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The Waiting

The Waiting

This is the toughest part of the cancer thing. The waiting. Waiting for surgery. Waiting for another scan (a PET scan, the one after which I'll be radioactive) in two days, waiting to know about treatment. I'd like to say I'm waiting patiently, but that would be a...

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In Permanent Ink

In Permanent Ink

What is the one thing you are least likely to do? Jump out of an airplane? Go camping? Run a marathon? There is no skydive, no tent and definitely no 26.2 in my future, but if you had asked me this time last year what I’d be less likely to do than any of those ... it...

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Reason, Doubt and Reasonable Doubt

Reason, Doubt and Reasonable Doubt

Ugh. Jury duty. Dread. I reported to the federal courthouse building on a snowy morning when I’d rather have stayed in bed. My hope was that I’d be quickly excused, but as the process unfolded, I became intrigued. My name was called, the judge questioned me and the...

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Once More Across Home Plate

Once More Across Home Plate

I turned 51 a couple of weeks ago. I like birthdays. And no cancer survivor in their right mind complains about getting another year older. It's kind of like a lopsided baseball game — even though the winning team is far ahead, they still try to cross home plate one...

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Sunset or Sunrise?

Sunset or Sunrise?

It was a beautiful sunset — or was it a sunrise? I watched it from our deck of my family's house overlooking Greers Ferry Lake. Sara Ann was about to begin her senior year in high school, my last school year with a child at home. Prelude to the empty nest. Between the...

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Mercy

Mercy

Yesterday was not my best day behind the wheel; I made two really stupid driving mistakes in the course of about an hour. I wasn't on the phone at the time, had consumed no alcohol; these was just stupid errors, the kind we all make from time to time when our minds...

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50

50

Today is my 50th birthday. Not only do I not care who knows, I'm proud to be 50. Here are the things I'm proud of: Two days shy of 22 years of marriage. That ain't easy. You don't know someone until you share a toothpaste tube, and you don't really know them until...

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Defeat?

Defeat?

Last week my daughter's varsity cheer squad competed in a national competition. They are a highly-talented and experienced group with the potential to win or at least place very high in the competition. Unfortunately, Murphy's Law ruled and they placed a miserable...

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The Wisdom of 49

The Wisdom of 49

Today is my 49th birthday. I can't help but feel just a bit nostalgic for the days when I didn't need glasses, had pretty good short-term memory and could sleep until noon without waking up with a sore neck and a tension headache. I notice the lines on my face, spend...

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Life on the Balance Beam

Life on the Balance Beam

Lillie Ammann, writer & editor, on her blog A Writer's Words, An Editor's Eye poses an interesting question about finding the right balance in life. I'm honored that she tagged me for a response, but I'm not sure that my answer will be as meaningful as perhaps...

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