May is here! And I don't know what you're writing these days, but I'm taking a giant stab at Story-A-Day May. I've managed it before, but I'm not sure this time how chemo treatments are going to get in the way. To be accurate, how the side-effects are going to get in the way. But …
Carcinoma Wonderland
I don't know how much about my life with breast cancer I want to blog about. But I've started an FB page to share this experience for what it's worth. The FB page feels more conversational and more immediate. But the page isn't for everyone. The blog format isn't really working for me on this. …
Drains!
The drains are gone! If you've ever had surgery that required post-op drains, you know how awesome it is to be drain free. If you don't know what I'm talking about, google Jackson-Pratt drain. I chose not to take a picture of mine. It's kind of hard to make them look pretty. Writing about difficult …
Must. Be. Meaningful.
I've started several blog posts that I haven't finished. Percocet took over and I couldn't think. And everything I write seems ridiculous. Trite. Meaningless. I don't have anything to add to the cancer narrative. I can't add any original observations. I've started reading two breast cancer memoirs. I finished the first chapter of one of …
Percocet Dreams
Maybe the pain meds aren't responsible for the dreams. Maybe the surgery experience brings out the odder corners of the mind. Possibly the meds and surgery experience collude. In one dream, everything was red. Fire engine red. The walls, the sky, the ground, every single thing red. The same red of the light switches in …
Imagination Fail
Eight days until surgery. I've got my post-op shirts and even two small post-op pillows. One pillow is recommended for the drive home from the hospital. It will go between the seatbelt strap and me. I've seen post-op pictures of others to give me an idea what to expect. I'm getting my house in order, …
Learning
When I first wanted to be a writer (back when I was eight, I think), I knew nothing about the publishing industry. I didn't understand how agents worked or what it took to get a book to readers. A few years ago a young man told me he wanted to write a book so that …
Bunny’s in a Hospital Gown
I draw when I'm in waiting rooms. These days I'm drawing adventures in the medical wonderland. I'm sure some of you know the vocabulary that I'm just now learning. Post surgery life does not sound like fun. I don't like sentences that contain words like drains, valves, and special shirts. Not sparkly unicorn special. Good-for-incisions-and-drains …
Saying Something Impossible
Now I know that I will be having a double mastectomy. At least it's decided. One of the strange things about this new aspect of my life is actually saying, "I have cancer." Just weird to say. All these years and I thought it was weird to say, "I'm a writer." Ha. What impossible things …
Between a Shrug and a Radio Interview
A while I wrote about my health. Talking about my health makes me feel that much older. Does that make sense? Anyway. The updates--for those of you aging along with me--are as follows: The incision from surgery is still healing. 92% closed according to the computer. Fancy stuff computers tell us these days. Imagine what …
Marta Bacon 