My girls are four years and two weeks apart. When I was pregnant with Greta, I wondered what kind of a relationship they would have with each other during their childhood years.  There is so much that plays into it: age, personality, birth order. I have two little sisters; I love my sisters.  When we were little, I was the dictator; treating Chief Sister with my...

Sometimes people for sorry for me. But you know what? I don’t feel sorry for me.  (So please, please, please don’t feel sorry for me.) I kind of feel blessed and lucky and happy and joyful most of the time.  (I’m not perfect: I want things, I worry, I make excuses.)  But, truly: I am happy. I ache–physically ache–for people who...

In 2008 I was at a gathering event for young moms.  At the end of it, one stranger mom walked up to me and said, “Hi, I’m Nan, and I think we should be really, really good friends.” I blinked, a little taken aback.  I also glowed with that “popular girl” feeling: she likes me, she likes me!  And I wondered what about me made her think...

As I settle into NED maintenance routine, I am lifting my head and surveying the land. The landscape looks and feels different.  I can’t put my finger on it; there are a myriad of things that have changed.  Some will return to “normal”, while others will never feel “normal” again. One thing that I’ve pondered: before I had cancer,...

I’m done with radiation.  I had three preparation/staging/simulation appointments with Dr. Razzle and her team, followed by twenty-five treatments.  I’ll see her several times for follow ups in the coming weeks and months, too. My treatment appointment time was at 11:15.  For twenty-five straight business days, I had to leave the house by 10:15 so that I...