#11 Grape Juice

#11 Grape Juice

We drive part way to Boston before answering a call that in fact, they do not have a bed for me. When we return home to our bonus day, we think together, what shall we do? We harvest our overflowing patch of tomatoes and Paul makes his famous slow-cooked-with...

#10 Buzz Cut

#10 Buzz Cut

I am blessed with a head of thick, dark, hair, often long and usually straight. If there is a quick, low-maintenance way to wear it, I do, from a pony tail, to tucked up in a bun with a chopstick. In my 40s, as eager strands of silvery white wisp into the mix, I like...

#8 Surrender

#8 Surrender

With any big diagnosis,, or maybe it’s just life, there are bumps along the way. I always hope the bumps smooth out, that they are not too serious, and that reasonable solutions are found. I personally am looking for grace when I hit a bump, but it is not always in...

Field Notes from Fifty-Five Fruit  Street #7. Pain

Field Notes from Fifty-Five Fruit  Street #7. Pain

I was not thinking much about pain when I was getting ready to report to duty at Fifty-Five Fruit Street. Mine has been a life devoid of physical pain. Never have a headache, never broke a bone, never had dental pain, don’t suffer from a chronic inflammatory ailment...

Field Notes from Fifty-Five Fruit Street #6.  Context Dependent

Field Notes from Fifty-Five Fruit Street #6. Context Dependent

In our family’s work, each of us is involved with team building and creating unified efforts with articulated goals across our chosen areas of expertise — medicine and healing, the arts, technology, and sports. One thing we all appreciate is that most everything in...

Field Notes from Fifty-Five Fruit Street #5. Shower

Field Notes from Fifty-Five Fruit Street #5. Shower

In 1986 when Paul and I honeymoon in the North Cascades, neither of us is an experienced backpacker. On one leg of our journey, we arrive at Nancy Lake, at the far end of Lake Chelan at an exquisite campground along the water. After being in the woods and carrying...

#3  Field Notes From Fifty-Five Fruit Street: Introducing RALPH

#3 Field Notes From Fifty-Five Fruit Street: Introducing RALPH

The biggest challenge about living at a hospital for a month or so is the head game. For me it’s about creating routine, being kind to everyone, getting exercise, doing “normal” things, being creative, and staying in the moment. Many of you know I love to dance. So...

#2 FieldNotes from Fifty-Five Fruit Street.  Let’s Eat!

#2 FieldNotes from Fifty-Five Fruit Street. Let’s Eat!

I could write a whole piece on hospital food and snacks. On the lack of taste or the overly salted, or the ultra-processed snack options and chronic-disease-causing vittles. But I’d rather focus on another part: the long menu of a la carte meal options, the cooks...

Campfires of Hope Podcast Interview

Campfires of Hope Podcast Interview

While going through cancer care can be a real bummer, there are all kinds of cool activities, groups, and adventures for cancer patients, survivors, those living with cancer and care givers. As the ranks of those whose lives are touched by cancer grows, so too do...