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My brother died eight years ago, putting an end to a three-year roller coaster through hell that still doesn’t feel real. The shock of losing more than half of my immediate family fought with the relief that they were no longer suffering. That WE were no longer suffering. Because for three years my mom and I were trapped in cancer whiplash, unable to truly grieve my dad, then my sister, because there were more treatments, more scans, more prayers.
And then there wasn’t.
I decided that the best way to honor my brother is to publish my next book on his birthday. I knew I wanted it to come out in late October or early November, and he was born October 26. It feels right, and it’s a gesture that I think he would appreciate.
Because I’ve clawed my way up from the very bottom, I know how to recognize the signs when I start to slip. I’ve learned to take a step back, evaluate the situation, and make adjustments as needed. (btw, our minds respond oh-so well to this kind of analytical approach. At least for a little while.)
When my dad was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in March of 2014, we knew right away that he didn’t have long to live. But when my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer that July, just two months after he died, there was never a doubt in my mind that she’d beat it.
Today, on this Leap Day—this BONUS DAY—I challenge you to start the thing for which you never seem to have the time.
Last Tuesday was my first ever book launch party and it was better than I expected! I’ve heard horror stories of only a handful of people showing up, so my biggest fear was that I’d be stuck twiddling my thumbs for two hours with my mom and husband. But we had a steady flow of …
I’ve been pirated. On Friday my friend June informed me that Flicker had been illegally posted to mobilism.org, “the single largest user-powered database of apps, games, movies and books for mobile device users of all platforms!” She received a Google alert that several of HER books were on the site, and because she’s so smart …
One of the benefits of working for a large-ish company is we have lots of perks that I never had when working at ad agencies. A couple weeks ago the Spectrum Health Betty Ford Breast Cancer Bus paid us a visit so I bit the bullet and scheduled my first mammogram. Wheee! Can you feel …
Getting started is the easy part. You have an idea, you jump in with both feet, and then…. and then… you hit a wall. This is me at our local mud run last weekend. My husband and I ran it last year and I immediately wanted to build an obstacle course in the backyard. We …
If you’re ever feeling the urge to buy me a present and aren’t sure what to get, buy me this. In bulk. The following conversation may have taken place after a good hand washing: “This smells so good it makes me want to lick my hands.” “It makes me want to *ahem* with my hands.” …