by Andrea Christenson, @AndreaC_Author
Image by blackbirdvisual1 from Pixabay
My sweet father-in-law, Stan, recently passed away. As a self professed Jack-of-all-trades he was often called upon by his children and others to help with handyman tasks around the house.
As we sat around reminiscing, we all recalled times Stan went out of his way to help where he could, even driving several hours just to help someone in need. We each had a story of Stan helping us out of a jam. Stan would fix things his kids couldn’t fix themselves.
One humorous incident we remembered though, had a different outcome. On that day Stan had gone to help his son install a ceiling fan. They had been working hard all day, crawling around in the hot attic to pull the correct wires into place, as well as fixing other problems as they arose. Finally the stage was set for the actual fan install.
Stan wiped his sweaty brow as he unpacked the fan and fitted in the blades. He sat and took a well-deserved breath. It had been a long, hard day. Feeling he didn’t need an audience, those of us who weren’t helping headed to the much cooler lower level of the house. We were startled several minutes later by Stan’s loud voice, followed after a few moments by him stomping down the stairs.
“I can’t make heads or tails of these instructions.” He huffed, red-faced, as he threw the papers to the floor and stormed out the door.
I picked the papers up one by one and looked at them.
They were in Spanish.
On the other side? Chinese.
The final page contained the English version. From its place on the floor, it was obvious Stan hadn’t made it that far. We all had a long chuckle at Stan’s expense that day. Of course he couldn’t understand the instructions, he could only speak and read English. In his fatigue and overheated state he didn’t pause to look for the page that applied to him.
There are so many times in my life I am exactly like Stan on that day. My work gets hard, I get metaphorically overheated, and suddenly my brain stops working. I look for help and advice, but try to use the instructions that aren’t meant for me.
Maybe this has happened to you too. You’re frustrated by your WIP and decide to try that new technique you learned at a conference. Or you’re a dedicated plotter who wants to give pantsing a whirl.
None of these thoughts are wrong. Of course it is good to break out of old ruts and to develop new talents. But, I would argue, maybe don’t try those things when you are already fed up. Instead, take a page out of Stan’s book. Take a break, take a breath, then turn to the instructions meant for you and get that task crossed off your list.
After walking off the frustration, and enduring a little good natured ribbing, Stan finished the project, and lives were changed. Okay, maybe everyone just slept a little better in the cool of the fan, but still, it was something.
He just wants to erase his past. She can’t seem to escape hers. But facing it might put their future in jeopardy.
The day Jack Stewart walked out of jail, he vowed to keep his conviction a secret. The whole thing was just a terrible mistake, and he did his time. Now he wants a new life in a sleepy town where no one knows his name. Deep Haven is the perfect place to start over as a chef. The last thing the former pararescue jumper wants is to get involved. But when Boone Buckam—the guy he owes for getting him out of the slammer—asks for help, how can he refuse?
Colleen Decker has already escaped evil once—as a teenager, she was kidnapped by a murderer. But she’s put all that behind her as a trauma nurse in Minneapolis. Or maybe not, because a freak mistake in the ER sends her past crashing down on her. She needs a timeout in her hometown of Deep Haven. She doesn’t plan to stay—even when she’s roped into the job of flight nurse for the town’s Crisis Response Team chopper. Colleen’s not sure why she’s drawn to danger, but she’ll be safe enough—after all, she’ll need training, and her teacher is a handsome former pararescue jumper. What could go wrong?
When Jack said he didn’t want to get involved, he especially meant his heart—but being with Colleen feels like a fresh start. He’ll even climb aboard a chopper again, despite his vows. They’re headed for a happy ending…
But secrets never stay buried in a small town. And when disaster strikes one snowy night, they’ll both have to decide if the past will destroy them…or if it just might lead them home.
Cozy up to this perfect Deep Haven drama about discovering a season of second chances.
Andrea Christenson lives in Minnesota with her husband and two daughters. When she is not busy homeschooling her girls, she loves to read anything she can get her hands on, bake bread, eat cheese, and watch Netflix—though not usually all at the same time. You can connect with Andrea on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and on her website www.AndreaChristenson.com