Thank you for this piece! Cancer has been a stalker in my family. I had breast cancer, been in remission for almost ten years. Cancer claimed my mother and my sister. Ovarian for mom. Brain for my sister. They both fought, but the cancer was insidious. Why does it exist?! I hope your cancer is treatable and you survive beyond it. Keep doing you! Your piece reminded me of that as I've been wallowing in depression for far too long.
I am ready! And thankfully, we are - all of us - so complex…. Yes?…otherwise we would be nothing more than a hallmark card. (no offense intended to hallmark card writers!)
School is out and now all I have to do is write my story! (And like a million other less important things)
I love that you included consternation! :-) I know you're telling the truth there! I do want to talk with you more, it's just been hectic trying to figure out next steps here, which I am still in the middle of. Lots of travel to Paris in my future... hope to connect soon! xo
Good post. I’ve had friends essentially drop me because of my illness; they just don’t know what to say. Other friends filibuster any conversation by highlighting their own (relatively minor) afflictions. My true friends who have helped me the most, and stood by me, calmly hear my latest medical travails, and then talk about literature, culture, politics, like a normal human being. You’re quite right to promote your books. (I’m going to seek them out myself.) Those, along with your daughter, are going to be your true legacy. Cheers, JB
Thank you JB. I figure you would understand! I am so sorry you have lost friends. It sucks. I've also had a couple of people I thought were close friends just vanish from my life. One accused me of being a drama queen for getting cancer. (Yes, I made myself get cancer just for the attention! It shocked me at the time.) Some people just cannot cope. I can't understand dropping a friend like that, but it does seem to be a common phenomenon. I just talked with a hotelier in Paris who told me he spent years accompanying cancer patients to their appointments - patients with no friends or family for support. And he said his friends all dropped him, as if being around cancer made him contagious. People are weird about illness. Despite the fact that so many people have it. Thank you for picking up my books! I will also get yours! Bon courage and keep in touch! xo
I believe that, in the night during an especially hard time about a month ago, I sent you a very depressing message-- meant to convey how much I appreciate your writing honestly about how to find joy) meaning/whatever word you want to use in the face of a devastating diagnosis. But for weeks afterwards I felt bad for having sent that; I, like you, do not want to be defined by my illness and certainly don't think of you as "cancer patient."
So I decided to stop waiting for my turn to come up on the wait lists in the various Library systems I use for Excel music and just went ahead and bought it. Amazing and powerful and so very fitting for our times. And I am going to buy a copy for my young nephew who is finishing a masters in Vienna and just gave conference paper on an event related to the Anschluss.
Thank you!!! I am so glad you have bought Exile Music and that you got so much out of it! And thank you for getting it for your nephew. These things mean SO. MUCH. to me. I am grateful. And please do not worry for a single minute about writing to me during a dark night of the soul. I am always happy to hear from you. I don't define you by your illness either. xo
Love this "clarification", Jennifer. One of your best yet! I'm a big fan ever since we met in NOLA a long time ago. I'm always eager to read whatever you write. Hoping for another gorgeous novel soon!
Thank. you Bridget! Trying to sell a couple novels now... cross all your fingers! I would love to see them in print soon. I am very grateful for your continued interest here. xo
Of course you are writing! Of course you are mothering and hiking and cooking and loving and living. This is who you are Jenn. You are alive and being you ❤️I love feeling connected to you through your words.
What a great post. I love it and feel no pity. Like the writer that you are, I am appreciative to have a window into the life you are leading with all of its highs and lows and everything in between. That's what literature is for, right? To let us live more than one life
Thank you for this piece! Cancer has been a stalker in my family. I had breast cancer, been in remission for almost ten years. Cancer claimed my mother and my sister. Ovarian for mom. Brain for my sister. They both fought, but the cancer was insidious. Why does it exist?! I hope your cancer is treatable and you survive beyond it. Keep doing you! Your piece reminded me of that as I've been wallowing in depression for far too long.
Thinking about the train to Paris….
You are and always have been a source- of inspiration, joy, consternation, love, passion, and action!
I am ready! And thankfully, we are - all of us - so complex…. Yes?…otherwise we would be nothing more than a hallmark card. (no offense intended to hallmark card writers!)
