Sunday, November 17, 2019

Thank You for Waiting

NaNoWriMo, 20th anniversary. I wrenched a novel out of November in 2007, but despite 300,000+ words since then I haven't made the sprint to 50k words in the 30 days offered.

My process has been to create a cover first, and in some years not write one word. This year I made 4 covers, so I expect to not write 4 times as many words.

The ideas were intriguing. Still are. This year I chose a subject that has been in my brainpan for decades.

Waiting.

30 years ago, the title was Women Who Wait. Waiting is an activity we do well. We wait for the perfect partner, wait for promotions, raises. Wait to see the light, wait for dark. Wait for bruises to heal, wait for new ones. Wait for our loved ones to come home from war. Wait to heal, wait to die. Wait for the other shoe to drop. Wait on hold.

Noticing the messaging while on hold this month. Caregivers spend hours on hold. Doctors, pharmacies, health agencies, state handlers, county wranglers. In my case, when I get mad enough, wait for my legislators.

Doctor's office: 17 minutes on hold. Sales pitches for new mammogram technology, heart screening check (only $75!) and the ubiquitous messaging that you can do whatever you think you need to wait on hold to do on our website.

Pharmacy: 22 minutes on hold. Sales pitch op.

Kitchen cabinet place: "Thank you for continuing to hold. We are assisting other excited home remodelers." Sheesh.

The doctor's office is just down the street. I've checked the we are busy assisting other callers more than once. Drive down to the office - no one is on the phone.

Thank you for continuing to hold. We appreciate your patience.