Newsletter Signup

.

Z is for Zo Long



Yes…I’m cheating. Sue me! This is my A to Z goodbye post and here I am...stumbling across the finish line. I must say I have mixed feeling about this year’s wonderful ride.

A LOT of things tried to pile on me in April, doing everything they could to keep me from fulfilling my commitment. You already know about my wife’s tribulations, but then my father was put in the hospital, and then we had to put down one of our family pets of 13+ years. Despite all that I posted for all 26 letters (let’s not talk about J), but I’m not looking for a medal! I tell you that to explain why you didn’t see me at your own blogs much, and I’m sorry for that.

On the flip side I was forced to take a good look at myself this month, and I'm pleased with what I found. I am close...really close...to achieving my publishing dream, but more importantly I came face to face with adversity and although I've stumbled at times, I'm still standing. How can you feel negative about an event like A-Z when it ended up helping me find a little clarity?

To those of you who found me during the challenge, I sure hope you’ll continue to drop by and become a regular. Now that the posting every day has ended, I promise I’ll be dropping by your blogs real soon to close the loop. :)

The ones who have been following along for the contest, I will post my DL Quiz on Friday, along with a summary of who’s in the running. Comments for all of the A-Z posts will close at midnight (central time) on Thursday, May 2nd. The contest winner will be announced Monday, May 6th…along with the quiz answers.

You now have my permission to go take a long nap! It has been well earned!

55 comments

  1. It's been an honor to host along side you, DL. I'm glad you made it through.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great last post of the challenge, been great visiting you.

    Yvonne.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm envious of those bloggers who are able to deliver interesting posts every day throughout the challenge. Congratulations on having achieved it. It's one of the reasons that I've not gone in for the A-Z but perhaps I ought to get disciplined and tackle it next year.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sometimes just hearing (reading) ones own Voice (words) makes for clarity and understanding. Adversity is a means to an end...isn't it great when it works out in a positive way? Enjoy your Nap!

    My Letter'Z'...Quilters Zodiac
    Sue CollectInTexasGal
    AtoZ LoneStar Quilting Bee

    ReplyDelete
  5. My best wishes to you, your wife and your family. Well done for completing the challenge. I know my family are glad it is over!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Congrats on finishing. Sorry that you had to struggle through so many family issues this month.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm glad you made it thru the pile ups. I hope your wife is feeling better! Also, thanks for sharing those tid-bits of yourself with us.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sorry about the hard month but congrats on finishing!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ta Da! We made it! I figure every time we complete a writing goal we set for ourselves (like A to Z) our creative/writing process improves/quickens and we become a bit more confidant in our abilities. Now go spend some quality time with your wife!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Isn't it strange when things happen like that? I'm not a believer in the whole happens in threes thing, but bad things do seem to come in groups. I don't know why, but it also seems like right after you get through it, something good is always on the other side. Kind of like a rainbow. Maybe yours is right around the corner.

    ReplyDelete
  11. You're allowed one cheat for X Y or Z, surely!

    Happy LAst Day

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm thinking about you and your family during this tough time. Family health issues are hard because they are out of our control and losing a pet, its so difficult. I hope having a ton of friends come to visit you each day helps!

    Great theme, sir. I enjoyed your posts. I enjoyed your story. Your writing is great. Please keep it going. I want to see you published too.

    Oh, and I giveth to youeth the Zombie Rabbit Award. More details on today's Z post.

    Heather

    ReplyDelete
  13. You are such a wonderful example for the rest of us. All your various trials and you still kept going. I really hope you reach your publishing dreams soon and I hope your wife and father are doing well. I'm really sorry to hear about your dog.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sorry you had so many battles, but you emerged stronger. Glad you were part of the Challenge Team!

    ReplyDelete
  15. shouldn't it be... Zoo Me!
    great job, great post... it's been an honor!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Prayers that May is full of nothing but sunshine, you deserve it.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I admit it was nice to gain a little more insight into YOU during this month, BUT I already knew you are one of the GOOD GUYS!

    You made it, go out and celebrate. Better yet bring something in and celebrate with your wife. Something like a nice creamy milkshake or smoothie (trust me it helps, get rid of that metallic/chemical taste - not there yet - OK tuck this tidbit away for later).

    ReplyDelete
  18. I enjoyed your A to Z posts DL. And it was great learning more about you.
    Best wishes to you and your family!

    Writer In Transit

    ReplyDelete
  19. Congratulations on finishing the Challenge, DL! Wishing you much more relaxing and stress-free days the rest of this spring!!

    Happy A to Z-ing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines

    ReplyDelete
  20. I hope May will bring much better news for you and your family. As for your A-Z posts, they are greatly appreciated - most generous contribution. All the best DL.

    ReplyDelete
  21. You did it! And you did it in spite of a lot of life trying to stop you. Here's to not giving up and here's to life handing you some good news and happiness. You've earned some of both.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Yay for making it all the way to the finish! Now breath and relax...

    ReplyDelete
  23. It sounds like the month of April was a sure test of willpower for you. God is making you strong to persevere. Life is so hard and fragile at times, be strong for your wife and family. Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog, and I pray for you and your family in the future and good luck with your publishing goals!

    ReplyDelete
  24. You forgot to say, "and thanks for all the zish."

