Another Healing Step! More Bunny Brigade Dates
Wednesday, Howard and I went back to UCSF to have my bladder x-rayed. I’m thrilled to say, it’s working just fine, no leakage through the sutures and so the catheter was taken out. Wow! I feel so light and free. It’s truly amazing how quickly the healing process goes.
And we’re still waiting for the biopsy report…
After two weeks of not straying further than the neighborhood for little walks each day, I’m now venturing into the wide world. Being in the city the other day was a sensory overload. I stayed in the car as Howard visited some of his accounts. It was all a little too much. However, today I am going to school to watch my students give a music concert directed by our most talented Therese Johanesson. I can’t wait to see and hug them all! And last night, I returned to The Emeralds, my beloved friends and poetry critique group, after more than a month’s absence. What joy to go around the table reading and commenting on each other’s poems. I brought a brand new poem that they urged me to post here since it tries to describe the euphoria I feel at being given yet another chance:
The Trick Kind
I have met most of my forty-odd
birthdays masking a vague
trepidation. As I swallow the first
bite of cake, I picture Time–
with its callous and invisible hands–
hauling me, by the nape of my neck,
to the edge of life’s highest and
final cliff
After seventeen days in hospital–
two tumors and an organ removed–
this coming birthday twinkles in the near
distance like the flame of a candle I blow
and blow on, giggling as it keeps
lighting itself over
and over
One again, I wave
my frosting-covered fingers
in the air. Happy, happy!
Happy me!
Bunny Brigade Update
The vegetable juice veggie delivery has been so fun and helpful! Thank you!!! And as Pascha noted, it is truly more healing to imbibe the healing elixir with friends. I got to do this on Monday with my friends Diane and Dan who were visiting from Portland. We enjoyed afternoon “cocktails” with the scrumptious pesto my friend Kim made slathered on crackers. I’ll tell you: healing can be very delicious and celebratory!
Well twist my arm! There have been several requests to extend the juice delivery dates. I’d love to continue receiving the help, so below you’ll find more dates. And yes, it’s absolutely fine to drop-off the day before or after the one I’ve listed below. I’ve just tried to spread the delivery dates apart so that we can keep up with the juicing and drinking and be able to store all the yummies in our fridge.
Monday, April 23
Thursday, April 26
Monday, April 30
Wednesday, May 2
Monday, May 7
Thursday, May 10
Again, if you would like to sign up, please put a comment in the message box below this posting. Thank you!
It really is impossible to express how deep and wide my gratitude runs for all the kindness and generosity being shared with Howard and me. All the meals have been so delicious and nutritious, obviously made with so much care and love. The cards that come every day lift our spirits and brighten our house. And the prayers and energy sent our way continue to work miracles for my healing and speedy recovery. Thank you for circling around us, for lifting us up, for carrying part of the burden so ours feels light enough to manage. See, the world is so much more empathetic and generous than the evening news would lead us to believe! Bless you all! And hope to see you “out there” really soon!
Love,
Kathleen
We would be honored to deliver your juicing goodies on THURSDAY APRIL 26TH. Great to see you today…as the saying goes, “you look marvelous!” Thanks for sharing your lovely poem; it a good lesson and perspective for us all. -pascha and family
Oh my dear, what a joy to read all the good news in this morning’s sweet posting! I’ve been thinking of you every day and hoping that you got good news in the hospital. And now, freedom from that cath! Yippee!!! We are in Sarasota, having a really heart-full visit with my brother and his wife. Florida has been a pleasant surprise for me. It is lovely and warm and exciting, and full of birds singing and stalking by the lake outside our window here. I’m loving it! Monday we head up to Savannah. Daniella got us invited to Passover dinner with a rabbi’s family up there – should be interesting! Lots of love, Kim
Kathleen,
You have been in my thoughts DAILY and I have managed to get a bit of information through all your dear friends and community. Today, I just got the link for the web-blog and am happy to hear all the words of strength and inspiration that is YOU. It would be my true pleasure to bring you veggie-power nourishment on MONDAY, APRIL 23. I’ll do some research to see what kinds of juice/soups/ etc.. are best for you right now, or if you have specific requests, feel free to let me know.
Take precious, precious care and may your home overflow with love and healing,
~Tina
I’ll bring veggies Monday, April 30th. It was a real treat to car pool with you to the group today. Let’s do it again in 4 weeks (I’ll be out of town for the next group.)
In the meantime, I hope to make it to the Emerald gathering next time around. You inspired me to see I could do it on my terms.
Love, Joan
Kath,
It took a couple of readings, because I was distracted, but this morning, I got the point of your poem ” The Trick Kind ”
Nice job!
I will be away again in a few days, will gladly contribute the veggies again when I get back.
If you are needing in the next couple of days, let me know.Farmers market on wednesday is easily done.
My love to you and Howard and the kitties!
Good Pesach to you both.
k
Maestra Katalina,
I hope you feel better. It was good to see you on Wednesday. Tu eres una buena Maestra. I miss you.
Love
Jordan Diego
Room 9
I’ll be your WEDNESDAY, MAY 2 bunny! Just wait til you see my cotton tail! (And maybe I’ll even change my email address to juiceforkatalina…)
Thanks for the great poem and the tears it brought!
Love and continued healing,
Emily
I’m so we glad we read this in time before all the bunny deliveries were taken. We would love to deliver vegies to you on Monday, May 7th. We’ll hop across town and thump on your door.
So glad to hear you are healing so well and able to head out into the big world. Your poem is a wake up call for those of us who have not yet heeded our bodies reminder that this one is the life. Now is our time.
Take care, Katalina,
Shannon
Oh darn, somebody already got May 2! Okay, we’ll take May 10th con mucho gusto.
What a great poem! Yes! More sparkiling re-ignited days to come! I dreamt last night that many of us had cancer and were taking the protocel instead of having our tumours removed. A sad, yet very hopeful dream. With three women at DeLaveaga battling cancer, and even more cancer survivors, you can see where the dream came from. Thank you, Katalina, for sharing the intimacy, the darkness, and the healing with us. We are all keeping our eyes and hearts even more wide open because of your presence in our days. Happy, happy spring! Thank you for coming to our concert, bringing your smile to so many of us hungry to see you! Hugs and kisses to you with love … from Therese, Lars, Linus and Dominic
Katalina, we are so glad that the healing process is going so well for you! Our family sends blessings and love to your health. We are late for getting on the bunny brigade so we would like to offer that if someone gets into a pinch and needs a last minute coverage, we will take it! (or if more dates come up)
Zoe sends her love and hugs, as all of us do.
Mark, Kathleen, Zoe, Cole and Reed
hi, sweetie pie!! this is tanya g here. i am your dinner provider for this Wednesday, and….. as ‘time’ would have it, i have also been invited to spend some quality time with Rhiannon, Miranda’s girl (it is spring break), spec. tues. night, Wed. and Thurs. i would love love love to bring supper by on Tues. eve. i may call you with this thought. otherwise, i may simply do just that.
i really really hope that that is okay. many many hugs to you!!! tanyagtree
More dates, more dates! Pamela is doing bunny brigade tomorrow instead of me because I ended up stuck at work….So, I need another date and I think they are all taken now! Pretty cool, no? So, get out your calendar and choose some more, post them and I’ll sign up! Gwen