Just Write!

Just write - anything - something - get started, the words will come. I've been saying that to myself for days and days now. The longer I don't blog the harder it is to get back to it. So who knows how today's blog will read! Looking back at March on my calendar, there's been a lot of activity - not that I've been all that active but I jot down all sorts of events others are doing/having/celebrating - just trying to keep up with what my friends/family are up to. I've had a few events this month tho that were special... and some not so special!

Special included seeing Smokey Robinson (yes, again) - I would see him perform every week if he was in town. He is the smoothest, sexyist, most romatic, talented soul singer of my generation and he's still got it for me - hard to believe he's 71!! Wait.. he can't be - that makes me how old?!! Very special was attending the wedding of my 'Paula-baby' and her chosen one - Darian. I'm sitting here smiling as I recall one of the lines of their vows when they giggled and promise to 'be partners in mischief' for the rest of their lives - it was so sweet and tender. I wish them every happiness possible.

Also special was to receive my copy of the 'Women and Cancer' issue put out by the Canadian Woman Sudies Journal of York University ( http://www.yorku.ca/cwscf/index.html). Allow me to brag for a moment! I did a presentation back in April 09 on behalf of the support group I attend at the BC Cancer Agency which was very well received and I was encouraged to 'morph' it into an article and submit it to the CWS for possible inclusion into this special issue.... and it was included... which allows me to say that I've been published!! While you can't see the actual article on-line (and if you're interested) I posted the piece in my Apr 2010 blog. This issue covers much territory regarding women and cancer but for me the most profound and encouraging parts are in the poetry and personal narratives of other women living in the same world as I do.

Callanish Writes V also arrived - another precious book of poetry by the Callanish community - a volume exploring 'Time' - our past, our present and our future. This volume begins with poems written to Kirsten - the first time in four workshops without her physical presence. And we felt her absence so strongly that it was clear to everyone that Kirsten would be the prompt for our writing that 1st session. Kirsten was the inspiration for what has become a Callanish tradition and we will continue to write in her honor with so much love and gratitude for creating a space within ourselves to write without fear or restraint or judgement as Callanish Writes VI begins in April.

On the not-so-special side of things my hot-water tank sprang a leak... what a disaster a small amount of water can create. After several frenzied phone calls a plumber showed up with a new tank and the restoration folks showed up shortly thereafter to rip up the flooring and all that goes along with that. Let me just interject this saga with this tidbit - I should have been at the spa for a massage/manicure/pedicure that day - now you know how 'not-special' this event was. My now insurance-approved plan is to have the flooring in the kitchen and guest bathroom taken up and used to replace the hallway flooring and then install tile in those two rooms. Just when I thought I was done with renovating! As of now I still have a cement floor hallway without closet doors - which is just special cuz I can not only watch but hear my laundry being done from my comfy chair!

Other not-so-special news. That cold I had in February? Well it didn't go away before I started my chemo and starting off not feeling very well made things go pretty downhill. For some reason or another - I'll sort that out this week at my appointment - my side-effects were pretty severe - burning hands & feet - in fact off my feet for a couple of days and such fatigue that the last 3 days of this round were spent on the couch reading and napping. I still have the burning sensations and my energy isn't what it should be. Wednesday will be a full day at the clinic starting @ 8am for bloodwork, then Dr. appt, then scans, then treatment. Not sure what the Dr. appt will bring - my last reports show my tumour markers up a bit again and my kidney function tests appear to have crossed the line from high-normal to just plain old high so methinks something will have to be done soon. I have an appointment with the urologist April 14th. And maybe I'll have my voice back soon - I've had laryngitis for the last week!!

Could that possibly be spring outside??

Stay well my friends.