School is out and now all I have to do is write my story! (And like a million other less important things)
So when you are ready, I’ll be here.
I love that you included consternation! :-) I know you're telling the truth there! I do want to talk with you more, it's just been hectic trying to figure out next steps here, which I am still in the middle of. Lots of travel to Paris in my future... hope to connect soon! xo
Good post. I’ve had friends essentially drop me because of my illness; they just don’t know what to say. Other friends filibuster any conversation by highlighting their own (relatively minor) afflictions. My true friends who have helped me the most, and stood by me, calmly hear my latest medical travails, and then talk about literature, culture, politics, like a normal human being. You’re quite right to promote your books. (I’m going to seek them out myself.) Those, along with your daughter, are going to be your true legacy. Cheers, JB
Thank you JB. I figure you would understand! I am so sorry you have lost friends. It sucks. I've also had a couple of people I thought were close friends just vanish from my life. One accused me of being a drama queen for getting cancer. (Yes, I made myself get cancer just for the attention! It shocked me at the time.) Some people just cannot cope. I can't understand dropping a friend like that, but it does seem to be a common phenomenon. I just talked with a hotelier in Paris who told me he spent years accompanying cancer patients to their appointments - patients with no friends or family for support. And he said his friends all dropped him, as if being around cancer made him contagious. People are weird about illness. Despite the fact that so many people have it. Thank you for picking up my books! I will also get yours! Bon courage and keep in touch! xo
That passage, Remember me as the woman who danced on bars at Manhattan......Brilliant! My fingers and toes are crossed for the Paris appointment x
Thank you Suzanne! I am so glad always to see you here. Thank you for reading. Especially since I know how busy you are with your own work! xo
I feel no pity, my sister, warrior, friend. I'm still firmly planted in denial. xo Melis
You can stay in denial. It's fine with me. :-) Miracles sometimes happen, right?
Exile Music! Voice dictation not reliable.
I believe that, in the night during an especially hard time about a month ago, I sent you a very depressing message-- meant to convey how much I appreciate your writing honestly about how to find joy) meaning/whatever word you want to use in the face of a devastating diagnosis. But for weeks afterwards I felt bad for having sent that; I, like you, do not want to be defined by my illness and certainly don't think of you as "cancer patient."
So I decided to stop waiting for my turn to come up on the wait lists in the various Library systems I use for Excel music and just went ahead and bought it. Amazing and powerful and so very fitting for our times. And I am going to buy a copy for my young nephew who is finishing a masters in Vienna and just gave conference paper on an event related to the Anschluss.
Thank you!!! I am so glad you have bought Exile Music and that you got so much out of it! And thank you for getting it for your nephew. These things mean SO. MUCH. to me. I am grateful. And please do not worry for a single minute about writing to me during a dark night of the soul. I am always happy to hear from you. I don't define you by your illness either. xo
Love this "clarification", Jennifer. One of your best yet! I'm a big fan ever since we met in NOLA a long time ago. I'm always eager to read whatever you write. Hoping for another gorgeous novel soon!
Thank. you Bridget! Trying to sell a couple novels now... cross all your fingers! I would love to see them in print soon. I am very grateful for your continued interest here. xo
We are not just our difficulties, we are our passions as well, and on a difficult day you have helped me. thank you!
Did I? I am so glad! Thank you for telling me! I do like to feel useful. We are indeed made of our passions! xo
you go woman
Paris and onward!
Fingers and toes crossed. XXXXX
Great post as usual!
Thank you! I owe you an email. Will do that soon. It's been overwhelming lately. But thank you so much for your persistence! xo
Of course you are writing! Of course you are mothering and hiking and cooking and loving and living. This is who you are Jenn. You are alive and being you ❤️I love feeling connected to you through your words.
Thank you Elle!!! I am grateful. How is your book shaping up??? xo
Stunning post. Love you very much, my friend
I love YOU, querida! xoxo
Carry on....you've got the right attitude and ambition .
Sally
What a great post. I love it and feel no pity. Like the writer that you are, I am appreciative to have a window into the life you are leading with all of its highs and lows and everything in between. That's what literature is for, right? To let us live more than one life