Christmas Eve Candlelight Meditation By Gary Kowalski Once more the year's turned round. We've come full circle on this small planet, Spinning down the grooves of change, Another revolution completed around the sun. Another year older ... Another set of rings on the tree ... As seasons parade in endless procession The people's troubles and prayers … Continue reading Christmas Eve 2019
IV: A Documentary Intervention
One of my most favorite things about the trip to DC this year for the Metavivor Stampede and METup's Die In, was the opportunity to participate in the first public readings of IV: A Documentary Intervention. We've been reading the script in workshops via Zoom for the last several weeks and I was familiar with … Continue reading IV: A Documentary Intervention
Christmas List
I love Christmas. The decorating, the gift giving, the family time. It is literally my favorite time of the year. Not just because my birthday is also in the mix, but there's that too. As soon as it's mildly socially acceptable, I break out the Christmas music. The boys tolerate my singing for a song, … Continue reading Christmas List
Grief anniversaries
Saturday mornings have never been the same for me. They are now a Grief Anniversary; a perpetual, involuntary holiday where my heart marks its injury over and over and over again without me getting a say in the matter.Since that terrible day there has rarely been a Saturday morning regardless of what I’ve been in the middle of, when I have … Continue reading Grief anniversaries
San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2019
2019 marks the 2nd year in a row that I was able to attend the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS). This conference is the largest annual gathering of breast cancer medical professionals in the US and includes attendees from all over the world. The sheer number of languages I heard while walking around is … Continue reading San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2019
Epitaph
By Merrit Malloy When I die Give what’s left of me away To children And old men that wait to die. And if you need to cry, Cry for your brother Walking the street beside you. And when you need me, Put your arms Around anyone And give them What you need to give to … Continue reading Epitaph
The Language of Respect
Today, I fly to San Antonio for the annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS). This is the second year I've attended and I'm looking forward to learning a great deal and meeting lots of new people. I'm also looking forward to seeing advocates and allies that I've met. It's like a big family reunion … Continue reading The Language of Respect
Compassion and Choices
I wrote a blog post a while back about how I believe the government needed to back off of their involvement in personal choices having to do with bodily autonomy. If you want to read more, you can access it here. I completely understand that regulations are sometimes needed and that a functioning society often … Continue reading Compassion and Choices
Book Review: No Visible Bruises; what we don’t know about Domestic Violence Can Kill Us
It seems like another life sometimes when I handled divorce cases, but it wasn't that long ago that I regularly worked with clients to develop safety plans. The most dangerous time for a woman and her children is when she is attempting to leave a man, sometimes this means filing for divorce even after years … Continue reading Book Review: No Visible Bruises; what we don’t know about Domestic Violence Can Kill Us
Community
Community is so important for everyone at every stage in life. Community becomes even more important when an illness intrudes into "normal" life or when life changes. When one does not find that community amongst the relationships or groups already in place, then the question becomes, where does one find that community. There have been … Continue reading Community
No Half Measures 