October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Actual Dance is, among many different things, about breast cancer. It is also about love. It is also about relationships. It is also about spirituality and what life really is. It is about a lot of things.
In October in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness I will post a daily blog with a reflection about breast cancer. The reflections will stem from something in the play. (All quoted lines are text from the play.)
Day 8: Now what? We got the news. I don’t remember the ride home. I do remember what I was thinking, which seemed entirely different from what Susan was thinking. “We need to make some phone calls now,” I was thinking. Susan had insisted we “not say anything to anyone unless there is an issue.” Now there was an issue. Who do you call first? What do you say? How do you say it? You see, I already assumed the outcome. With the extensive cancer, the history of our families – both Susan and my mother dying from Breast Cancer, in my soul I saw the road ahead. It terrified me. Our first call was to our reform Jewish Temple. We had been members for 27 years and in fact both Susan and I had been president of the Congregation. Temple Rodef Shalom. While I made the call, once we were transferred to the clergy person on call, our Cantor, it turns out, “I couldn’t talk. I couldn’t say ‘the words.’” I had to turn the phone over to Susan “calmly and matter-of-factly told him about the diagnosis and that she would be having surgery.” Where do you turn for comfort and support? We turned to our religious community.
Stat of the Day: About 67% of the women over 40 have had a mammogram in the last two years!
Task of the Day: Find your spiritual resources, before you need them. It takes practice over time to get ready to deal with bad health news about someone you love. It is important to be able to make that phone call, to let people know -- to let your community support you and your loved one.
Resource of the Day: Check out this list of resources for Breast Cancer patients and families.
In October in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness I will post a daily blog with a reflection about breast cancer. The reflections will stem from something in the play. (All quoted lines are text from the play.)
Day 8: Now what? We got the news. I don’t remember the ride home. I do remember what I was thinking, which seemed entirely different from what Susan was thinking. “We need to make some phone calls now,” I was thinking. Susan had insisted we “not say anything to anyone unless there is an issue.” Now there was an issue. Who do you call first? What do you say? How do you say it? You see, I already assumed the outcome. With the extensive cancer, the history of our families – both Susan and my mother dying from Breast Cancer, in my soul I saw the road ahead. It terrified me. Our first call was to our reform Jewish Temple. We had been members for 27 years and in fact both Susan and I had been president of the Congregation. Temple Rodef Shalom. While I made the call, once we were transferred to the clergy person on call, our Cantor, it turns out, “I couldn’t talk. I couldn’t say ‘the words.’” I had to turn the phone over to Susan “calmly and matter-of-factly told him about the diagnosis and that she would be having surgery.” Where do you turn for comfort and support? We turned to our religious community.
Stat of the Day: About 67% of the women over 40 have had a mammogram in the last two years!
Task of the Day: Find your spiritual resources, before you need them. It takes practice over time to get ready to deal with bad health news about someone you love. It is important to be able to make that phone call, to let people know -- to let your community support you and your loved one.
Resource of the Day: Check out this list of resources for Breast Cancer patients and families.
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