I’ll always remember pulling into the driveway back in July, just before Mom was scheduled to undergo surgery. This was my first time to be in Stilly since September 2005, when I left for Thailand, and though a few buildings had cropped up, everything still looked the same. I remember the drive from the airport. [...]
(Tongue in cheek …)
Just before learning of Mom’s cancer, I bought a book by an irritating author whom I shall refer to as L.S. This was my first encounter with the author, and since she had recently won an Orange Prize for her work, I thought, heck, I’d give her a go. Big mistake. [...]
The days leading up to Wednesday seemed like catching fireflies on a summer night. They’d blink sporadically, giving direction. We’d run towards it certain we’re near. Eyes wide, we’d wait for another sign, another direction in which to run with arms outstretched, hands open waiting for the chance to catch the light and watch it [...]
“I gotta fight for my life here, people, so get outta my way.” - Craig, after watching the 9News interview (June 27, 2008)
“Fighting cancer is like eating yogurt with a fork … freakin’ frustrating.” (Jill, mumbling to herself while in Craig’s hospital room, April, 2008)
Craig was indeed admitted to the hospital the other night, and [...]
For some reason, Bruce Springsteen’s live version of “Thunder Road” has always held special significance for me. Frankly, all songs with Mary remind me of mom, but his lyric “So Mary climb, it’s a town full of losers, I’m pulling out of here to win” is particularly poignant. I remember listening to that lyric over [...]
A few weeks ago, a lady in a trendy Subaru honked her horn and belted “go back to Oklahoma” as I turned into a 7-11. Apparently, my pausing for an oncoming car had irritated her. In hindsight, I suppose I should have taken a card from her “me first” play book and rammed my way [...]
And so it begins. Like clockwork, food service stopped by to deliver Craig’s breakfast, and then again, to pick up his non-existent empty breakfast tray, forgetting all along that he declined breakfast in the first place. Communication: the biggest human factors error. Craig’s been on continuous TPN since March, and hasn’t had a meal [...]
Check out new photos posted in Mom and Craig’s gallery. More to come…
Check out http://www.9online.com/ click on “video” or http://www.9online.com/Global/category.asp?C=116601&nav=menu681_4 and scroll to “Family battles illnesses together” for footage of News9’s coverage of our journey with cancer. Thanks to Stephanie and Lonna — and everyone else involved — for making this happen. I know somewhere, some place, Mom’s smiling, doing her cocky slow walk, and hamming it up old style. 
Thanks [...]
Pardon the profanity but you’ll know why a few curse words are deserved given the following:
Craig will be admitted to the 11th floor either tonight or tomorrow. We will walk the halls of the oncology ward once again, only two short days after Mom’s passing. The timing couldn’t be more “shitastic”. At least give us [...]