This twenty-sixth day of the Wego Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge finds me running on empty, almost out of ideas and the right words to convey them. My cup runneth over with cliches about the home stretch and the light at the end of the tunnel and how it’s always darkest before the dawn. Not to worry, today’s post is short and requires only that I create a tagline for my blog, my health condition, my self. I have written before about the inspiration behind the title of this blog that whispers daily reminders that it is time.

Time to consider the lilies . . .

For once in my writing, there was intention behind those three little dots. Admittedly, I have been less than judicious in my use of the “dot-dot-dot.” Typically, I have treated the lowly ellipsis as something akin to an embellishment to be sprinkled haphazardly between sentence fragments. For years, I have avoided using it properly and sparingly in order to create anticipation of some really important point on the other side of it. In truth, it is often just plain easier (especially in email) to forego a complete sentence for three ellipsis points or – my favorite – dashes. I know, I know. This will not go over well with those purists who can put me in my place by quoting chapter and verse from The Chicago Manual of Style: “Ellipsis points suggest faltering or fragmented speech accompanied by confusion, insecurity, distress or uncertainty . . .” Who knew? As for my beloved dashes, Grammar Girl reminds me that said style manual recommends dashes (as opposed to ellipses) be “reserved for more confident and decisive pauses.” A pause, by its very nature, suggests just a touch of indecision. Grammar rules be damned, in this instance, the ellipsis provided the necessary time for consideration of the tagline it precedes: Time to consider the lilies . . . (I am neither confused, insecure, or uncertain about it) and my life since cancer came calling.

I’m running into the sun but I’m running behind . . .

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