Friday Feature: Sary in the Real World

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Bit of fun before we get started: if you're looking for ways to enter my paperback release giveaway, swing by the Author Tracker blog (and be sure to say congrats to Jessica and Stephanie on their book deal!), and Stuart R. West's blog (and pick up a copy of either of his books--they rock!), and last but not least, I'm also over on Cecilia's blog (currently reading one of her books and, just wow!!). And of course if you're looking for a shiny copy of Colors Like Memories, it's totally up and ready to go on Amazon or elsewhere :)

So, a week ago or so, hubby and I were having a long discussion about book marketing. He's incredibly good at pointing out certain things that most people may not notice, and made a comment that stuck with me: "your blog and other media stuff is directed a lot toward other authors--your online community you hang out with. Not your readers."

Sometimes I really hate it when he's right.

But, here's the thing, I like my blog the way it is. It's taken me ages to get people seeing it, along with all my other media outlets. Lots and lots of hours have gone into making them what they are. So, yeah, I'm not about to give them up. But I do want to start having more reader-related posts. And this is what I plan on starting today. I hope you'll bear with me, and maybe have something to chime in along the way!

The Sary Society books have a different kind of being in them--I'll freely admit I made them up--but they have some commonalities with guardian angels. They're around to help people in need, mostly those who are contemplating suicide, though they get caught up in other things as well. Which got me thinking about people who have stepped in and helped me in my life, either out of the blue, or because they're just awesome friends. I want to devote posts to those people who have been a "Sary" and helped me, or someone else, out.

Today, I wanted to share a story about one instance where I seriously needed some extra help, and really received it *big* time. It was January three years ago. A rainy Northern California afternoon, the weekend. Hubby and I were planning on seeing a movie, but first we went out to my mother's ranch to check on her animals as she was out of town. We drove home via the back country roads through the fields.

The intersection.

About a mile and a half from my Mom's, at one of the four-way stops, we took our turn waiting to go through the intersection. Stopped. Looked, and hubby started moving. Out of nowhere another car slammed into us, turning us completely around twice, ramming us into another car, and then landed us in a ditch. Hubby was knocked out. I couldn't walk. It was rainy and cold, and the car filled with smoke.

A miracle in and of itself, a police car and ambulance were just down the road and were there in minutes. We were put into ambulances and whisked away to separate hospitals--me with a broken leg and hubby with untold injuries. (Incidentally, I remember being pissed at the lady who blew the stop sign going about 60mph--it's a good thing I couldn't walk...)

What happens when a BMW doing 60 blows through a
stop sign and nails your CRV.

The hospital was a blur or tests and x-rays and doctors. My phone had been lost in the crash and I couldn't remember anyone's numbers. On top of that, everyone in my family nearby was out of town--my mom, grandparents, brother, and my sister answered the phone (when I finally got her number) and then fell back asleep. Anyhow, I was alone at the hospital, totally stuck, no one to call, and my husband was somewhere else, definitely concussed, and just as stuck.

That's when a familiar face appeared and I about cried with happiness. A woman I knew from the church I used to attend was working in the ER that night. She'd always been someone I loved talking to, and had been one of the youth leaders from when I was younger. Her husband had been our bishop. The fact she was still at work, and happened to see my name, was a total miracle.

She helped me find pants after they cut my jeans off, get home, find out where hubby had been taken, and drove me all the way to Sacramento to collect him, having sent her husband on ahead.

I honestly don't know how I would have survived that night without her. She was honestly an angel that night. I can't thank her enough. While the accident and all that resulted from it was pretty horrific (another 6 inches into the intersection and there's a very good chance hubby wouldn't have made it), I can't help remembering that night with a bit of lightness thanks to her help.

Has anyone else had a good Sary/guardian angel story they want to share? (I'd love others to join in with blog posts, and there's a few of you I might be emailing!!)