Sorry, no poem…
March 23rd, 2007 by eisha
… because you know how it is, when you’re looking for a poem to fit a certain theme or mood or to say something specific? It doesn’t work. You’ll never find it. But I’m sure that a few months from now I’ll run across some perfectly pithy little poem, heartfelt and lovely, sweet without being sappy, and brilliantly worded, that will say exactly what I wish I could say to you all right now. I suppose for now I’ll just have to wing it.
Thanks to everyone who expressed their concern and support through comments and emails over the past couple of weeks. I was truly, deeply touched.
And thanks to all the far-flung friends and family who came to my aunt’s services. It was good to celebrate her life with so many loved ones.
Thanks to Jules, who ran this blog single-handed while I was staying with my internet-deprived mom.
And I’m sorry, I don’t want to get preachy or weird here, but I just have to say it, especially since I think most of our readership is female. Breast cancer is a horrible, debilitating disease. Please remember to give yourself monthly self-exams. Please get your yearly mammogram, if you’re of age. Please take care of yourselves. Please donate to cancer research funds. Please cherish every moment you have on this earth. Please tell your friends and family that you love them. Please call your mom. And your grandmother. Please send cards to people on their birthdays. Please live as hard and happy as you can. Please. And thank you. And, um… amen.
I am sorry for your loss. Breat cancer is a horible disease. My aunt and one of my best friends have dealth with it. I donate regularly. What a beautiful post today. Life is so short, we must embrace it each day.
Welcome back, E!
Eisha,
I’m glad you got preachy about breast cancer. I am only 30 years old but I have already had two lumps. Luckily they were un-cancerous in nature but it was still scary. Everyone should do self-exams.
Thanks, ya’ll.
Cancer sucks.
Most recently, one of my storytime moms is dealing with breast cancer. She’s doing well, but she’s just so young and she has young kids and it just always sucks.
Other things don’t suck, though, I’ve noticed. It’s a sunny day here in Western NY — rare for March, and wonderful. 🙂 Hope the sun’s shining there, too.
I think I’ve mentioned this great shirt here on the blog somewhere before, but . . . Eisha and I have an old college friend who also has breast cancer (and probably about 30 years old, too), and I saw a picture of her recently holding up a shirt that says “CCKMA — Cancer Can Kiss My Ass.” I love it and want to find it for another friend of mine who has a three-year old and just found out she has BRAIN cancer. Holy crap, what is the world coming to?
Eisha, I’m sorry for your loss if I haven’t already said it, and I’m glad you were able to be with your family during all that, especially your mom. Everyone, Eisha’s mom ROCKS and ROCKS HARD. If you’ve ever wondered HOW Eisha can ROCK so hard, it’s probably partly or all ’cause of her mama.
Yes, Adrienne, here’s to sunny things. We’ll have to be sure to update our 7-Imp’s 7 Kicks this weekend (the Good Things list — Adrienne, I know you want “kick-ass” to stay in the name, but Michele at Scholar’s Blog suggested “7-Imp’s 7 Kicks,” and it’s too good to pass up, I think).
Amen is right. Thanks for the righteous reminders.
Eisha, I’m so sorry for your loss. It is good to have you home at 7-Imp again.
Yeah! Cancer does suck, and it can totally kiss my ass.
But yes, you’re right, it was a pretty nice day today in Boston, too. There’s plenty of non-sucky things around, which I’ll probably save to list on sunday in the 7 Kicks thingy.
Thanks again, everyone, for the sweet comments.
Oh, and yes, if I rock at all it’s totally ’cause of my mom.
Eisha, I went looking tonight, and found these that you might like to read or listen to:
http://www.ibiblio.org/ipa/poems/heaney/from_clearances_3.php
http://www.ibiblio.org/ipa/poems/heaney/from_clearances_5.php
Eisha,
I am so sorry for your loss. Wishing you and your family much comfort during this difficult time.
Thank you for this beautiful post to remind us of what is truly important.
Oh Eisha !
You brought a tear to my eye with your “Please cherish every moment you have on this earth. […] Please live as hard and happy as you can.” comments. It’s almost 2 years since my best friend died of cancer (not breast cancer in this case) and she really lived hard and happy, and I try to do the same (especially since my Mum was diagnosed with a (luckily) benign brain tumour just a year ago… (Happily she’s 100 times better since they removed it…)
(Jules, you really do like that “7 Imp’s 7-Kicks” title. don’t you ? *grins*)
Nancy, those are lovely and perfect. Thanks.
And thanks Vivian and Michele, and Liz and Adrienne and Lindsey and Jone. You’re all terribly sweet.
And Michele, Jules DOES love that name – she keeps asking me over and over to make sure I love it so we can use it, because evidently I haven’t turned enough cartwheels of joy for her to believe me.
Preach it, Eisha! My mom had breast cancer, and fortunately survived after a mastectomy, radiation, 6 rounds of chemo and herceptin. I was forced into the yearly mamograms at age 36 because of her diagnosis. They don’t hurt if you find a good clinic or a good clinician. They can save your life. The only year my mom missed? The year before she was diagnosed.
I’m so sorry for your loss, Eisha. Keep fighting the good fight.
So sorry for your sadness, Eisha. I’m sure it’s been very, very hard.
But thank you for this: Please live as hard and happy as you can. We can all use that reminder.
Eisha, I’m totally tickled pink that you and Jules have adopted my daft, sleep-deprived suggestion of “7 Imp’s 7 Kicks” !!
Thanks, Kelly and Robin. I appreciate it.
And Michele, what can I say? “Daft and sleep-deprived” is pretty much how we roll.
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