Thoughts From the West

Since my last post we have received an outpouring of well wishes, prayers, and support.  It has sustained us through the pity party days which I'm happy to report have been few and are fading away.  We've been caught up in the whirlwind of scans and tests and, so far, all has been good news.  We're in a waiting phase and phone calling phase but expect to proceed in a few days and get this journey behind us. I'm reminded regularly these days of the importance of community.  Community is important to all of us no matter what circumstances we are going through.  This blog started because of the community developed with my writing family. I learned a long time ago that I cannot work in isolation and there are times in life when it's okay to reach out.  I also learned to surround myself with some pretty amazing people and that's been a Godsend. Brett's doctors work in community.  We are so fortunate to have incredible care.  His oncologist talks wi...

First of all, if you're tuning in for a post on WWP, I apologize. The only thing this post will have to do with writing is the fact that I'm turning to writing yet again to bare my soul and work through many mixed emotions.  This is a decidedly personal post but one that warrants sharing.  We all go through struggles in life and being honest about them is the best way to show that we are all in this beautiful mess together.  No one's life is perfect though we may fool ourselves into believing it is so.  No one's children are perfect.  No one's marriage is perfect.  No one gets through this life without challenge and struggle.  Few get through without being touched by cancer. Cancer.  I hate very few things in life.  I reserve the word "hate" and use it sparingly.  I hate cancer.  It's been our unwanted house guest for more than ten years now.  Nothing can get me angrier.  Nothing can get me to cry faster.  Ten years...

It's already been a crazy summer and I have found myself neglecting writing.  Some of it is because I am experiencing some raw emotions and when I write them down they feel all too real.  Some of it is because I have been swallowed (mostly in very good ways) with work tasks and projects.  Some of it is just not using my time wisely.  And, some of it is trying to get out and enjoy sunshine and warm weather and breathe it in while it is here.  The breathing it in part is difficult lately as we are surrounded with forest fires and smoke and ash. We have birds that decided that our front bushes would be the best place to build a nest.  They have been relentless in their protection, even hitting me in the head once when I was in the driveway. I've been annoyed.  I've been angry.  I've told my husband we're pulling those bushes out this fall.  This morning there was a lot of cackling going on outside my living room window and I looked and there w...