Friday Round-Up
In the midst of preparing this week’s round-up, I read the news of the death of writer, Christopher Hitchens, who wrote so movingly and honestly of his own experience of living with cancer. It has led me to reflect on how important the written word is, and the real value of our community of BC writers.
Is Cancer a Gift? That is the question posed by Nancy this week and as you would expect it prompts a spirited discussion in the comments section. Katie of Uneasy Pink continues the discussion on her blog.
The Pink Underbelly has a terrific post on Giuliana Rancic and the nature of “celebrity cancer”, a theme echoed by Anne Marie in her blog Chemobrain.
Catherine is musing on her own particular definition of success in a feel good post this week.
And in another feel good and inspirational post, Terri is talking risk taking 101 and revealing more of her big audacious dream to us.
Lots of great posts this week on Where We Go Now, including tips on preparing your home for the holiday season, but the one that really struck a chord with me was Debbie’s reflection on cancer scars.
Finally, Philippa has written a thought-provoking and moving post on acceptance, acknowledgment and gratitude.
I am still struggling with an overhwhelming sense of grief and loss after the death of my beloved mother and although I may not have felt up to commenting on all your blogs this week, I have been reading and watching from the side-lines, reflecting, learning and feeling deep gratitude for your compassionate, intelligent, wonderful writing. This is an amazing community and over the past year, I have watched it grow and develop into something truly wonderful, each of you bringing something uniquely you and special to the mix.
Writing about our experiences is immensely important. When Christopher Hitchens was diagnosed with cancer, one of his first thoughts was that he was afraid cancer would stop him writing.
I was very afraid that it would stop me writing. I was really petrified with fear about that because I thought that would, among other things, diminish my will to live. Being a writer is what I am, rather than what I do.
Thankfully for us it didn’t diminish, but rather enhanced his writing output, and his honest and exquisitely written essays in Vanity Fair, in which he chronicled the physical and spiritual effects of his disease, were truly something worth reading. I read them again this morning and was struck by something he wrote in the June 2011 issue:
My chief consolation in this year of living dyingly has been the presence of friends
It made me think that in this community we are all in the presence of friends who bear witness to our struggles, our fears, our joys, our pains, our living and our dying.
Never underestimate the power of your writing to educate, to inform, to advocate, to comfort and to heal. You are a shining light to others.
SHINE ON!
Marie, this last paragraph was truly something! Beautifully written and a wonderful tribute to your friends in the BC community.
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YOU are a shining light Marie – and although I know you feel your light is diminished by your mom’s death,. believe me when I say that it is still shining bright and true for so many of us. Shine on!
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A terrific round up and a wonderful tribute to Christopher Hitchens writing.
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So sad to hear of the death of Christopher Hitchens – his Vanity Fair articles written on his cancer experience were, as you say, really something worth reading.
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I did not always agree with Hitchens but i admired his ability to not shirk from challenging issues and his fearless honesty in writing.
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RIP Christopher Hitchens. His honest, intelligent, voice will be sorely missed.
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Christopher Hitchens was a heavy smoker and drinker for much of his life, and his esophageal cancer was a direct result of this. Let that be a lesson to some.
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Vanity Fair has Hitchens’ last essay online, for its January issue, in which the author writes of how “before I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer a year and a half ago, I rather jauntily told the readers of my memoirs that when faced with extinction I wanted to be fully conscious and awake, in order to “do” death in the active and not the passive sense. And I do, still, try to nurture that little flame of curiosity and defiance: willing to play out the string to the end and wishing to be spared nothing that properly belongs to a life span. However, one thing that grave illness does is to make you examine familiar principles and seemingly reliable sayings. And there’s one that I find I am not saying with quite the same conviction as I once used to: In particular, I have slightly stopped issuing the announcement that
‘Whatever doesn’t kill me makes me stronger’.”
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I too was an admiring reader of Christopher Hitchens writing on cancer. here is something I wrote down after I had read it.
“The worst days,” he wrote, “are when you feel foggy in the head – chemo-brain they call it. It’s awful because you feel boring. As well as bored. And stupid. And resigned. You don’t have any motive, which is bad. You don’t care what’s going to happen to you”
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Marie, this is so touching on so many levels. Your reflections on Hitchens and his thoughts on writer’s voice and cancer are incredibly powerful, and the you relate it to our own voices and cancer are very thought provoking and poignant.
And I am very proud and touched to be part of this special Round Up – thank you xox
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beautiful marie, just beautiful
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Marie:
Thank you so very much for including me in your round up. Your last paragraph brought tears to my eyes. I really needed the support and encouragement today. Thank you.
Survival > Existence,
Debbie
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I just love the Friday Round Up, and the fact that you’re back in the saddle makes me so very happy. I know what a struggle it is to get back to work while still reeling from such immense loss, and I appreciate your efforts so much, Marie. You are a shining example of how life goes on, and I am inspired by you! Shine on, indeed!
P.S. thanks so much for including me in the Round Up. I’m always honored to be included among such fine company. xo
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Thank you so much for your encouragement Nancy….I admit I really had to drag myself back into the saddle this week, but reading comments like yours and Debbie’s makes it more than worth the effort x
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Beautiful post! I have found so much comfort and inspiration from the community of writers who share their cancer journey through blogging. I hope that my blog offers some of the same to my followers.
Cancer Warrior
http://www.perksofcancer.com
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Thank you for letting us know about your blog – looking forward to checking it out.
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Thank you for your round up and for including Nancy’s Point in it. Also, thank you for your wonderful comments. Your message really sums up why we all write and why we read what others write. This community of friends, whether you are writing or reading, is a very safe place to share and as you said, “bear witness to our struggles, our fears, our joys, our pains, our living and our dying.” There is something very special and comforting about that isn’t there?
My thoughts continue to be with you, Marie, as you miss your beloved mother. And remember, even from the side lines, you are a cornerstone in this community you speak of. So many are thinking of you. Hugs.
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Oh Nancy, your words mean so very much to me – they are truly a light in the darkness right now x
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Marie,
Thanks, again, for another wonderful roundup. We in the blogosphere so appreciate your support and your kindness. My thoughts have been with you as you grieve your mother’s death. I am so sorry for your loss.
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I am so touched by your words Beth – thank you x
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Shine on! 🙂
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You too lovey 🙂
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I never know how to express what it means to me when I read your round up. I found many of the blogs that I read because of the time you take to read them. Once again, can’t tell you how humbled I am to be included with such talented and wise women.
Rough times now for you….raw emotion. I continue to think of you with love and send my support….
xoxox
AnneMarie
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Thank you my dear so very much x
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Thank you, Marie, for being you! And for bringing Christopher’s story to the forefront. For me, having BC is what got me back into writing. I guess I just needed something to write about. (Must I always go to such extremes?)
Have a restful weekend, all.
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Another beautiful round-up, Marie. So poignant to lose Christopher Hitchens now. As Alan said, I didn’t always agree with his cultural analyses, but his writing was always remarkable, and his writing about his own cancer was a gift to us all. We are so lucky to have so many articulate writers in our blogosphere, too. xoxo
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Amen to that sista
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Marie, this is a special roundup. As some others commented, it was breast cancer that got me writing again after many years and sharing my story with the hope it helps someone, somewhere, is what keeps me writing. I sometimes think our special online community comes together from far flung corners of the world to your blog and your roundup. Despite this high tech world, it is our words that bind us. Thank you, Marie.
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Oh Stacey, I love that last line about our words that bind us x
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Thank you for another week of roundups. We can never get too many. I was sorry to learn of Hitch’s death. Lori Hope has a great video of his last interview on her latest blog post.
XOXO,
Jan
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