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DIFFERENCE MAKER, THE RECIPE

A difference maker is often the last to know what’s up. Who has ever been to a funeral or memorial and heard strangers talk about the deceased in terms so glowing it sounds like nobody you know. And you’ve known them most of your life. How does that happen?

CHEMO STORY FROM THE MEMOIR WIP

One chemo story is not much different than another: Cancer diagnosis, testing, further testing, test some more, then sign up for the juice. Not much different until it’s you, and it’s your story. So why not write it? Here’s what it looks like:

CANCER CONVERSATIONS ONLINE AND OFF

Cancer conversations never get old for people who’ve had it, and those living with it. They happen in waiting rooms for chemo, waiting rooms for radiation, and waiting rooms for scans and probes. Sound fun yet? This isn’t a suggestion: Make it fun or a little of you dies in that waiting room. Find something.

QUIT NOW? THEN WHAT

Quit now and forever hold your peace? Who do you say that to? And who would listen? Quitting is the easy part, it’s what comes next that’s hard to figure out.

CALM SURRENDER LIFESTYLE, AND DOG TRAINING

The first I’d heard of ‘calm surrender’ came from a chemo clinic nurse. I asked her what someone like me was supposed to do during cancer treatment. She said surrender calmly. I told her Gillaspie isn’t a French name. Nurse Michel was not amused, but she was right.

CHEMO CLOTHES GET A NEW BELT NOTCH

You’ve heard of ‘chemo clothes?’ That’s what you wear after getting the hell chemo-ed out of you, (hell = cancer.) Either that or you’ll be walking around like a kid in big boy trousers that don’t fit, but might some day. Today is that day. But it’s more about the belt.

THE WORLD STOPS FOR NO ONE. HOW DO I KNOW?

The world stops for you, and you, and you, because you need a break? And it stops for the rest of us because things are moving a little too fast? Hold that thought. Hold the next one, too. Hold it tight.

KILLING CANCER STEP BY STEP: #1

Killing cancer starts the same for everyone. It’s a new mole, a lump, a bump, a new ache and pain. You wonder what’s up, get checked out, and forget about it. After that it’s an appointment, or a phone call, and your life, your future, your plans, hits the fan and splatters all over. At […]

COMMON GOOD STILL TOO UNCOMMON FOR TOO MANY

The common good means something different to everyone, but that’s still not right. A simple definition might clear things up, starting with the basics, the common needs for human existence. Fortunately, it’s already been done. Thank you, Abraham Maslow.

FIRST CHEMO OPINION ON #WORLDCANCERDAY

Chemo: Work In Progress on World Cancer Day: Men who take women to their medical appointments are one thing. Women who insist on going with their men are another. Elaine insisted, but I insisted first. I wanted my doctors and specialists to know I had a fucking pit bull ready to turn loose on them […]