Still Making

Daddy-O surprised me with a Fire Island Bakery double-decker ginger  cookie with creamy-lemon filling. Instead of continuing our walkies with cookies in hand, I decided to sit and savor the sunshine with this  finger-licking delicious treat. Nigel and Olive-Dog are on crumb patrol!

I realized this morning that it was 12 years ago this week that I returned alive from the University of Washington Medical Center from being treated for months for AML Leukemia. There are many memories but two remain clear; my youngest son's first reaction when his mom finally was able to return home and my anonymous matched donors. Feeling grateful doesn't quite describe my gratitude for everyone who helped us through that chapter in my life.

Leukemia patients from Alaska are flown to Seattle for treatment due to our limited population, limiting the number of potential matches for blood and platelets, especially when donors need to be "matched" like in my case. There isn't a day that goes by when I don't reflect on those TWO DONORS who were the ONLY ones in the entire Puget Sound area that matched my platelets when I needed life-giving transfusions from the Puget Sound Blood Center. THANK YOU. I had a condition that required me to receive only "matched" donor platelets after the monthly rounds of high-dose chemo and Leukemia killed my platelets off. During one particularly difficult round and my blood not clotting, this donor was called and drove for two hours to the Puget Sound Blood Center to donate their precious platelets that restored my levels. When the bag was rushed into my room the team and I referred to the platelets as "bags of liquid gold" not only for it's beautiful golden color but the life-giving properties it held. Due to privacy laws we don't know who these heroes were, but as a blood donor this may have been you.

When I nervously got off of the airplane on my final trip home, Gus, who was only four years old saw my baldness for the first time. Before anyone could give any explanation, without a concern Gus brightly said "don't worry Mom, you can get some new hair at Walmart they have everything!"  

It's good for me to reflect on this time because as life, deadlines or my art making may start to feel overwhelming, sometimes I'm quick to take life for granted -hard to believe after my ordeal but I admit it's true. So today I'm taking pause, reflecting, feeling grateful and sharing. I wish to be a light of hope for others currently being treated for Cancer and serve as a gentle reminder that wherever you are, please GIVE BLOOD because the life you may save was mine 12 years ago.

Blood Bank of Alaska

http://www.bloodbankofalaska.org/

Puget Sound Blood Center

http://www.psbc.org/home/index.htm

Sunset in Barrow, Alaska in February

Simplify

In my youth I adopted the adage “Go Forth and Multiply,” not so much in the biblical sense but I applied the saying to my multiple mediums of art making, business opportunities, husbands, children, my never ending variety of pets etc. Lately, I’m practicing more of a “Move On and Simplify” attitude, and it feels great! With our upcoming household and studio move (the new house is just five minutes away from our current house but a bit smaller) I was forced to scale down, consolidate, clean up and REORGANIZE. I was also forced to better FOCUS on my business(es) and art making. More importantly how and WHERE I perform my art making. Today I will also be moving my Blog to my web site. Don’t break up with me and stop reading or drop me from your Blog Rolls –that would make me so sad, please UPDATE your links with this new link to my Blog. I’ll still have regular posts and photos of what I’m up to in the studio, rants (of course!) and the ups and downs of being an artist, sneak peeks about the fam and photos of living the good life in Alaska -but it will just be located on my web site under the “BLOG” tab.  I'm simplifying!

10 years ago, it was confirmed...
I really did look more like my dad!

This is a great time to move on and celebrate my newfound simplifying focus. These reflections and changes have reenergized me and reminded me of the tremendous opportunities that lie ahead. For the last 10 years, October has traditionally been a very difficult month for me. Specifically, the day of October 23. On October 23, 2000 I was COMPLETELY SHOCKED to have been diagnosed with AML Leukemia during an appointment for what I thought was the stomach flu. The rug was yanked out from under my entire family 11 years ago when I was flown overnight to the University of Washington Medical Center for emergency treatment of Leukemia, that would last about a year. Thankfully, I’m in TOTAL remission and after 10 years medical professionals like to kick us survivors into the “CURED” category of statistics. I’m way too superstitious to say I’m “cured” and would be a liar if I said I don’t think about it much anymore –at least it’s down to thinking about the effects of being sick weekly instead of hourly. I would not be here today if it weren’t for the professionals at UW Med Center, the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and the many donors at the Puget Sound Blood Center, who generously gave me their blood and matched donor platelets throughout my treatment (BTW, donate blood whenever you can, it really does save lives -I’m living proof).  I am happy to say that this year, for the first time, I feel I’m approaching October 23 with a whole palette of possibilities and a positive mental outlook on a calm, HEALTHY future.  Thanks to those of you who have purchased and enjoyed my art, for your thoughtful comments, reading my posts and overall support and friendship. Now bookmark my new Blog link and keep reading and sharing –I live for those comments!