10 years ago this week, Terry and I headed north from New Orleans for a week long Thanksgiving break. We stopped in Memphis to celebrate our 7th anniversary, eating yummy food and listening to great music. We spent a few days in Chicago checking on our condo, visiting family and playing tourists… And we wrapped […]
Category Archives: Breast Cancer
I remember that a few times when I was a kid during our summers at the Cottage, my introverted side would kick in and I would need some space. I remember a few evenings grabbing my tackle box with its hooks, sinkers, and lures–the tools needed to fish–as well as a fishing rod and a […]
One of the most enduring pieces of advice that former Recovery On Water Programs Director Devlin gave me was the idea that you embrace the trials and tribulations, the struggles, the hardships, the challenges in one’s life, so that when things get difficult the next time, you know you have persevered through the bad stuff […]
Thursday, December 1, 2011 A beautiful, sunny, and warm New Orleans afternoon. A follow-up trip to the Diagnostic Imaging Services Center on Prytania Street in Uptown after my November 16th baseline mammogram screening had showed “grouped fine pleomorphic calcifications in the right breast.” I worked in the morning and went to my afternoon appointment by […]
I attended Northern Michigan University, located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, for my undergraduate studies. It is a beautiful, yet isolated, place, within walking distance of Lake Superior, and because of its isolation, there was always a concerted effort while I attended to have a very strong student affairs program with lots of concerts, performances, movies, […]
“We must, we must, we must increase our bust.” from Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume Judy Blume was definitely a favorite writer of mine in Suburban Detroit during the 1970s and early 1980s and her words are part of the backdrop of my growing up. Books such as Forever, Blubber, Deenie, […]
Pulling out another post from my ‘rough draft bin’ seems fitting for this 200th post. I can’t believe I have been blogging for 6.5 years! Wow!!! March 24, 2013 About a year ago, my brain started to realize that I wasn’t in active treatment any longer for breast cancer. After my outpatient mastectomy on December […]
I remember my NOLA oncologist, Dr. Gurtler, being very opinionated, forceful, and persuasive about a number of things in regards to my diagnosis and treatment: She thought I should have reconstruction. She considered exercise as being extremely important and I was truly impressed with her personal exercise regimen–she walked her talk. Alcohol is really, really […]
As I’ve written before, last year was a bit of a challenge. Turned 50 at the beginning of the year in the midst of one of the most fiscally austere points of my life. Let go from a meaningful, rewarding job in an extremely humbling, demoralizing way. Exhausting issues in other areas of my life. […]
“What really are the odds of finding this group, perfect for you, while walking your dog?!” This is what my friend Kelly asked when she found out 4 years ago about my new involvement in this super cool rowing team for women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. What were the odds?? While the […]
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