Hello dear folk, Val’s feeling fairly well today, although the usual post-chemo stuff is starting up. Her digestion’s a bit wacked out; the steroids make her face reddish and puffy and wake her up early; that sort of thing. She notes that each chemo cycle it seems that the effects Continue Reading
cancer
blood and love
First, I would like to apologize for my lack of communication in the last couple weeks. I am experimenting with new ways of being in the world and it turns out to be very time consuming. Plus, I had company. Also, I have been eating beef which takes a great Continue Reading
the saving graces of life’s messiness
I’ve been thinking about names for things and the stories we tell ourselves. Recently a friend of mine wrote a bit about stories in her blog, Words of Love. I listened to the word “awful” as it came out of my mouth when someone asked me, “how was your trip?” Continue Reading
Nourishing Val (and the rest of us too)
Dearies, the excellent Miz Liz has tracked down some more nutrition specifics for anyone who wants guidance in helping Val eat really healthfully (or indeed, do so yourself). This info supplements the nutrition info in an earlier post. Val’s old friend Amy also pointed us to the CTCA site (Cancer Continue Reading
Hazel Rand
I will tell you that today was Hazel’s memorial service. And that should impart some kind of information to you. So that you can picture the buffet table and the BBQ pork. The outside tables set up at a friend’s house. The cooler of Coors Light. The smokers over by Continue Reading
Curiosity saves lives: an invitation
It has been a very peculiar week. A week that changes things. There are moments when i am feeling that old work ethic tug to sit down and really sort through it all. Try to understand the implications of each event in succession. But the truth is, i just don’t Continue Reading
Tumult and Joy
I don’t understand this life right now. This morning I am walking and walking at 1000 acres with Cynthia and the dog. And then we get lost. Every trail is a riverbed and every culdesac is a homeless person’s tent. The beautiful cottonwoods are telegraphs from my youth in Montana. Continue Reading
Off the Hammock
So on the 28th they are going to put me back into a tube. Scan my chest. Create another picture like the one that started all this. And the doctors will marvel at the 3 dimensional detail of it all. They like to go slice by millimeter slice. (I really Continue Reading
Harboring Felons
I wake up in the middle of the night to pee. there is a moment before awareness that feels like falling. here safe warm in this bed. i know something. but i don’t know what yet. i am a body. and then the knowledge shakes loose and flows down its Continue Reading
Harrisburgh to Karnak. Plus: bike t-shirts
They did it! While Val and I were at the wedding in Montana, my sister Abby (with her friend Claudia) in Illinois biked 54 miles on Sunday on our behalf. Fifty-four miles!! What a goddess of steely thighs and diligent hydration! If you are tuning in late, I should explain Continue Reading