page contents Google

MEDICAL MARIJUANA FOR A DOSE OF CANCER

April 2, 2018 by

    Medical marijuana? Isn’t that just an excuse to get loaded without consequences, like jail? That’s what Pat thinks. I caught a rather painful case of cancer and tried one oxy pill, and one nip of liquid oxy, which changed nothing.   Why would marijuana be different?   At a desperate moment I tried […]

Filed Under: Toughen Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

WORLD CANCER DAY DIFFERENCE FOR EVERY CANCER TREATMENT

February 6, 2018 by

Everyone is different. How different is the question. And the answer?   World Cancer Day is one of the differences. Some embrace it, some ignore it, while still others share.   Call this a share.  

Filed Under: Toughen Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

SELF MYTHOLOGY: DEATH, DYING, PAT CONROY’S DAD

December 18, 2017 by

  What are the best stories told but the ones we tell about ourselves. From Greek gods to Steinbeck sharecroppers we can be whoever we like when we tell our own stories.   Of course the best self mythology comes from the biggest liars and you can’t believe a word they say, still we need […]

Filed Under: BOOMER BLOGGER Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

CANCER STORIES: FEEDING PUBLIC FEAR AND PRIVATE WOE

December 1, 2017 by

Things you’ll never know until you get cancer, any cancer:   You’ll either be an object of sympathy, or an antenna of sympathy. Or both.   “Keep up the fight,” or, “You’re a fighter,” or “You look like you’ve got this thing whipped.”   That’s what I heard after running Hood To Coast at 49 […]

Filed Under: Toughen Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

HPV16 VACCINE IN CONSUMER REPORTS

August 19, 2017 by

The HPV16 vaccine article in Consumer Reports pushes hot buttons across the board. It’s easy to understand why.   I’m a father of two, but it’s more than that. Too many parents are overwhelmed with the joy of their own reproductive skills and the bundle of joy as a result. I know I was.   […]

Filed Under: Toughen Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS, pt2: FAMILY TRAUMA

May 5, 2017 by

Illness defines family trauma over time and it’s exhausting. Remember the movie Ordinary People? The family dynamic wasn’t defined by illness, but death of a child. It didn’t go well for the emotional state of all. There’s was a sudden adjustment with a lifetime effect. Living with a pre-existing condition, or around others with pre-existing […]

Filed Under: Toughen Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

PORTLAND WRITER NIGHT, @WILWRITE, ON WRITER RADIO

May 3, 2017 by

On Portland Writer Night everyone’s a writer To express feelings, first you’ve got to find them. That’s what writers do. Feelings about a nice day, delicious food, good company, and a warm bed? Not so much. Too easy. The veneer of the shared moment turns to smugness on definitions. Instead, find the feels for loss […]

Filed Under: Who's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

SUBURBAN DAD DEATH: THE TIMES, THE TOWNS, THE TEAMS

April 11, 2017 by

Explaining suburban dad death to suburban kids Get married, have kids, and if they’re athletes you’ll see every town within thirty miles. The Canby Cougar will bite you. Get ready to be mauled by a Tualatin Timberwolf. Run from the Newberg Tiger. Every town’s mascot sounds fierce until suburban dad death shows up. Then you […]

Filed Under: Who's Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

CIGARETTE SMOKE ‘EM IF YOU GOT ‘EM? DON’T DO IT

March 31, 2017 by

    Tobacco and cigarette smoke, the stuff of dreams and nightmares.   The dream part comes first. Light a stick and enjoy. All you’ve got to do is breath in, breath out, and watch the cigarette smoke curl into shapes. Later comes the nightmare part, the regret, the tubes, the hospital smell, the faces […]

Filed Under: Toughen Up Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

WRITE YOUR STORY SOONER THAN LATER

February 14, 2017 by

      You can handle your frightening truth, so write your story.   Writers inspired by Inspirational Writers lean toward inspirational writing? It seems natural. Buying Gabriele Lusser Rico’s Writing the Natural Way felt just as natural. Who doesn’t need ‘A Course in Enhancing Creativity and Writing Confidence.’ I know I do. I feel more creative […]

Filed Under: BOOMER BLOGGER Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,