    ReplyDelete
  25. Great post and I didn't see any rules about making up words :)
    Simply Sarah

    ReplyDelete
  26. I'm sorry April was such a challenge (above and beyond your expectations) I hope everything smooths out for you soon.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Congratulations for finishing DL! What a ride.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Congratulations on the finish! Wishing you a calm and stress-free post A-to-Z Challenge, brimming with success, happiness, joy, and health for you and your family. All the best, DL.

    VR Barkowski

    ReplyDelete
  29. I wasn't as regular as I wanted to be here, or on other blogs - I'm no Alex - but I'm making the rounds today...

    ReplyDelete
  30. Thanks for permission to nap! Z is for Zzzzzzzz!
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Z is Zzzzzzzzz, I like it, David (blogger who commented above me). I have one hell of a headache today, but I don't think it has anything to do with A-Z. Anyway DL, thanks for stopping by my Y post. I've made it up to K on your posts and have only found a few little typos, but nothing to make my eyes bleed yet! I've noticed a few typos in my own comments to you so we're even...maybe. I am glad that you are really close to achieving your publishing dream and do plan to keep stopping by to visit you here from time to time.

    Cheers, B from http://brandysbustlings.blogspot.ca/

    ReplyDelete
  32. Congrats on finishing the Challenge! It was so much fun. A nap sounds really good right now.

    ReplyDelete
  33. April showers DO bring May flowers...kinda' like life. Thank you for inspiring so many! Get some sleep. This teacher is giving you an A+!

    ReplyDelete
  34. My goodness, DL... so many more important things to deal with. It's wonderful that you found clarity in the midst of it all. Here's a toast to you, to all of us, who finished the challenge! *POP, fizzzzzzz, clink* Time not only for a nap but for an eye and finger vacation!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Yay, we all survived! Way to stick to it. I had a blast and enjoyed every one of your blog posts. Not only that, I made it to 300+ NEW blogs this month. How awesome is that?

    ReplyDelete
  36. You did an amazing job in spite of everything life threw at you. Sorry it's been so hard. But the A-Z is an uplifting experience - we all learn so much from each other!

    ReplyDelete
  37. It's been a fun month, glad you survived.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Sorry to hear your spring has been so difficult. Congratulations on finishing the challenge and finding clarity in the process.

    ReplyDelete
  39. I didn't hear about your dad or the pet you had to put to sleep :( Very sorry DL.

    ReplyDelete
  40. DL, you had it rough this month - kudos for sticking it out. I'm glad I was a co-host with you for the A to Z this year.

    ReplyDelete
  41. I got a few visits from you during April, so I will take that. :)

    I'm very impressed you made it through this challenge considering all that befell you and your family during this month!

    I also have mixed feelings about this year's challenge, but I'll talk about those in the reflection post. :)

    ReplyDelete
  42. Haha! It was a really cute cheat though. :) Congrats on finishing the challenge!

    #atozchallenge, Kristen's blog: kristenhead.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  43. Well I had a pretty easy month where A-Z was concerned, cause I wrote them all in one lump and scheduled them--that's the way to go for me, I think :) Glad you made it through!

    Allison (Geek Banter)

    ReplyDelete
  44. Hi Don .. I emailed before I read this .. so more tribulations came along your journey of life - it happens unfortunately - Nick Wilford's book "Overcoming Adversity" with 70 of us contributing shows the tapestry of human emotion, struggles and that tug to pull us through ...

    Congratulations on achieving the Z of the challenge, keeping your contest going .. and generally being with us .. cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  45. Overcoming adversity is no small feat. Don't sell yourself short. Our having that ability is what makes us who we are. All the stuff you've faced our the past month makes you that much more powerful as a writer. Hang in there DL. I'll echo Hilary in mentioning Nick Wilford's book. This to shall pass only to be replaced by more challenging things.

    ReplyDelete
  46. It's never zo long - more like zee you again, really zoon.

    ReplyDelete
  47. You did it. Congratulations. And with all that was thrown at you in April, my goodness -- May better be the BEST month ever!

    ReplyDelete
  48. You crossed the finish line. I don't think that's all that matters however. I think the journey is the most important part of it all. If you really think about it, are you ever fully done with anything. Your thoughts and memories hold things into a foreverness...and maybe twenty years down the road you'll randomly slip on the memory of your A to Z challenge...perhaps the 'Y' or maybe the 'L' and think over it. Who knows!

    Congradulations on learning about yourself. I think that is the better achievement here.

    Cheers,
    Michala

    ReplyDelete
  49. Rather you than me I say. This A to Z challenge is not for the weak. Despite all the things that went wrong behind the scenes you pushed through with dedication and remained focused on the task ahead whilst dealing with other issues. Congrats for not giving up and for passing the finishing line.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Anyone who manages a life AND posts for A-Z has my admiration :) I stayed mostly off-line during April, but like you, I'm hoping to get back into the swing of normal blogging now.

    Good luck with your contest Don. I'm sending hugs and well wishes for your wife, and your family.

    ......dhole

    ReplyDelete
  51. I think our entire A to Z Team has been sufficiently challenge this year. Wow! What a ride!

    Thanks for your great work as an A to Z Co-host. You did well.

    Lee
    An A to Z Co-Host
    Tossing It Out

    ReplyDelete
  52. You're a superhero for keeping up with the challenge while going through all the troubles at home. I really enjoyed your posts. My very best wishes to your wife and father. I hope they get better soon. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  53. Very sorry you had all of those challenges in one month, but you did an admirable job with everything. It was so nice to come by and read lots of great blogs.

    ReplyDelete

 

Archives

Blog Blitz

Design by: The Blog Decorator