Riding the Pooka

Radiation

“There’s radiation on my windshield Paranoia in my mind and my heart is weighted down with the mistakes of my own kind.” Joanne Rand Back a few weeks ago when I was declared to be at stage 0, I decided to forgo radiation treatments. On Friday morning I received an upsetting call from the Radiation…

The Cure for Cowbirds

Yesterday on my walk with Joe, we saw one of the little yellow warblers flitting amongst the branches of a blooming scotch broom. They are so beautiful, with a quick cheerfulness and a loopy small-bird flight pattern – as if they are always skipping or dancing. We also happened upon a courtship routine of a few brown-headed…

On being a modified radical.

By many accounts I was a radical before any of this cancer-ing journey began – starting a worker cooperative is enough for that title. Plus I believe in lots of “radical” notions, like universal health care, environmental stewardship, self education and homebirth. I believe in a loving creative god, the consciousness of the entire universe, which doesn’t smite…

Amazing Grace.

Today we traveled into Portland to have my post surgery follow up appointment with Dr. de LaMelena, and to have my drains removed. I got some news that makes my heart sing. The pathology report shows a Pathologically Complete Response. – which means they could find NO cancer-ing cells – in neither my removed breast tissue nor the…

An Essay on Transition

“Be kind. Everyone you meet is carrying a heavy burden.” Ian MacLaren We are here for such a short while, and never know when we may be departing. The sudden death of a friend this past week both hurts my heart, and opens me to being grateful that I am still here. I ache for…

Released from the hospital.

I am recovering nicely from the surgery, we had excellent care while there. The benefits of the paravertabral block include less pain post surgery- which means I have been comfortable. I was released today to go home with my family. Dr. De la Melena suggested we stay in Portland tonight so we are at my…

All is well!

Kathleen and I just talked with Dr. DelaMelena: surgery is complete, and Iris flew through smoothly. We’ll go meet her in an hour or so, after they’ve eased her back out of anesthesia. There’s a man sharing the waiting room with us who looks remarkably like Iris’s father, fedora, mustache, and all. A reassuring proxy…

Surgery day

Surgery day is in progress. We’re off to a positive start, with smiling, friendly helpers at every turn. I’ll post an update as soon as I know more. – Joe

Hell Yeah or No

Here is a bit of a modern proverb on how to negotiate our too busy lives by Derek Sivers, founder of CD Baby!. It is only 1 minute long and definitely worth watching if you ever find yourself saying Yes to more than you can fit on your plate. http://vimeo.com/25496723 Since my diagnosis many people have offered…

Elderflowers

Elder is a plant with a long history of being used for protection from “bad” energy. It is a plant much associated with the fairy realms. Elder blossoms and berries have been used medicinally for centuries. (Especially Black Elderberry Sambucus nigra.) Here on the coast we have Red Elderberry, which is blooming on the edge of forests…

Thank you for letting me know.

One thing is clear. If I am going to live the rest of my life without any of my cells reverting to the cancer-ing lifestyle, I need to transform, or perhaps to metamorphose is the better term? After I am done transmuting poisons, and healing from surgery, and recovering from any radiation treatments, my primary…

Tree Baths

The last week has been so very beautiful. I hope that all of you have been soaking up sun or taking tree baths. (Tree baths are a Japanese idea of hanging out with trees as a healing modality – basically walking amongst trees breathing the air made by trees.) A year ago this week, the Family Daire loaded…