We did it! Connection and joy. It’s possible, even at Disneyland!
J and the Alzheimer’s spider
“It’s like a spider,” she said. “That’s what they told me at the Alzheimer’s Association when I was taking care of mom. And the spider goes around and around until it stops and that’s when you can’t remember.”
My most helpful thought
Last week I found myself rolling back and forth on the ground with a bunch of giggling asian women. I was in my kundalini yoga class at the YMCA. We were doing an exercise where we put our hands out in front of us, superman-style, while lying on our stomachs, then we turned to the right until we were on our backs, then back to center/stomach, then to the left. As I rolled back and forth on the floor with these giddy women, I thought, I live such a rich life!
Resilience to Cancer? Finish Your Shower
The results are in! If you’ve been following the chronicles of my life here, you know I recently got concerned about some symptoms (read here). I called my endocrinologist. She ordered blood tests to check levels of catecholamines and metanepherines. These are substances that pheochromocytomas can make. When they do, it results in episodic hypertension, … Continue reading Resilience to Cancer? Finish Your Shower
Sit and smile
I’m going to pause here because THIS is mind-blowing for me. I’m not required to constantly shift and work and adjust and strain until perfection is obtained? Really? There is space in life for a moment’s pause to sit and smile?
Seasonal allergies or cancer?
Right now I have a paraganglioma in my right neck. It’s called a carotid body tumor because it is wrapped around the carotid artery at the point where the artery splits to provide blood supply to my face and my brain. I had tumor removed from the same location on the left side in 2005. … Continue reading Seasonal allergies or cancer?
Engage in small c creation
“We do seem to be living in a universe that is in a constant and unending state of creation. It’s never stopping. It’s never stopping here either. We are not witnessing that. We are PART of that. We come from that. We work into that." Elizabeth Gilbert
Scarcity
After my week of stillness in Santa Cruz, I’ve been swallowed by the busyness of daily life. Work has been hectic. R has been demanding and emotional while he’s getting over a cold. There’s been grocery shopping, dish washing, picking up toys, getting rid of toys [because there are too many and I can’t take … Continue reading Scarcity
Finding stillness in Santa Cruz
I’ve been on a woodsy, restful, vacation this week. I took almost the whole week off from writing. A week off from patient care. I finished an oil pastel drawing I started weeks ago. Yoga everyday! I found a studio that offers a daily kundalini class. I’ve been knitting granny dishcloths while binge watching Parks … Continue reading Finding stillness in Santa Cruz
My Becoming Book List
This time of year people are looking for a good read. I can’t say these are light summer selections for the beach or poolside, but these are books that have made their way through my hands during the past year and I recommend (in no particular order). Wild by Cheryl Strayed. In many ways this … Continue reading My Becoming Book List