So here I am on Tuesday evening, settled onto the couch, my darling Poppet beside me, a comfy throw over my legs, and my laptop where it is supposed to be … on my lap.
The dentist appointment was not nearly as bad as I’d feared. On Christmas Eve I noticed that my gums under my permanent bridge felt "strange." Not really painful, just odd. So the next Monday I called to make a dentist appointment. Couldn’t get in until after the New Year. By then I was sick, and I had to postpone the appointment twice. That gave me plenty of time to imagine the worst. It wasn’t. It was a tiny root fragment, coming through the gum. A quick shot of Novocaine, a little cut, and it was over. Then, because they had a cancellation, I found out they could do my cleaning right then so I wouldn’t have to make another appointment. How great was that?
I drove out of the parking lot, praising God for answering my non-verbalized prayer that it wouldn’t be something serious, something expensive. I’m even thankful now that the numbing has worn off and the gum’s a bit tender where the dentist cut it.
Confession: I am one of a handful of people in America who had never seen an episode of American Idol. (I was a fairly faithful viewer of Star Search when it was on.) So tonight, I decided to give it a try. After all, they are showing a bunch of the "worst of" contestants tonight as they kick off the new season. I didn’t want to miss that, right?
Oh, my. Sometimes this is just plain painful to watch. I have the heart of a great singer. If I could have requested a great voice, I sure would have. I love music. I love being around singers. I love to sing myself. But for pity sake, I recognize my limits. I can carry a tune, but I carry it better (1) in the shower, (2) in my room with the stereo cranked high, (3) in my car in heavy traffic, and (4) when surrounded by people with beautiful voices during worship in church.
Good thing God called me to write, huh?
-rlh-
Robin, My husband and I have been hooked on American Idol from Season One. It’s the only reality show we watch, because it IS real. People really do hawk their wedding rings to get the bus fare to go to the audition, etc.
It’s an amazing study in human nature. You can’t point out from a mile away the kids whose mothers told them “You can do anything! You’re the most talented person God EVER made!” but then forgot to tell them that lessons would help a lot. And that it wouldn’t hurt to audition for some smaller roles before auditioning for the most competitve show in the world!
I cringed at the girl who said, “God told me I’m the next American Idol.” (Can’t help inserting publisher’s horror stories here, about writers who’ve taken dictation straight from the Almighty…) When Simon said, “Sorry, God such spoke to us loud and clear. You’re not the next Idol,” she fell to her knees to BEG. (Never a good move when seeking to place a manuscript, either…) Then she left the audition room, and called Simon bleeped-out words before the camera. Eeeek…
As an unpublished novelist, I learn a lot of lessons from American Idol. Lessons about doing my homework, practicing every day, finding a GOOD critique group who will give me honest answers, and not thinking of myself higher (or lower) than I ought.
I do believe God has called me to be a writer, but for now, I’ll refrain from insisting it’s so to publishers! 🙂
Second paragraph should read, “You CAN point out…”
I’m having blood work done this morning, so no eating or drinking after midnight. I’m seriously caffeine deprived, which could explain my typos. I won’t say it DOES explain them, only that it could…. Sorry!