"All Things Considered" by Lois Elizabeth Hicks with Rudy Hicks
– Well, that wasn’t so bad, he thought.
He remembers but he does not dwell on the past.
Lois Elizabeth Hicks lives in rural Randolph County. Lois—a wife, mother, and grandmother—worked as a high school teacher and school media coordinator for many years while providing hands-on full care for an adult son paralyzed with quadriplegia after a spinal cord injury. During those years she joined a 5-member Winston-Salem writing group and began journal entries of caregiving and respite day’s events. She now writes nonfiction stories based on those journal events. “What Happened to Judah Quinn?” appeared in the Personal Story Publishing Project anthology Trouble.
Author’s Talk
When the PSPP (Personal Story Publishing Project) released the theme of the fall 2022 anthology as “Twists and Turns—consequential redirections in life,” I asked my son Rudy about submitting an essay of an event that changed his life. He assented.
Lois Elizabeth Hicks
So, I culled information and anecdotes from my 1996 journal and wrote a draft from my point of view and read it to my 5-member Winston-Salem writing group.
While they were supportive, they made suggestions: Start at the beginning, said one. Too much detailed medical information over personal information, said another. Take out that paragraph, said another.
So, I pondered, talked with Rudy again, and rewrote, this time removing myself and incorporating more of his memory. I reread the story to him and asked again whether I should submit the essay. Rudy said yes but that I was to include the cause of the inciting moment.
I resisted Rudy’s request because of respect for his privacy but rewrote, barely hinting at the cause for the inciting moment that resulted in the twist and turn of his life.
I submitted this version to PSPP editor/publisher Randell Jones and to book editor and writing coach Steve Kirk. Soon I received an acceptance email and another e-mail suggesting that I elaborate on the cause for the inciting moment.
Rudy and Maggie exploring the outdoors
It was just as Rudy had requested but that I had resisted. Again, Rudy explained the reason he wanted complete honesty. This time I listened to him and rewrote the second paragraph abiding by his request.
“You must write the truth,” Rudy said. “I want my nephews and grandsons to understand.” (And he named them one by one). “I want them to know that a decision made can have consequences that will affect them for the rest of their lives.”
So, as Rudy requested, here is the story dedicated to the beloved youths with whom he interacts: Noah, Judah, Ezra, Colton, Jackson, Weston, and Mason, also Jayden. And with Rudy’s prayer: May God grant them wisdom and understanding.
