FeedBreast Cancer Awareness: Tribute to Teri and A Writer’s Cancer Journey Giveaway
October 18, 2010 in Book Club Possibility, Helping Girls and Women Around the World Tags: breast cancer awareness month, Diana M. Raab, Journaling, WOW! blog tour
Photo by wish upon a cupcake www.flickr.com
Perspective
On my way to see you,
I passed a man with a problem.
His load unsecured in a pick-up—
A cooler and lawn chair, a tent and poles
Now scattered all over the road.
He waited and waited for cars to fly by,
Shouting and stomping ‘til he timed it just right
To save his camping trip.
On my way to see you
I wished I had his problem.
But now I face one of my own—
What will I say to you?
Tell a funny story, a joke, a list of my day,
Or reminisce the last time I saw you.
We drank from pints and discussed your wigs
And too many upcoming appointments.
On my way to see you,
Lying in a bed with tubes in skinny arms,
Do you care what I say
When your pain is so great?
Your concern for your daughter
Is too much to bear.
Careful words won’t save you—
Even if they’re timed just right.
On my way to see you,
Fighting for your life,
In a quiet room
Full of adoring people,
Who have no idea what to say.
If only you had his problem—
He now sits in a tent,
Sipping a beer, bored with the rain.
I wrote this poem in honor of one of my best friends, Teri, who lost her battle with breast cancer in May 2006 at 33 years old. She was a fighter, so are her husband, Dave, and her daughter, Olivia. I wanted to participate in this WOW! blanket tour about breast cancer to honor her memory. I think about her all the time, and I know that she has now found peace. I hope that this book and WOW! tour can help others find peace with a terrible disease, but one that doesn’t mean a death sentence any more.
As I said, I wrote today’s post as part of the WOW-Women on Writing Blanket Tour for Healing with Words: A Writer’s Cancer Journey by Diana M. Raab, MFA, RN. The book includes Diana’s experiences, reflections, poetry and journal entries, in addition to writing prompts for readers to express their own personal stories. A survivor of both breast cancer and multiple myeloma, Raab views journaling to be like a daily vitamin–in that it heals, detoxifies, and is essential for optimal health.
Diana, the author of eight books, spent 25 years as a medical and self-help writer before turning to poetry and memoir. She teaches creative journaling and memoir in UCLA Extension Writers’ Program.
****This is the best news of all. . . If you comment on today’s post you’ll be entered to win a copy of Healing with Words: A Writer’s Cancer Journey. To read Diana’s post about breast cancer and a list of other blogs participating in Diana’s Blanket Tour visit, WOW!’s blog, The Muffin.
October 18th, 2010 at 9:14 am
I feel your pain in the loss of your friend. I’ve lost two of my best friends (one to cancer) in the last six years. There’s an emptiness in my heart that simply will not go away.
October 18th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
I understand your the loss of your friend. While I have not lost a friend to breast cancer, my great grandmother, grandmother and mother all had the disease more than once. I miss them greatly and the threat of breast cancer is never far from my mind.
October 18th, 2010 at 6:27 pm
Margo, what a lovely poem in honor of your friend. I understand your pain. I’m sorry for your loss.
October 18th, 2010 at 8:57 pm
Thank you, Kay, Glenda, and Lynn for taking the time to read the post and share with me. I am also sorry for your losses. And let’s hope one day we can find a cure!
October 20th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
Margo – Your poem is very touching and real. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2009. She has had a great result and we are so grateful. But some of my friends have not been so lucky. Sharing a cancer experience with someone you love not only changes them, but changes you as well.
Thank you for sharing this poem with us.
~Tricia
October 20th, 2010 at 5:55 pm
Here I thought I was very late in reading this, but it’s only the 20th.
I enjoyed your poem and story about your friend. It’s hard when you lose a friend, whether it’s to breast cancer or some other disease or cause. I lost a friend last year after his life-long battle with multiple medical problems. It was sad, but it was also good to know that he was finally at peace and re-united with his parents. I picture Doug and his mother and father in heaven playing cards and throwing the best parties in the place! That’s just the kind of people they all were.
October 22nd, 2010 at 5:23 pm
Barb, thanks for your comments, and I’m sorry about the loss of your friend.
October 22nd, 2010 at 5:24 pm
Tricia,
I am glad that your mom is on the road to recovery!
margo
October 24th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
Margo,
I hope you will forgive me for my tardiness in response. Unlike Barb who merely thought she was late, I am indeed, quite late. I read your poem and it gave me recall as to my own experiences and encounters with this disease. I am grateful to you for providing the opportunity to read and respond to a topic in a completely disarmed manner. As women we so frequently are called on and perhaps unconsciously required to be the cheerleader, I think in good part because we never know when our own match might begin. I have watched a 40 year old die, a 50 year old triumph, and a 65 year old putting on her game face. I am hopeful but cautious, inspired but sadly not unaware, and lastly solid in my reserve to simply be there for what I can do to help. Bless you for your tribute to your friend.
October 24th, 2010 at 9:29 pm
Thank you very much, Sherri.