Blooming beauty break

Lori Falchi, Mixed media, 2020

Dear Ones,

What is new with you?

Are the flowers blossoming and the petals blowing in the wind near you?

The beauty of spring flowers is something to behold. It was rather windy here, which made my eyes water nonstop yesterday, walking to the Central Park Conservatory Garden.

Transitions also bring up fear —changing from ___ to __ is not for the faint of heart.

Monday, I got a call from the nurse asking me about the angry red line on my wrist.

Me: Tell me how to do the thing

What do I say

How do I keep the veins under my skin safe

outside in

inside out

She: You did the thing.

You spoke up and told him.

I bawled after the call.

There is this tension inside about how much to tell: to describe and ask or not to?

My skin and hair changes affect me. I remind myself that these, too, will pass. I am healing my body, mind, and spirit in the material world.

I am seeing doctors this week for gastrointestinal issues (Friday) and a PET scan (Saturday) of my body. I will be getting results that will show where there is cancer in my body and my body’s response to the treatment early next week. This is vulnerable work being a specimen.

I also wish you knew how much I love you. You are how I am getting through, community.

Friends and family, please be in touch when you feel moved. My local NY folks, feel free to come by and visit for the next chemo session on Friday, April 25th.

So much love to the activist scholars at AERA who are there to RECLAIM AERA!

DO THE THING - SPEAK UP! SAY IT LOUD!

xo

LF