How Me As my lips closed around the plastic circle and water tipped from the Poland Spring bottle into my mouth and down my throat, the thought intruded: What else am I drinking with this water? Plastic might be my enemy. I never asked myself “why me.” I obsessed about “how.” There’s no history of [...]
Posts Tagged ‘ovarian cancer’
How Me
Posted in How Me, tagged cancer and humor, denial, diversity junkie, life choices, ovarian cancer on September 17, 2011 | 2 Comments »
Prologue
Posted in Prologue, tagged cancer and comedy, cancer and humor, first time comic, life choices, ovarian cancer, same-sex marriage on July 1, 2011 | 3 Comments »
Prologue Clutching the mike is what new comics do. It gives the illusion of control. Not a bad thing to want, standing on a stage and performing stand-up comedy for the first time. After the opening joke explained away my bald head – “Never piss off your hair stylist” – the audience was in. I [...]
The Kindness of Strangers
Posted in The Kindness of Strangers, tagged cancer and comedy, cancer and humor, chemo, friendship, ovarian cancer on May 3, 2011 | 1 Comment »
The Kindness of Strangers Betsy’s first words to me: “How’s the constipation?” I instantly knew she understood. Chemo, hair loss, fatigue, nausea – these were the usual things people talked about with those of us who had cancer. Not shit. Not lack of it. Not the immobilizing, bloated, out of control, backed up, doubled-over painful, [...]
New Game Plan
Posted in New Game Plan, tagged adaptive leadership, cancer and humor, change, Kennedy School MidCareer, life choices, ovarian cancer, steroids side effects, sympathy on January 28, 2011 | Comments Off
Third Game Plan Marty Linsky is unimpressed with my ambition to join Donald Trump on The Apprentice and his slightly raised eyebrows indicate only marginal amusement with my stand-up comedy endeavors. I had not planned to tell him about either during our informational interview, but now, over coffee in the Portland International Jetport, I seem [...]
Career Ennui
Posted in Career Ennui, tagged adaptive leadership, adult children of divorce, cancer and humor, change, life choices, ovarian cancer on January 15, 2011 | 4 Comments »
Career Ennui Inbox stalking is never an attractive avocation. Three days have passed since my brave little email swooshed into cyberspace, hopes clinging to it like an invisible attachment. On day three, the awaited reply dings in. “Yes, I’d be happy to meet with you.” Back and forth exchanges result in a date several weeks [...]
December 26, 2003: Unexpected Invitation
Posted in Unexpected Invitation, tagged cancer and humor, diagnosis, not having children, ovarian cancer on December 26, 2010 | 2 Comments »
December 26, 2003: Unexpected Invitation “You have cancer.” The space between my brain and my ears fills with foam, buffering sound. The pastel exam room, small when we walked in, is suddenly cavernous, the doctor farther away on her swivel stool. Her mouth opens and closes and I think, I’m supposed to be catching the [...]
The Parents
Posted in The Parents, tagged adult children of divorce, cancer and humor, divorce, family estrangement, ovarian cancer on November 12, 2010 | 9 Comments »
The Parents We get home from the doctor’s, unsure of what to do next. I send Ramona to the gym so she can settle her mind by stressing out her muscles. “I’m okay,” I tell her. “There’s nothing we can do right now, anyway. Take care of yourself. That’s going to be important.” “What are [...]
Treatment Day One
Posted in Treatment Day One, tagged cancer and humor, chemo, gay relationships, ovarian cancer, xena and gabrielle on October 1, 2010 | 2 Comments »
Treatment Day One The television above the foot of the bed distracts me from the nurse with her intravenous needle. Xena: Warrior Princess is on, as it is every morning on the Oxygen network. The show has become my morning coffee ritual. Roll carefully out of bed, hand against my abdominal bandage. Make coffee. Watch [...]
Free Floating Anxiety
Posted in Free Floating Anxiety, tagged cancer and humor, chemo, gay relationships, ovarian cancer on September 3, 2010 | 6 Comments »
Free Floating Anxiety Ramona has not come home. She’s two hours late. I fight panic. She’s been in a car accident. She was car jacked. She’s been kidnapped. She’s at the hospital and can’t call me because she’s in a coma and the ER people have no way to contact me. When she was a [...]
Beyond Basic
Posted in Beyond Basic, tagged cancer and comedy, cancer and humor, gay relationships, ovarian cancer on August 15, 2010 | 3 Comments »
Beyond Basic When we bought our oversized, many pillowed couch – the couch I now spend my recovery days on – the furniture saleswoman described it as “aubergine,” a fancy name for eggplant and an even fancier name for purple. A visitor has yet to enter our home and comment, “What a lovely aubergine couch [...]
