Weekly Round-Up
I am attempting to pick up the threads of my life again..back to work and old routines this week. I still feel raw and vulnerable and a sense of unreality pervades life. For the first time in almost two months I have delved back in to your blogs and it has been wonderful to catch up. I didn’t intend to resume my regular blogging routine (thanks to all your standing in the gap posts of which I have plenty still lined up waiting in the wings to see me through) but, reading through your posts, I felt compelled to reinstate the weekly round-up again and so here it is.
Honest and informative, Nancy has been writing about her breast reconstruction, a topic that Bringing Up Goliath and Chemobrain are also dealing with this week while over at Bumpy Boobs Catherine is dealing with the subject of genetic testing and The Pink Underbelly is coping with lympedema.
In her blog, After Five Years, Lauren is reflecting on her journey with cancer and the importance of striving to live a fearless life and Renn has discovered a really great visual metaphor to depict our cancer journey – check out Land of Confusion on her blog.
Both Debbie and Jackie are in Christmas holiday mode on their blogs, but for those of us who are feeling a little blue as the holiday season approaches, Terri has some compassionate and sound advice on her blog.
Finally, I leave you this week with a touching post from chemobabe who, while her own active cancer treatment has ended and she is moving on with her life, still finds it important to connect with others at different points on the same journey.
These relationships are rewarding. They help me harvest the wisdom of my experience and share it with those who are earlier on. They allow me to learn from others whose experiences differ from my own, putting my own in perspective and helping me better understand. But mostly, we lend each other support. We celebrate good news and send comfort with the bad. It takes time, yes. But it is time well spent.
She speaks for so many of us who value and nurture these relationships we have made online on our own journeys and this seems another fitting opportunity to thank you all for the support and friendship you have shown me over the past few difficult weeks. It has been such a great help and comfort.
Love Marie x
How funny, I was just thinking of the Round up this morning and how it has become such an important piece in the blogosphere, connecting people and highlighting new and interesting posts.
Very gentle “welcome back” hugs to you Marie, and thanks for working on this when things are so raw and difficult.
Philippa
xx
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Thank you so much for your kind encouragement Philippa x
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Great to see the update back and looking forward to checking out your recommendations which are always so good.
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Your voice has been missed. It doesn’t matter what tone it takes, raw or ripe,or how short or long the comments, it is always worth hearing.
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I was just thinking yesterday that I missed the Roundup so much and about how immensely useful it’s been in connecting us cancerchicks in the blogosphere. I’m delighted to see the Roundup today and honored as always to be mentioned, but most of all I’m so so so happy that you’re back, Marie! I’ve missed your quiet wisdom and gentle encouragement and you’ve never been far from my mind these last few months. I’m hoping that today is a good day for you and that each day gets even better. Hugs to you from Texas! xo
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Welcome back to you Marie – it’s wonderful to have you back – thinking of you often
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Welcome back, Marie! You and the Round-Up have both been missed. Looking forward to having you back in any capacity! Be well!
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Marie, such a pleasant surprise this morning to see you back at work. You have been missed. I hope there’s some comfort in knowing there are many friends around the world thinking of you. Sending hugs from this corner.
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Marie:
It’s so good to hear your voice again and thank you so much for taking the time to share your round up. I am honored again to be part of such a stellar group and I hope my post (Best Christmas Movies Collection) brings joy this holiday season.
Much love to you.
Survival > Existence,
Debbie
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Marie,
I have missed your voice and I once again, want to tell you that I think of you often. While every day is rough and it’s usual some random moment that drops me to my knees in grief, blindsided, the holidays are always most difficult for me when I think about my dad. Just know I’m thinking of you as I am sure are women ALL AROUND THE WORLD…..
Thank you for sharing these blogs and for including me with a group for whom I have such tremendous admiration. I am humbled. You encourage me and YOU inspire me. I am glad to see you doing something “normal” again and welcome “home.” You were sorely missed and clearly, you are loved.
xoxox
AnneMarie
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Welcome back, Marie. You are such a major cog in this blogging world we find ourselves in. You have been missed, but we all continued to ‘feel’ your presence. I think that’s the exact message in Chemobabe’s words. We are all here for each other. We can share just about anything and there is much comfort in that. Take your time as you make your way and know we’ll all continue to be ‘out here’ for you. And thanks for including my post in your round-up.
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How are you doing, Marie? I’ve missed your weekly round-ups so much, but totally understand why you had to take a break. I’m still taking a break from the extent of blogging I used to do. Thank you so much for this great group of blogs for us to savour and enjoy. Blessings to you always.
XOXO,
Jan
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I’m glad you’re feeling up to returning to your regular schedule. Everyone grieves differently. The first few months after James died, I was still numb. I remember thinking, “this is going to be a lot easier than I thought it would be,” but I spoke too soon. The support of family and friends and this loving Internet family has been so important, and I know it will be for you as well.
We love you,
Brenda
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thank you marie. i am glad to have you “back.” i missed you and will look forward to hearing more about this latest part of your journey.
xoxo
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Marie, it’s lovely to see the Round Up again…and you. Big hugs.
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Welcome back to the fold, Marie. You have been missed! What a nice surprise to see your Friday Roundup! Thank you for including me. 😉 Sending you gentle hugs.
xoxo
Renn
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Thank you my dear Renn x
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I’m so glad to see your back with the roundup – like others have said, it’s a cog in the wheel of what’s what in blogging. Thank you for doing this, and thank you also for the mention. I hope the blog reading gave you some footing in a place where everything still feels surreal.
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What a wonderful comment Catherine and yes, it has given me a much needed foothold 🙂
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First, allow me to offer my condolences on the loss of your mother. I discovered your blog as she was dying and it seemed inappropriate for a breast cancer newbie to barge in at that point, but I do want to say how sorry I am for such a huge and sad loss in your life.
Second, I want to thank you for your blog and its wealth of connections. I was diagnosed with DCIS in 2 sites and approved for ordination in my church within the same couple of days, ordained on October 30, and had a mastectomy 3 weeks later.
As a family, we have struggled with where to “put” this — one of our sons died of suicide three years ago and a stage 0 BC diagnosis is simply not even on the same scale. OTH, it is a big and scary disruption, and it seems especially unfair that it came at a time when the rest of us were just beginning to pick up our lives again.
Meanwhile, I am engaged in an internal debate about my expander/implant decision, which I am beginning to think was a mighty stupid one. It’s been a great help to read through many of your links as I deal with my own exhaustion and ambivalence.
Thank you!
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Dear Robin, welcome to this site and thank you for your considerate and kind comments.
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So incredibly touched by your warm welcome back to the round-up x
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