Leaving Home and Leaving a Part of Myself
Two weeks before my 25th birthday I bought a condo. It was a big step, but I was ready to move out on my own. It is a two bedroom garden style with a postage stamp yard, small kitchen and a fireplace. The walls were Pepto Bismal pink with pink carpet and the place was dirty, but it was all mine. After a couple of weeks of cleaning and painting I moved in with a new couch, hand-me-downed bed and a few borrowed pieces of furniture. Twelve years later it is not just a condo, but my home. I turned the place into my quiet haven. Each room has a touch of myself in it. Not only the sweat equity of painting the rooms, but pieces of my personality. I have created gardens in the front and back and ma

Reflections
It has been a crazy week, but as I reflect on the past weeks I have realized they are all crazy weeks in one way or another. I keep asking myself why things can’t be simple. I have finally come up with an answer. Living is not simple, so why did I think that dying would be simple.This is only one of the many revelations I have had recently. I am not going to share all of them with you now. It took me time to figure them out so I guess I am allowed to keep you guessing too.One thing that I have decided is I am no longer able to take good care of myself. So in two weeks I am moving in with my parents. This was not an easy decision and it is going to be h

Are You Welcome in the Cancer Club?
A good friend and author has a great blog called Everything Changes. She recently posted a blog about young adult end of life issues and grieving. As many of you know this is an issue close to my heart. Her blog spurred a great conversation and there are many good comments. Check out her blog to see all the comments. http://everythingchangesbook.com/kairol/end-of-life-cancerHere is the comment I made to her post.I am an end stage cancer patient that has surpassed my “death day” expectations several times, but I know my time is near. I don’t know if it is weeks or months, but I listen to my

24 Hours of Booty Newsletter
I was asked to write an article for the 24 Hours of Booty newsletter talking about my recent experience at the Columbia event. Here is a reprint of the newsletter.

24 Hours of Booty, Columbia MD, Septermber 26-27, 2009
This past weekend I had the privilege to participate in 24 Hours of Booty. It was an incredible weekend. In fact, I tried to write it for the past two days, but I could not come up with the words. For once I am speechless. I am not sure if I can express how much this weekend meant to me and the outpouring of support that was showed to me. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I am going to try and let these pictures and video speak for me.