6/3/08

What Was Your Worst Or Most Unpredictable Morning?

Two excellent comments published: Just click "Read More"




Hello, And Welcome To Tuesday's Question


Hey diddle, diddle
The cat and the fiddle.
The cow jumped over the moon.
The little dog laughed to see such a sport
and the dish ran away with the spoon.


Hey Diddle, Diddle, my son's favorite nursery rhyme, was playing in my head when I woke up this morning. This rhyme reminds me of all the unpredictable and humorous moments in life- the kind of moments I usually have in the morning. Because in the morning when I'm barely conscious, I try to perform tasks my mind and body are incapable of grasping, that is, until I have a few cups of coffee.

This morning was pretty nice except, I had another attack of writer's block concerning Tuesday's Question. And then, I thought of the nursery rhyme and it hit me, why not ask you, "What Was The Worst Morning Of Your Life? Or the most unpredictable?


My answer is an excerpt of a post I wrote about one of my worst mornings in August of 2007. Hence, if you're a new reader, you can click on this link to read the whole story about that morning, or just get the idea of the ending from this excerpt.

Here it is, and then, it will be your turn...your answers will be posted today and tomorrow due to my tardiness.

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My most unpredictable Morning linked here

My cat, Simon, insists on eating the instant I open my eyes, so this morning I climbed from my uncomfortable bed and delivered Mr. narcissism his breakfast. I fumbled around in the kitchen, my eyes barely focused, and my mind in a dreamy haze, searching for the cat’s breakfast, and listening to his chorus of, MEOW, MEOW, and MEOW. Why do cats pretend you cannot hear their loud meowing instructions? They just keep meowing when you are moving as fast as you can, which I was doing while trying to remember what I keep forgetting at the grocery store.

Hence, there I was moving as fast as I could when I sliced the top of my right hand, spooning the contents from the bottom of a cat food can.

I saw the blood before my brain could register the pain, so I didn't panic, I just stared at the back of my hand thinking about the rest of my day. I ran to the bathroom and put my hand under cool running water, thinking about my immediate future as I watched the blood wash away.




Mothers cannot have cuts on the top of their hands, we simply do not have the luxury of an injury, even a small injury. Families depend on Mom in special ways, even Mom's with adult children. (empty nest syndrome sufferers.)

Consequently, I envisioned my whole house of cards tumbling down, and my family crumbling to pieces, all because of a small cut on the back of my hand.

After running cold water on the cut, to stop the bleeding, I searched the medicine cabinet with my left hand for a band-aid, but I could not find one...

While frantically searching the cabinet with my good hand, I tried to move the injured hand away from the running water, but the bleeding was profuse, so I quickly put it back under the cool water splashing out of the bathroom faucet. I couldn't believe I was stuck at the mercy of my of my bathroom faucet, just because I couldn’t find a band-aid.

And I still could not remember what I keep forgetting at the grocery store, whereas, I clearly remembered what it was the night before...what an unpredictable morning.


To my regular readers: Do you remember the name of this post?

And to all of you, What was your worst or most unpredictable morning?


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The first comment I received from this question really touched me.

It's from my dear friend Sandee at Comedy Plus

As soon as I saw this question I remember the worst morning of my entire life. It was September 11, 2001. I remember getting out of the shower and turning on the television to catch the morning news before I went to work. I couldn't believe the images that I saw. It just couldn't be. This cannot be real. Someone is playing an awful joke.

Hubby was still in the shower and I told him what was happening and he just stared at me for the longest time. He quickly got out of the shower and we both dressed as we watched the horror unfold.

I was the commander of the Honor Farm that housed around 300 male inmates. Most of these inmates were on work details all over the county. I remember calling the Operations Sergeant and having him pull all the inmates back in to the farm. We just didn't know what else may happen.

I remember going to a meeting with all the rest of the managers and the Sheriff that afternoon and I was still in a fog. I think we all were. We needed to brief the Sheriff on our resources and contingency plans in the event we suffered the same on the West coast. We knew what we needed to do, but we were in disbelief none-the-same.

