In my last post, I described the nine blogs that my daughters and I had initiated over the past decade or so, giving links to each of them with a brief description. As I also mentioned, I want to continue giving a feel for how these blogs read by sampling each of them. Since, excluding the one you are reading now, there are eight blogs, I am going to split this sampling in two, posting four here and four in a future post.
As I post the first four, I’m delighted by the diversity that these blogs portray. Maura Northen Madden writes about her first experience with chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Melissa Northen Cotter describes what it is like for first time parents to try camping with an infant. Maya Northen Augelli describes a trip as well but this one to Zimbabwe. Michael Northen (yours truly) tells about attending a reading by the late poet and playwright David Simpson.
Maura Northen Madden – from Staying (mostly) Upbeat
“First Treatment”
I had my first Chemotherapy treatment and my first Radiation treatment yesterday. All in all, it went pretty smoothly. The radiation will take a bit longer on Mondays because there is extra “positioning” and doctor reviews at the beginning of the week. The radiation seems like it will be a cinch. I just change my pants (no zippers allowed), lay on the table, wait 5-10 minutes, change back to my street clothes and head on my merry way.
The radiation seems like it will be a bit more time-consuming. Fortunately, I only need to get hooked up on Mondays. I have to get blood tests then sit there and wait for the tests to come back. Then they give the order to mix my special concoction in the pharmacy. I wait for a while for that to arrive. Then the nurse hooks me up and I am on my merry way.
So far, the worst thing is the bulk of the fanny pack. Plus, I cannot shower while I have it, so sponge baths only Monday through Friday. I am well aware that these are small inconveniences and that I am fortunate for all these marvels of modern medicine. But, it still does not mean I cannot be a bit grumpy about lugging this pack around (with greasy hair) for the next five weeks.
Fortunately, the Oncologist does not expect that I will have too many side effects from the Chemo. I have pills for nausea on standby, but have not yet had to use them. She anticipates that my hair will get brittle and thin, but will not fall out. I hope that she is right about that. I guess I just have to wait and see what comes next…
(To find out what does come next check back in at the blog home page https://mauraupdates.wordpress.com/2013/06/)
***
Melissa Cotter Northen– from Swell Notes
“Fourth of July Camping”
Yesterday,
we dusted off our gear to prepare for our first family camping trip in 2 years.
We love to camp. It is sad to think that it has been this long
since our last trip. Okay, that isn't quite accurate. My husband
and I love to camp, my children love to eat marshmallows. This is why we
have not been camping in 2 years.
When Amelia was 6 months old, we took her camping.
We packed and planned as we always did.
- 1 two person tent, two sleeping bags
- 2 vizsla dogs
- minimal clothes
- hiking gear
- small camp stove
- compact food
- random survival essentails
Of course, we added in Amelia's clothes, diapers,
a few small toys, an infant carrier and bedding. It sounded so simple.
The baby would enjoy the fresh air, sleeping close to her parents and
watching the dogs frolic around the campsite. The reality didn't follow
the dream. The baby cried. No, not cried, she screamed. She
screamed in the car. She screamed while we unloaded and set up, she
screamed while we (tag team) ate. At home, my salvation had always been
taking Amelia for a walk. So, around nap time, we strapped her in to our
Kelty carrier and set off for a hike. She screamed for 3 miles until we
gave up and turned around. She finally fell asleep about a mile from our
site. This was not camping.
Two years and one child later, we went on a group
family camping trip (maybe some of you were there with us?). Having
giving up the notion that we were authentic campers anymore, we came prepared.
We brought everything listed above and...
(The saga continues at http://swellnotes.blogspot.com/2011/07/forth-of-july-camping.html)
***
Maya Northen Augelli – from Chimera Travel Blog,
“Why I Went to Zimbabwe”
My most recent blogs have featured destinations that most others aren’t – either destinations I’ve visited, or want to, that I feel are worth sharing with others. Last year, I went to southern Africa for 16 days and I couldn’t pass up the chance to go to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
Victoria Falls can be seen from both Zambia and Zimbabwe. Given the fact that Zimbabwe’s currency has fallen to the point that it’s no longer accepted even in it’s own country, and that the nation has suffered more than its share of political turmoil, most people would opt to see the Falls via Zambia.
My family, however, decided to go to Zimbabwe. Why chance it? First, I feel one has to separate the country’s politics and domestic turmoil with the way they treat foreigners. I’ve been given this respect when traveling to countries that didn’t like American politics and I like to do the same for others. Despite all of the hardship Zimbabwe has undergone, there had not, at least near the time that we were traveling, been an issue with trouble or violence towards visitors. We suspected, and were proven correct, that the locals loved having us there. After all, for a country whose currency is no longer legitimate, having Americans spending their comparatively strong currency must make them ecstatic (it did)!
(There was much more to Zimbabwe. Read about it at http://chimera-travel.com/blog/2010/09/22/why-i-went-to-zimbabwe/)
***
Michael Northen – from Dispoet
“David Simpson: The Way Love Comes to Me”
It is rare to come away from a book launch somehow feeling a little bit better about humanity, but that was my experience last night attending the first public outing for David Simpson’s collection of poetry, The Way Love Comes to Me. Those who know Dave Simpson’s work – which is probably most people likely to be reading this - know that he and his twin brother Dan, both poets and musicians, were born blind. Several years ago they combined their work to produce a CD called, straightforwardly enough, Audio Chapbook, but the volume being shown off last night was Dave’s first published print book of poetry.
Dave sat at a table in the front of the room, flanked on either side by poets Molly Peacock and Ona Gritz whose combined efforts had helped to see Dave’s book come to life through Mutual Muse Press. The line forming to have Dave sign books stretched back to the entrance of the room in Avianna restaurant where the event was held. Though the room was humming with activity, Dave knew just about every person who came up to have a book signed and told Ona what he wanted written down for each person as she signed the books for him. Dan, who was serving as emcee for the evening announced, after several attempts to break through all the conversation of the writers, musicians and lifelong friends, that Dave would be reading for twenty minutes or so at about 7:30. Dan himself was surrounded by people who came up to ask him about his own upcoming book.
(See more about David Simpson’s reading at http://dispoet.blogspot.com/2014/10/david-simpson-way-love-comes-to-me.html )
In the next post, I will bring in excerpts from the remaining four blogs.
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