Posts Tagged ‘cancer’
| Newer Entries »Taking Addictive Drugs as a Recovering Alcoholic
Written by Drusilla on August 12th, 2014
(Dictated by Dru to Art)
I was a junior in college the first time I knowingly took a mind-altering drug. Living in a great little apartment on San Salvador Street in San Jose, California, I was carrying a heavy academic load: dual majors in English and Drama. One weekend I escaped to my parents’ home, dragging with me books on costume design, stage lighting, 18th century poetry, and other useful subjects. My intention was to study round-the-clock.
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Filed under Family & Friends, Life Matters | Tags: Addiction, cancer, college, Drugs
Cancer and I Have a Short but Serious Conversation
Written by Drusilla on August 10th, 2014
(Dictated by Dru to Art on 10 Aug 2014)
Last night I enjoyed a rare, nearly full-night’s sleep. It was bliss. I threw away two of my four sitting-up-to-sleep pillows and slept on my side, which is an under-appreciated experience.
Filed under Family & Friends, Life Matters, Uncategorized | Tags: cancer, Conversations, Garden
Inside the Novel
Written by Drusilla on August 9th, 2014
(Dictated by Dru to Art)
For most of my life, I’ve known about this distant presence called Death. I’ve also believed we only really “live” in the present moment and I’ve based some of my novels on this view. On the other hand, I’d been operating as if I had an unlimited number of moments in my life. Now suddenly I’m facing both death and the fact I have only a limited number of moments. With these truths now literally “realized,” I’m shocked to see that before I’d only treated them as theories. Now I’m actually inside the novel. For me and the many loved ones who’ve been reaching out to me, these facts are here, now, and real. So, finding myself inside the novel, my guess-what for today is “How do I deal with them?”
Filed under Family & Friends, Life Matters | Tags: cancer, in the moment, living in the present
When Cancer Speaks
Written by Drusilla on August 7th, 2014
(Dictated by Dru to Art)
This morning Art prepared a scrumptious breakfast (coffee, fresh orange juice, oatmeal, bulging green grapes) and served it on our sun-shiny patio while jazz floated from our den window. But no sooner had I strolled out on the patio than I felt so weak and nauseated I had to stagger back upstairs. After barfing virtually nothing but stomach acid, I fell back into bed and slept for four hours! When I awoke Art was beside me with his laptop and coffee, determined to master the e-banking procedures I’d shown him last week. When I asked if he was just a little angry with me for spoiling our morning tete-a-tete he smiled and replied, “Not even a tad. When cancer speaks, I have to listen.”
Filed under Life Matters | Tags: breakfast, cancer
Breaking My Anonymity
Written by Drusilla on July 16th, 2014
I am a member of a worldwide organization, which has anonymity as one of its central principles. After almost thirty-one years, I’ve decided to break my anonymity.
A few days ago, I was scheduled for back-to-back scans, PET and CT; and I’d been anxious because I knew these tests would give me the first big picture of the extent of cancer in my body. There was no way the news would be good. The question was, “How bad would it be?”
Filed under Life Matters | Tags: alcoholics anonymous, anonymity, cancer, Drusilla Campbell, twelve steps
Last Sunday’s News
Written by Drusilla on June 28th, 2014
So, last Sunday night, I’m sitting in urgent care for the second time in a week, waiting to see the doctor.
He walks in, holding some pictures, looks at me for one second too long for comfort and then sits down.
“I think you have cancer,” he said.
Filed under Family & Friends, Life Matters | Tags: cancer, Drusilla Campbell, mornings