It’s not age, it’s age plus something

I’ve been having problems with my ankles. “Well, you’re getting older.” It’s not inherently or exclusively an age problem, and I fiercely resist this mindset. Lots of people my age and older—including much older—don’t have problems with their ankles. If it was an age problem, most people my age and older would share this problem. … Read more

Cancer: my 15-year rant

photo of me with a shaved head and a PICC in my arm together with my dog and a dog toy

It’s been 15 years. Fifteen years ago yesterday, unable to breathe deeply or while laying down, I was admitted to my local hospital with what would eventually be diagnosed as Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.  It was a long road—two weeks until treatment started (though plenty of unpleasantries in those two weeks). Six months of chemo (extended by … Read more

Trees as an analogy to people

photo of a tree with its top branches bare and bottom branches covered in leaves

Spring has sprung here in the Valley of the Sun, bringing flowers, leaves, bugs, weeds, snakes…  The trees growing new leaves highlights an issue we have with specific plants here—they have dead branches from the winter. Some trees that grow well here aren’t frost-tolerant, and after an especially cold winter, it’s common to see trees … Read more

A thoughtful moment, with a call to action

Yesterday would have been my friend Michelle’s 45th birthday, if cancer hadn’t taken her when she was 38. Yesterday, a friend had a memorial service across the country for her mom who died of cancer earlier this year. They were both from the same state which made their coinciding date stick out to me more … Read more