Cancer
Checkup
It’s checkup time for me again. This time, it was with my radiation oncologist. Gem has spent most of her life going to the doctor with Mommy. She’s an old pro. She brings one of her “friends” – today, we brought Tolee, the Koala Bear. Get him all comfortable, and make sure he feels safe. […]
Tour de Pink
Cancer didn’t make me stronger; it sapped my strength like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. You know what made me stronger? Having to make tough decisions and stand by them. Calling bullshit on bullshit. Moving forward despite the fear. Getting up every single day to be a mommy to my little girl, no matter how […]
Holly Yashi Jewelry {Giveaway}
I just drool over Holly Yashi Jewelry. Their designs are quirky and out of the ordinary, yet still delicate and elegant. I love that combination. My husband gave me a Holly Yashi set for our very first wedding anniversary, and it’s still a wardrobe staple for me. So, when Holly Yashi’s representative contacted me about doing a giveaway […]
Taking back October
My friends are dying, and it’s not for lack of awareness. We don’t need more awareness. What we need is a cure.
Eight years
Dear Universe: The sickness and poorer part of our vows were not an invitation. I’ll have you know that despite pneumonia, cancer, myasethenia gravis, a combined 18 nights in the hospital, more than 10 dashes to the ER, 8 years of at least one and usually both of us as full-time college students, layoffs, hours […]
Contending with change
These are big changes that impact programs that were built with sweat, tears, and heart by unpaid volunteers. They are mucking about with, what is for many of us, our safe place. But I went home feeling ok about the situation, not because I agree with everything that has been decided, but because of the way the announcement and the subsequent activities were handled.
Little pick-me-ups
A friend once said to me “Enough with the character building; we’ve got plenty of character.” And I do believe I have plenty of character, yet life keeps the lessons coming at me. One of those lessons is that I need to make a practice of taking care of myself, and I’m not just talking […]
Courage Night
I have been invited to participate in Courage Night, an author event sponsored by the Young Survival Coalition where 5 young survivors of breast cancer will read from their books, followed by a book signing.
Dear Gem – Month 30
The weather turned since the last time I wrote one of these letters to you. In just a couple months we went from temperatures in the 80s to frosty mornings and piles of multicolored leaves on the ground. You’ve changed so much, grown up so much, in that little bit of time. You notice the […]
In Living Pink 2011 – Young Survival Coalition
It sounds cliche to say that women who have faced down a life-threatening diagnosis really know how to embrace life. It is cliche. It’s not even always true. But my girls? My friends? They know how to party. Friday night we celebrated and raised money for the Young Survival Coalition with our annual silent […]