I began my Everything Changes blog a year and a half ago and in that time I have posted religiously a few times per week with no break. It’s time. I need a little vacation. My illness is inescapable, but luckily at the moment, my daily life is not.
While I’m away, I thought I’d share with you some posts from the last year and a half that particularly stand out in my mind. If you are new to my blog or a regular reader, I hope you enjoy them and add some more comments.
Do You Like Being Called Strong?
Health Insurance the Scary Sex Dream
Do You Give Thanks For Your Illness?
Smart Responses to Stupid Comments?
Thanks to all who attended my book reading in San Francisco on Wednesday night. It was a smashing success and packed to the gills. I’d call it standing room only, but this is San Francisco we’re talking about so those without chairs were sitting and lying on the floor instead.
Also, I was interviewed on the BBC Radio today about “healthcare reform” from the young adult cancer perspective. I still have to put that one in quotes until something real actually happens. If I find a podcast of the interview, I’ll be sure to post it on facebook and twitter.
See you back here March 8!
“Everything Changes is, without doubt, the most forthright, emotionally sophisticated, and plain-old valuable book of its kind I've seen.”
February 27th, 2010 at 11:14 PM
Enjoy every minute of the break ! =)
March 1st, 2010 at 1:55 PM
Have a great relaxing time! Stephanie
March 2nd, 2010 at 2:59 PM
I can’t wait until I can get away on vacation. Have an absolutely wonderful time. You certainly deserve it.
March 4th, 2010 at 8:57 AM
Have a wonderful time!
March 8th, 2010 at 2:07 PM
Hey - I just found your book and I wish someone had handed it to me the day I got diagnosed (along with a couple of others). I found out about my thyroid cancer in almost exactly the same way you did, except I was at the allergist’s because my lifelong extremely mild allergies had suddenly turned into a horrendous can’t-breathe can’t-keep-my-eyes-open situation, so I was getting a scratch test to find out what else besides my cats, dust, and mold might be triggering everything.
I get called strong all the time. My mother died two years ago, and after that, people kept telling me how strong I was and how well I was dealing with everything. I didn’t feel strong and to me, it’s become a buzzword for someone who isn’t going to help me or be available to me if I need support, but who is going to tell me how strong I am so that they don’t have to feel guilty for bailing on me when I need them. I’m sure they aren’t doing it consciously, but at this point, I really really hate being called strong. I’m not strong - I’ve just had some really really horrible luck for the last three years and it hasn’t killed me yet. It’s not like I’m out there accomplishing great things - or even the most basic things that I want to accomplish - I’m just barely getting by, and every time I think I’ve established a toehold on my life, everything collapses around me again (like when my boyfriend of two years dumped me a few weeks before we were supposed to move from our apartment into a house he owns with his ex wife, I was getting kicked off COBRA and going onto his health insurance, our anniversary, and my birthday, which was Wednesday. I got lucky and managed to get individual insurance, but I still don’t have a good place to live and I have to be out of here by the 17th, my birthday was horrible, and I feel like I’m supposed to go out and get my own place and start meditating and meet all new friends and become this amazing together person who says that cancer was the amazing thing that woke me up and helped me change my life for the better. So far it’s just the thing that caused me to lose everything I had left. :/
March 10th, 2010 at 1:21 PM
Hey there! I met your brother at a dinner party last night and he told me about your book. I read the introduction on Amazon and ordered it on the spot.
I’m having a hard time dealing with the aftermath. Cancer, for me, hasn’t been hard. Its everything that comes with it - life interrupted - that trips me up every time.
Looking forward to receiving the book. In the words of my niece: “you rock my face.” LOL! - PLE