New drabble topic, delayed 1 day due to excessive holiday family-ness! (Sorry.)

Challenge #37 (talismans) is now closed.

Challenge #38 is falling. Take that any way you like -- falling off a log, falling in love, even those old "Fall into the Gap" commercials.

Panic Attack (falling drabble: 100 words):

When it grips me, it is sudden and total. One moment I am feeling fine--a bit off, maybe, but fine--and the next I am plummeting down hard and fast. My heart rate soars, my palms sweat, I lose my breath and my ability to reason and rationalize--I am swept down on waves of panic, of fear, of loss, of utter helplessness. My body is still, my hands clenched futilely in the blankets, but my mind is falling, falling, falling, and the only thing I fear more than the falling is the sweaty-toothed terrors waiting on the bottom.

At first, I felt bad that my article might be late, right? But I'm now upset with the editor because what part of "You sent it, but somehow I don't have it, so couldn't read and follow comments I couldn't open?" is hard to understand? Hello?

Brynn, got it - thanks! And Susan, you're going to wind up with a huge list of names. Have you checked out some of the livejournal agents links?

Quickie lookin from a machine at the local Kinkos, because our #%%#$ DSL is down again. And right now, feverish and aching and dizzy so I'm going home to bed, shortly.

Kristin, that's exactly how I felt, Christmas day. Worse one I've ever had, right here in my house.

Thanks, Cindy, and I'm so sorry. I think it's really hard to understand how terrible panic attacks are for people who haven't had them. I'm so grateful I haven't had one since last year. Before I was treated, I would go through periods where I had them frequently. It was the closest to hell on earth I hope to ever be.

Deb, I'm waiting till I'm home to start work in earnest, since that's where my market info all is. Plus, the conference chair has given me some basic parameters--one publishing house that must be represented this year if humanly possible, another we'd really like to have, one West Coast agent, etc.

That was amazing, Kristin...I wish I didn't know exactly about every bit of it, but I do, and you've described it accurately, precisely, and beautifully.

Cindy, I'm sorry you know what she's talking about.

Panic attacks are nightmares on wheels. I never had them in my entire life, but when I'm having an MS exacerbation, I do occasionally get them now. Vile, horrible things. A powerful drabble, Kristin.

Can't write anything until I have my internet back up in the same damned place my hard drive lives. It's driving me bonkers. I'm expecting a contract for the Apocalyptic Clowns story momentarily, and the Newsweek piece is ready to go, and I have no damned internet access at home until Nic gets off his bum and fixes things. I'm posting from Kinko's.

FEH.

Anyone feel like looking over a Christmas letter real quick? My grandma is adamant that it get sent out (she was in the hospital over Christmas) and I'm sick to death of the thing... Just a quick catch any typos type glance? Pretty please.

edit: I think it's pretty much fit to print... It could just use a fresh pair of eyes.