My peeps at Coyote Rep...

These are my loves from Coyote Rep. These are the people that spent a beautiful summer weekend in a room workshopping a show about my cancer experience and my blog. They must have better things to do with their time, as they all live in New York. But, they have taken time out of their lives to bring awareness to the breast cancer cause.
I spent, nearly, an hour on a conference call with the group getting to know everyone and answering questions ... very candid questions. Everyone was so kind to preface questions with "If this is too personal, just let me know..." Oh hell. They don't know me THAT well, yet. I was glad to answer any question, as I think that it's important that what we go through as young survivors gets "out there." Plus, I'm not the most modest of gals...
I'm so excited to see where this heads. I'm, also, thinking Donnetta might wanna pick up knitting or something just in case this thing falls on deaf ears.
Either way, I'm so thanking for her love and passion about this project that is so very close my heart. Just as she is.
xoxo
Anna

Nice...

Well, the probing went just fine. My esophogus looks just fine. No ulcers were found. However, there is an area of "redness" that the doc biopsied along with a portion of my upper small intestine. Great. Now, I have to wait 7-10 days to see what we've got going on down there. The waiting is the worst. Always has been. So, we'll soon see what we're dealing with. Damned yard gnome has, probably, planted a damned rose garden in my upper-GI tract. Sneaky little fucker.
The Coyote Rep workshop kicked off today in NYC. I noticed, on Facebook, that an old pal quoted something that I've written here, that is apparently in the show: "Soulmates are the new black." I had forgotten about ever writing that. It's amazing how ones life morphs in such a short amount of time, but that phrase still holds true.
We've all met one/several/many people that are willing to befriend or accept us in spite of ourselves ... and we them. Be it family or friend, they will remind us of how to use what we possess to make ourselves better people. They will be the soul mates that we can go to when we feel like there is no way we can trudge forward. They will accept our many faults and still love us in spite of ourselves. They will fight for us no matter what befalls them. They will, after the storm, still be standing there to share their hearts, home, their umbrella, and soul. And, they will ALWAYS be the people that remind us that we've weathered the storm as honest and true friends ... They will help us become better people and we them.
I'm blessed to have known, in my short life, the many family members and friends that I can call my soul mates. It's always a work in progress. But, one thing holds true: Those that stand in the midst of the eye of the hurricaine, for those they love and respect, have hearts larger than the hurricaine itself.
xoxo
Anna

Happy Thursday...

Long day at work today. Slammed to the gills, and glad of it. AFter being in SC for 2 weeks, I'm behind a paycheck. So, that's a bit stressful. But, wouldn't have had it any different. Was so glad to be able to head home and help out with Mama and Pop and see all my dear, dear family.
Tomorrow the Great Probe happens. Just that minor endoscopy surgery. I imagine I'll be out of it for the day and just fine for work on Saturday. Hopfully, we'll figure out all this stomache nonsense that has been going on for months and months on end. Maybe they'll find that mysterious little yard gnome that's been haunting me all these years. In any case, Kevin and Silas will tool around Capital Hill while Dr. Lee probes me. My request for the doctor that "probes" my hidden regions being "hot and have a great sense of humor" didn't really come to fruition. But, he's a really nice doctor and I trust that he'll be a gentle prober.
Off to put the ol' feet up and to wait for the boys to get home from the beach bbq with friends.
Oh, and Robin and Noel are OFFICIALLY parents of sweet Xander O'Flaherty! They sounded over the moon in the e-mail from Russia today. Silas and I are gonna do some artwork and decorate the house to welcome the three home. Cannot wait to meet my new nephew.
xoxo
Anna

Cry, the Beloved Country

Love this passage about the truth in the midst of the proverbial turning of tides. The truth ... Ah the truth.

"But the greatest wonder of all is the great machine, that was fighting in the war, they said, and pushes the earth of Kuluse's brother's land over to the line of sticks, and leaves it there, growing ever higher and higher. And even Kuluse's brother, watching it sullenly, breaks out into unwilling laughter, but remembers again and is sullen. But there is some satisfaction for him ... Indeed, there is something new in this valley, some spirit and some life, and much to talk about in huts. Although nothing has come yet, something is here already."

Amen.
xoxo
Anna

The play is ON...

So, I talked to my dear friend Donetta who is workshopping a play in New York about my breast cancer experience. She has taken much of the writing from this blog and my other personal experiences with this disease and in life and started the beginnings of a play that will begin being workshopped this weekend in NYC with Coyote Rep. Better yet, one of my dear girlfriends/mentors, the asteemed Joy Vandervort-Cobb, will be flying up to NYC from Charleston to direct the show once it moves into a more "workable" position. Joy is one of the most talented directors/writers/actors/professors/friends that I've ever know. These two women have helped paved the way for many women in not only African American theatre but in the theatre world in general. They are my dear, dear girlfriends and are brilliant colleagues. They've been an amazing support in my cancer experience and continue to be the true, true friends that I've know and loved all these years. I'm very, very blessed to have them in my life.
I'll be conferencing via telephone with Donetta and the cast during rehearsal on Sunday in NYC. I'll keep you posted.
xoxo
Anna

Hood Canal pics...

Just some pics tonight from The Hood Canal. Beautiful, beautiful place to be. Another amazing trip...

Back home...

We're back in Seattle and all's well.
Mama's surgery went very well. Her surgeon Dr. Scott is a frickin' rockstar. Young-ish woman ... much like my own. She's aggressive and positive and extremely knowledgeable. Unfortunatley, when we got Mama's path-report back, we found much more than expected. Not only did she have the DCIS, but she also had LCIS AND a 2.1cm tumor: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. Invasive Cancer. So, I'm so thrilled that we pushed to get the mastectomies and that Dr. Scott was so aggressive. How in the hell an MRI didn't show that invasive disease is beyond me. I wonder what that radiologist was thinkging?!
In any case, Mama is what is known as a "Triple Negative". Her cancer doesn't respond to systemic therapies like all the little goodies that I've been on for the past few years after treatment. So, chemo is probably the way the oncologist is gonna go, in my eyes. We'll see. But, all my "Triple-Neg" girlfriends agree that she's probably gonna have to do chemo. Mama is A-Okay with it. She wants to be agressive and I am so proud of her strength.
Silas had a ball at home. Spent so much time playing with All his Aunts/Uncles/Cousins/Grandparents.... it was wonderful.
My Pop wasn't doing so well when we made it home. I was able to help out with him while I was home. My Brother and Dad (and their awesome wives) have taken such good care of my grandparents while I've been way far away. Hate that I've not been there, but was able to spend some really good time with him and some private nights together ... chatting. He's hanging in there and is a brave man.
Please send love and prayers to my cousin Clyde and his family. Just got a call that he had a heart attack today. He and his family are loves and drove up to see my family when we flew into SC in January. Please hold them close to your hearts. Love you, Clyde. The world still needs to hear your silly and beautiful laugh, honey! You're a dear, dear person to me and I'm sending all my love to you and Cindy and the family right now.
xoxo,
Anna