Can You See Fingers?
If you look closely, you'll see fingertips at the back of the mound in this photo. They belong to my husband who stands 6 feet tall, and...
Cocktail Hour in the Produce Aisle
“It’s way too fancy,” I told my husband. “I’d be overdressed.” My new outfit was a beauty — white and lacy, perfect for a summer cocktail...
Quiet, Please
It’s that time of year. I fly to the other side of the state, make my way to the hospital from the airport, and step into the...
Is It Time for a Shift
“Some moments in life take up a whole wall,” my friend said. “They’re like giant murals. They’re all we see, even if that moment happened...
The Beauty, The Other, & Me
Three of us sat in the windowless room, clad in thin hospital robes, waiting for our turn to be radiated. Young One was a beauty, her...
Cancer By the Numbers
1 Number of times a doctor told me, “best-case scenario, you’ll be stuck with a ‘frankenboob.’ ” 0 Odds he gave that I’d be able to...
It's Enough
If you saw my friend in the check out line at the grocery store with an expensive bottle of wine, you might feel envious. Jan is a...
How to Tell Your Kid You Have Cancer
The hardest part of cancer? That’s a loaded question, but telling my kid is at the top of that list. Lauren had just turned 10 when my...
The Cheesiest Car on the Lot
When I was 27, I bought my first car, a used stick-shift, and I drove it until I got married. Later, I treated cancer with equal...
I'll Know. But Until Then, I Won't
San Francisco blurred by. A guy was washing his hair next to a port-a-pottie in front of the Civic Venter. At the red light, I watched...