Of all the many weird mornings that I've experienced, 911 is hands down the worst morning of my entire life. Those photographs and news footage will forever be part of my being. Bless all the families that suffered such loss of family, friends and co-workers.

~Stunning post Sandee, thank you~
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You know, I'm going to have to be careful about who follows me on Tuesday's Question.

Because the first two comments I've received are so articulately written, it makes me look kind of like a silly chump.

In next comment Ferdc at Crazy Medical Cases writes about an interesting and unexpected morning from his childhood, in a stylish prose that pulls you in for more. Just read this:



My response is more in the "unpredictable" category, and I have been thinking about this because my father and I just reminisced about it the other day.

Most of our extended family live in Mexico City. I remember the day my grandfather died. I was awakened with the bad news very early in the morning, having no idea I would not see a bed or sleep again for the next 48 hours. As they do not embalm in Mexico, the deceased person is buried within a day's time. Between the death and the burial is a real wake, all day and all night, as family gathers from wherever they might be. Well, we were in Toledo, Ohio. My father told us he was finding a flight and leaving right away. I told him I wanted to go with him, and so I did. A few hours later we were on a plane in Detroit. A few hours after that, I was in a funeral home in Mexico City. From then on, I was with my cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. for the rest of the day and all night. We cried, we laughed, we caught up, we told old stories. The following morning, with everyone finally gathered, we left for the burial site, in another city. It was a horrible, memorable event, especially watching my father weeping as he literally shoveled dirt into my grandfather's grave. Perhaps this was all the more emotional because we were plain exhausted by that time. We eventually made it back to Mexico City, settled into more conversation, until we all collapsed, about 2 days from the onset of this trip.

Yep, I think this qualifies as one of the most unpredictable days of my life.

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My next comment is from my dear friend Speedy at Speedcat Hollydale Page

Another excellent answer as well as example of good writing...thanks Speedy...

[8 Stories]

The worst?? I can think of the saddest ... but I would rather go with "worst".
I woke up to find myself burried under 5 feet of snow! This was an important day, and I needed to get on the road. There was no plow in the parking lot, and the only way to get to the road was shovel. I shoveled for 4 1/2 hours to get my car out. Of course, me being me, I tried to do a half hazzard job and just got stuck ... once, twice, three times. It seemed I had used my last bit of strength, and was covered in sweat as the cold winds blew on my face as the victory moment occured. The plow also came at that very moment, and did what I did in 15 minutes. I could have just waited.
This blizzard was on Halloween night in 1992 in Minnesota. Ask anyone from this area about that storm, and they will have a similar story to tell as well!

9 comments:

Sandee said...

As soon as I saw this question I remember the worst morning of my entire life. It was September 11, 2001. I remember getting out of the shower and turning on the television to catch the morning news before I went to work. I couldn't believe the images that I saw. It just couldn't be. This cannot be real. Someone is playing an awful joke.

Hubby was still in the shower and I told him what was happening and he just stared at me for the longest time. He quickly got out of the shower and we both dressed as we watched the horror unfold.

I was the commander of the Honor Farm that housed around 300 male inmates. Most of these inmates were on work details all over the county. I remember calling the Operations Sergeant and having him pull all the inmates back in to the farm. We just didn't know what else may happen.

I remember going to a meeting with all the rest of the managers and the Sheriff that afternoon and I was still in a fog. I think we all were. We needed to brief the Sheriff on our resources and contingency plans in the event we suffered the same on the West coast. We knew what we needed to do, but we were in disbelief none-the-same.

Of all the many weird mornings that I've experienced, 911 is hands down the worst morning of my entire life. Those photographs and news footage will forever be part of my being. Bless all the families that suffered such loss of family, friends and co-workers.

aniceplaceinthesun.blogspot.com said...

Oh Sandee, in all seriousness, it was the worst morning for all Americans, and you wrote a magnificent reenactment of you and your husbands reaction that morning.

I can only imagine how terrifying it would have been to be a police officer at that moment, it was scary enough just being an American, and I think I'm still in a fog, or state of denial.

