) And Jennifer's right, you're so close to publication I can taste it. Ride 'em, cowgirl!
ReplyDeletethat is exactly the point - get up, get back on, keep moving. Stopping is an option, but if you want to succeed, you just have to keep moving. Great post, D'Ann!
ReplyDeleteLoved this post! Your work is wonderful and can't wait for more. Hope you are better both of body and mind.
ReplyDeleteYOU got it D! What a great analogy. Exactly. No matter how hard you get bucked off, gotta dust yourself off and get back on.
ReplyDeleteAwesome post!
I've had my share of being thrown, by a horse and in this world of writing. I need to brush myself off right now and get back on the horse. Glad you're con the mend, D'Ann!
ReplyDeleteYou're posts are always a great read, and this one is no exception. Love the comparison. And oh, how true! I promised myself long ago, that I would only allow myself 24 hours of pity time over a rejection...and in your world that translates to 24 hours of recovery time from being bucked off!!! lol. After that, time to get back to it and make your work stronger and better.
ReplyDeleteAs for your writing D'Ann, you are awesome and you'll be pubbed soon!
That is the point, but I sure said some ouches for you while I was reading this! Glad you're okay. And back on the horse.
ReplyDeleteOh been there done that on the contest. I entered one then sat here and banged my head on the desk oh no why did I send that in???????? NO NO NO bad idea. Sure enough got "bucked off" but I knew it was coming and did get some positive feedback.
ReplyDeleteKathy Crouch
Falling off a horse is bad enough, sometimes we have to bail. Getting bucked off is akin to being escorted out by your collar. Humiliating, a tad scary, and an experience you never want to repeat. If you have a horse, it's bound to happen again. Goes with the territory.
ReplyDeleteIt's the same with writing, ain't it? And given time to deal with concussions and rotten spots that cover our body, thanks to being thrown - we can cowgirl up and swing a leg.
Keep your mind in the middle...
Boy, does this sound familiar. I've been bucked off alot. Luckily, the thick skin is still intact.
ReplyDeleteYep, that's the secret of publication, I think. Try, try, and try again. Glad you survived the toss.
ReplyDeleteD - absolutely LOVE how you handled getting bucked...you got fiery and worked harder to help ensure it didn't happen again. I recently got bucked off (BAD) and immediately went into a pity coma--and stayed there for far too long. When I finally dragged myself out if it, I attacked the problem with renewed vigor, fire, and determination that I would get back on and ride, no matter what. Your post is a great reminder that if we're going to "ride," we're going to "fall." But less and less as time goes on, we hope. Glad you're OK. Sophia
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about getting back in the saddle. A great annalogy, as always!
ReplyDeleteAnd Jen is right, you're close... Just keep getting back in that saddle.
Thank you for coming by, everyone. I really appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteFantastic post. I like how you never give up. Regroup and then back in the saddle, sometimes literally. The harder the fighter, the sweeter the reward, I say.
ReplyDeleteOUCH! I hurt just reading about your fall. Thank goodness writing only hurts on the inside sometimes.
ReplyDeleteLife is like that. You take some dumps but you just keep getting up and back in life's face to fight for what you want.
ReplyDelete