THE GIFT OF A SMILE

Marilyn Martin appeared at a Ribbons of Life (“ROL”) breakfast (aka “Breast Fest”). In approaching her, she told me she couldn’t smile . She apologized while telling me that her teeth were rotting. Apologize?” I asked. “Congratulations for taking the first step....
COME AND KNOCK ON OUR DOOR

COME AND KNOCK ON OUR DOOR

With the physical death of pop culture phenomenon Suzanne Somers as a result of breast cancer; and with the physical death of famed singer and breast cancer advocate Olivia Newton John; and with the physical death of American Surgeon, author and prominent advocate of...
WALKING WITH OLIVIA

WALKING WITH OLIVIA

The news wasn’t good. “Olivia Newton-John has died.” I didn’t know what to feel. Her first breast cancer (“b.c.) diagnosis came in 1992. She had a recurrence in 2013. And another recurrence in 2017. At age 68, the cancer had spread to her bones and progressed to a...
LIVING LIFE ON OUR OWN TERMS

LIVING LIFE ON OUR OWN TERMS

Yesterday marked the three-year anniversary of our move to the seacoast of New Hampshire. That July 1st, I signed the papers and got the key. On July 2nd, Bob and Rocky arrived after their cross-country trip. And on July 3rd, we drove to our new home to see it before...

The Essence of Suz

           It’s hard for me to write about Suz in past tense. It seems strange that the very disease that she died from brought us together. Two years into my retirement after moving from Ventura to New Hampshire’s seacoast, I remember those meaningful moments...