I know I answered this question lightly, however there is no doubt that I agree with you, and I thank you for writing such an excellent comment. I'm going to post it now my dear friend and fellow countryman.

I love you Sandee, and thanks for always being here to support Tuesday's Question.


Huge hug~ Ann

Ferd said...

My response is more in the "unpredictable" category, and I have been thinking about this because my father and I just reminisced about it the other day.

Most of our extended family live in Mexico City. I remember the day my grandfather died. I was awakened with the bad news very early in the morning, having no idea I would not see a bed or sleep again for the next 48 hours. As they do not embalm in Mexico, the deceased person is buried within a day's time. Between the death and the burial is a real wake, all day and all night, as family gathers from wherever they might be. Well, we were in Toledo, Ohio. My father told us he was finding a flight and leaving right away. I told him I wanted to go with him, and so I did. A few hours later we were on a plane in Detroit. A few hours after that, I was in a funeral home in Mexico City. From then on, I was with my cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. for the rest of the day and all night. We cried, we laughed, we caught up, we told old stories. The following morning, with everyone finally gathered, we left for the burial site, in another city. It was a horrible, memorable event, especially watching my father weeping as he literally shoveled dirt into my grandfather's grave. Perhaps this was all the more emotional because we were plain exhausted by that time. We eventually made it back to Mexico City, settled into more conversation, until we all collapsed, about 2 days from the onset of this trip.

Yep, I think this qualifies as one of the most unpredictable days of my life.

aniceplaceinthesun.blogspot.com said...

Yep Ferdc, I think that day would most definitely qualify as a most unpredictable day.

And your answer qualifies for an extremely well written comment.

I enjoyed reading about Mexico's ritual for burial. I had no idea, and arrogantly assumed burials in Mexico were much like the United States. You didn't say how old you were, but that trip would be exhausting for an adult, (for instance your father), much less a young boy.

However, it's great that you went because it sounds like an enriching experience for your whole family, and I bet you were a comfort to your father. Well done, and I can't wait to post your comment.

Geez, you and Sandee have made a real chump out of me on this question. (LOL)


I'm going to have to start answering after your comments. (Smile)

Have a great evening and as always thanks for participating in Tuesday's Question.

Again, you did a marvelous job~

Cheers~ Ann

P.S. I'm sorry about your grandfather.

Speedcat Hollydale said...

[8 Stories]

The worst?? I can think of the saddest ... but I would rather go with "worst".
I woke up to find myself burried under 5 feet of snow! This was an important day, and I needed to get on the road. There was no plow in the parking lot, and the only way to get to the road was shovel. I shoveled for 4 1/2 hours to get my car out. Of course, me being me, I tried to do a half hazzard job and just got stuck ... once, twice, three times. It seemed I had used my last bit of strength, and was covered in sweat as the cold winds blew on my face as the victory moment occured. The plow also came at that very moment, and did what I did in 15 minutes. I could have just waited.
This blizzard was on Halloween night in 1992 in Minnesota. Ask anyone from this area about that storm, and they will have a similar story to tell as well!

aniceplaceinthesun.blogspot.com said...

(laughing) It's too bad there aren't schedules for snowplows, but I guess they don't put out a schedule during a blizzard, right? ( As you can see this "Scarlett" doesn't know squat about snow)

Therefore, I cannot imagine being covered under five feet of snow. I just cannot imagine it...how scary.

It's a good thing the plow came before you passed out under five feet of that fluffy ice.

It sounds like a bad morning...8 stories , huh?

Yep, I probably could ask this same question a few more times.

Like I said, mornings, like days are unpredictable. I guess that's why we count our blessings. I say we bank them~

Cheers my friend, and thanks for answering another Tuesday's Question.

Ann

aniceplaceinthesun.blogspot.com said...

And well done Speedy!

Ann

Speedcat Hollydale said...

The name of the post in question was "8 stories" ????

aniceplaceinthesun.blogspot.com said...

Speedy, Do you mean you have a post entitled 8 stories? I'm confused. :(

And I want to do a good job.:))

I'm going to check your archives..I'm sorry I'm such a dit-wit at times.

Ann

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