The Flavor of Steel Sunday’s roast was the first bite. I’d been waiting for it, just like I always did. My wife had prepared it the way she always had. I inserted my fork. Pennies and cardboard came back at me from the place where the fork had entered. I chewed. I swallowed. I stared…
Read moreCategory: Compassionate Voices Articles and Blog
Compassionatevoices Articles and Blog
The Flavor of Steel
The Flavor of Steel Sunday’s roast was the first bite. I’d been waiting for it, just like I always did. My wife had prepared it the way she always had. I inserted my fork. Pennies and cardboard came back at me from the place where the fork had entered. I chewed. I swallowed. I stared…
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“Breakfast”
When you sit across from hope, sometimes you don’t realize it. I knew it was going to be one of those days. The kitchen was silent, and we were both already seated. I didn’t ask either of them to join me. No. After almost seven years of living with cancer, I’ve learned that they show…
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My Veins Have Opinions
“Which arm?” I’ve answered that question hundreds of times. At some point, I gave up waiting for it. I go into the lab. I sit in the chair. I roll up my left sleeve. I move my elbow toward the light before they say a word. Left arm. Above the crease. Always works. There’s something…
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The Loneliness of Chronic Illness and How to Combat It
There is a specific kind of loneliness that chronic illness creates, and it isn’t the same as being alone. You can be surrounded by people who love you and still feel like you’re speaking a language no one else has learned. It’s the loneliness of explaining, again, why you canceled. The loneliness of a body…
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