I made some adjustments to the blog allowing anonymous comments to be posted. I'm so grateful to read comments when you all have time, and I also love getting personal notes and emails from you. This blog is going to be something or a part of something. It's evolving organically and I'm not exactly sure what form it will take but I would LOVE more input. I think that many of you have important things to say so I am asking that you not hold back. I am asking that you add to this patchwork story of my having cancer in your own voices.
Over the years you have all lifted me up and also kept me grounded. (After all I am an EMMY winning graphic designer - STOP!) You have said profound and funny things in our histories and you should do it now. I know you too well to think that you have nothing to add. Tell me if it's hokey. Tell me if you have a better idea (like a fund-raiser involving the lawn-chair helium-balloon flier!!) and tell us all in the process. Now you can do it without a log in for Google. Just spew your ideas and share with the group.
And that's my request this week - so many of you followed through last week with the birthday wishes. Suckas! ; )
2 comments:
What a great idea! Emphatically, NO, your recent musings/request is not hokey.
Trust you, the EMMY award winning artiste, to think of a creative way to coalesce your world. typing of which, I could've schmacked you when I discovered, to my utter delight, via your other blog that you had won an EMMY. You, as is your wont, were self deprecating. sheesh. Consider this reference an official C & D (cease and desist), ok? (laughing)
You know how inherently shy I am when it comes to “cher”ing my ramblings that masquerade as writing with those who do not know me.
However, YOU have requested entries, subsequently, said request far outweighs my momentary, fleeting discomfiture. And, your wish is my command, well most of the time anyway.
Please permit me to digress. I met a glowingly pregnant Jenn in April of 2001. She had offered to lend her remarkable talents to a web site for the Chastain Horse Park. The previous web designers excelled in their ability to FUBAR a 2 car funeral. You can readily imagine Jenn’s witty commentary on their work, can’t you?
Sometimes I swear Jenn is the reincarnation of the renowned Dorothy Parker. For her epitaph, Parker suggested, 'Excuse my dust.'
A few faves that is Jenn-o-centric to the inth degree, ‘If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to’ and 'This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force.'
A business luncheon was scheduled at my home. How could I not fall utterly in love with a person who slurped their angel hair pasta AND before the slurping sounds ended, immediately had an embarrassed, endearing little girl smile dance across her ever-so-lovely countenance, hmmmm?
As for ‘who is this mistress of persiflage that “hog-lettes” nearly the entire blank space on jenn’s blog?’ click on my name for a glimpse.
This has been a “challenging” week for me as two people have died from cancer. One victim to the Big C is is the 80+ father of a dear friend from vegas, Marsala, a stellar writer and spiritual, nurturing sentient being (her article on entering a ballroom dancing contest is sensational as well as the lesson in her honeymoon article) and the other is an 8-year-old girl that will wake up the world.
You are spot on, Jenn. There is, indeed, “something” that will spring forth from your diagnosis.
Many people with cancer have taken action by turning cancerous lemons into lemonade.
Lance Armstrong is hosting a * Presidential Cancer Forum * in Cedar Rapids, IA 08/27 & 08/28. One day designated for D's and one for R's as Cancer is an equal opportunity invader with no concern for political ideology. Thanks for the heads up, Jenn.
Nancy Goodman Brinker created the “two sisters, one promise” Susam J. Komen for the cure. BTW, did I ever tell you that when I was a mere slip of a girl, I went to real estate school with her in Dallas? Nancy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1984 and is a TWENTY THREE YEAR survivor.
Ruah, which means "breath" or "spirit," in the event your Hebrew is rusty (laughing), is my friend whose niece, Scout was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, which is an aggressive, malignant cancer in January. She died 07/07/07. Luckiest day of the year, go figure, right?
The family has formed a trust in Scout’s honor to end social injustice, an issue of great concern to this little girl. The Fuller Team is a remarkable family and will irrefutably make this foundation a formidable force to be reckoned with.
EMBARASSING SIDE NOTE
I met Ruah at a political function (quel surprize!). She wanted to fix me up with one of her husband's friends. 'Oh, that's sweet. What does your husband do for a living?' She replied, 'He plays poker.'
Much to my shame, I was beyond judgmental and dismissed him, his friends, and felt sorry for Ruah. FOR ME, Vegas = delusional losers, surrounded by smoke.
By happenstance, I discovered that her husband is non other than Erik Seidel, fifth among all-time bracelet winners. Erik was memorialized in the movie Rounders (Matt Damon) and when he plays he wins BIG bucks, $500,000.00+. He is funny, brilliant, caring, and loving.
My lesson: Do not judge a book by its cover. Open it up and discover what each page has to reveal and offer between said cover.
Ruah sent me the link to the family’s poignant journal with the news on Wednesday.
What they endured from January through July is precisely what I envisioned when you told me you had invasive ductal carcinoma.
I totally lost it and sobbed my heart out when I read an entry from Abby, Scout’s mother and Ruah’s sister, which so reminded me of you, Jenn, the primary purpose of my long winded meandering post:
Yet even in the midst of pain, her courage, kindness, and wisdom were truly amazing. At one point in the last few weeks, she caught Abby crying (when Abby thought Scout was asleep). Scout asked what was wrong, and Abby said that she was sad because Scout was sick and feeling pain. Scout said, reassuringly, "Mom, I'm okay," and rubbed her arm.
Your request today calling for entries is the epitome of your innate nature to unfailingly want to reach out and reassure all of us that you also are “ok.”
You have made Cancer so immensely non-frightening, Jenn. I thank you for EVERTHTHING, especially the chemo action figure babe. That image/memory alone deserves an award.
Hmmm. A light bulb moment.
How about this in lieu of yet another pesky EMMY? Click on the Susan G. Komen Collection. We should wing our way westward the next time Gulten has one of her fabulous jewelery parties, after the heat abates.
Jennifer Motschenbacher Webb, you, too, like Lance, Nancy, and so many others, will create an innovative way to dance on the national, strike that, the GLOBAL stage and, thus, leave your undeniable creative mark as well as make an immense difference in not just ours, but the entire world.
For my money, I believe that the REAL beauty comes AFTER you take the time to know someone.
This cancer chapter is but one of the multitude of brilliant threads that comprises the tapestry of your munificent soul.
With love and gratitude,
~ c
PS – Ever heard the adage, ‘be careful what you ask for -- you “jest” might get it?” (smile)
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