How to move from real life to make believe

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell

I haven’t written on my WIP in two weeks and barely managed to keep my blog going.

So, if I’ve been too slow to respond, I apologize.

Here at Jean’s Writing, I rarely write about my personal life. This is a place to share about my writing experience. To write what I’m learning as I struggle with stories, books, and articles. I like to keep the real world and my make-believe world separate. Let’s face it, make-believe is so much more fun.

However, too often the reality of life raises an ugly head and we must deal. What happens then?  What happens when we realize there are more important things in life than characters in a story? Like real life, real people with real life and death problems.

Today I’m going to step out of my comfort zone and write about something very real and personal.

My 9-year-old grandson, Dylan.

Excuse me 9 and 3/4. Dylan would be offended if I forgot the 3/4 of which he is so proud.

Two weeks ago my grandson was hit by a car.

He’s recovering nicely now. We were very fortunate. Nothing broken, lots of scrapes and bruises, and a severe concussion. Considering the shattered windshield of the car, his mangled bike and broken helmet he was one lucky little boy.

Dylan landed on the road with his helmet in three pieces. Emergency personnel and doctors repeated over and over, that broken helmet saved his life.

One doctor quite shaken, held up the pieces, and said, “this would’ve been his head. Good thing you wore your helmet.”

Dylan still very confused and in a lot of pain, wiped tears from his eyes and said, “I always wear my helmet, you have to.”

You see, it’s a rule in our family. Everyone wears a helmet, grandparents, parents, and kids alike. If you want to ride a bike, you wear a helmet or else you walk. And we didn’t wait until they were riding two-wheelers. No, it started when they were on tiny-trikes.

Safe Guilford May Is National Bike Month Are You Wearing Your Helmet

I shared what happened with several of my friends and I received some of the oddest comments. “My kids/grandkids refuse to wear helmets.” “They don’t like helmets.” “They think helmets aren’t cool.” Those excuses are just that, excuses.

We were so lucky that in our family a helmet is more important that shoes. I’ve watched our kids ride in flip-flops, but they didn’t forget a helmet.

Be prepared. Accidents happen when you least expect.

An inexpensive helmet can save a child/adult from permanent brain damage or death.

A child that weighs 80 pounds has little chance against a car that weighs over 3,000 pounds.  Was the driver distracted? Probably. Was he driving too fast for the small residential street? Possibly. My daughter hasn’t been ready to read the police report. All we know for sure is that Dylan was hit from behind. He didn’t see the car.

Something made of foam and plastic saved my grandson!

Now it’s time for me to get back to my make-believe world. To bring back my muse and my characters. But I must be honest. I’m finding it hard to get back in the writing groove.

This past year has been a bit of a roller coaster ride ending with a big jolt that has left me shaken. But now that my heart has slid from my throat back to its correct place in my body how do I return to writing about things of less importance?

How did you return to your make-believe world after dealing with something too real?

How did you get back your writing groove?

Any suggestions? Anyone?

PS: Summer is almost here, please wear helmets!

Talk to me – I love reading your comments.

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Please stop by and say “hey!”  I’ll leave a light on. 

Bicycle Safety Tips 

Why Is Bicycle Safety So Important?

Head Injuries and Bicycle Safety

 

Walmart sale for under $10

Bell Sports Star Child Helmet, Green

27 thoughts on “How to move from real life to make believe”

  1. Jean I was happy to hear your grandson is recovering well and alive! I am gobsmacked at the fact that wearing a helmet isn’t a law in most of the United States. Let alone riding a bike, but when I saw people riding motorcycles in Arizona, I was astonished there is no law to wear helmets, You would think one wouldn’t have to be a brain surgeon to know it saves lives, no matter how careful a driver one thinks they may be, there’s always a bad or drunk driver out lurking somewhere. It’s against the law to go without helmets here in Canada, not just for motorcycles for kids riding their bikes! As it should be. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Couldn’t agree more. In fact it is required here in TX for minors. But not enforced. Some parents don’t want the argument and think it’s too hot, etc. I’m so very grateful my daughter started the kids early. They think a helmet is part of bike riding. Right after Dylan’s accident, I heard about two children injured severely because no helmet.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Bless you all, Jean! I don’t have any great advice though. Just when the time is right, it will happen. You have to allow yourself time to go through what’s happening right now. The inspiration will come back in time. When there’s time and you can, sit down and write something even if it’s just a little and before you know it I’m sure you’ll be back to full speed. You may have to force it. It may be junk to be discarded later. But it will get you back to your routine and eventually you’ll be full-steam ahead. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Since March 2016 my life has included selling two houses, buying one, and now clearing out my aunt’s house for sale in June. It’s a large Victorian with 90+ years of stuff, a lot of dumpster material but also many treasures which I write about in my blog. Blog writing has been both a respite but also a challenge. You know the upkeep, Jean.

    Dylan’s experience has upset the rhythm of our life. While it had a wonderful outcome, your writing helmet has become dislodged. I suppose you and I have to trust the when the time is right, inspiration will flow again. In the meantime, I scribble snippets on paper and add them to my WIP when I can carve out an hour or two to return to it. If it’s any comfort, I can empathize.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Marian. It certainly seems as if you’ve had your hands full this past year. I’ve started doing the same thing. There are at least 3 notepads around here somewhere with snippets on them to add to my WIP. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  11. I love your style… Always great writing from you, very impressive 🙂

    Keep up the great work!
    TheMrAnonymous
    ProjectHeard.wordpress.com

    Liked by 1 person

  12. I hope your grandson will be okay. He is one lucky fellow, and we must appreciate that helmet, it helped him. It is not easy to switch from reality to make-believe especially if that reality is a part of your life. Wishing you and your family well. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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