I grew up hearing my mother speak of her father, my Grandpa Ray, very wistfully. Why wistfully? She lost him to cancer when she was five years old. She's always spoken of how she wishes she could have really known him and it's always felt so wrong to me that she wasn't able to.
Flash forward to my freshman year in high school. My mom's mother, my Grandma Ruby, was diagnosed with multiple types of cancer. I don't remember everything perfectly, perhaps because part of me doesn't want to. My mother, one of my heroes, went down to southern Oregon to take care of Grandma Ruby for months. Had to watch her die slowly. Because there was just nothing to be done, it had spread too fast. I remember driving down there with my daddy and my brother for the memorial... we stayed in Grandma's tiny house and all I could think was... I'll never hear Grandma sing again. She had this beautiful alto, smoky, bluesy.
Flash forward again to just a few years ago, or was it more? Have you ever noticed how time blurs when you get older? My paternal grandfather was diagnosed with throat cancer. He was very ill, went through all sorts of treatments and then they decided to take out his voice box to see if that would contain the cancer. It did and he's still alive today, but he'll never speak with his wonderful voice again. I'll never hear him tell me the story of my daddy climbing out the window when he was a teenager (and landing in Grandpa's waiting arms lol). Or about one of his many adventures traveling the world, the beauty of Paris... the gondolas in Venice... the chips in London. He loved to tell stories.
My father's brother died from a horrible tumor that wrapped around his spinal cord in early 2013
September of 2013 I lost my Grandma Suzy, she'd been fighting cancer for a very long time. I wrote a post all about her right after her passing, which you can see here: http://soulsfiredesigns.blogspot.com/2013/09/elephants-can-remember.html
As you can see... cancer has touched my life. Cancer doesn't care who you are, it doesn't care how old you are, how wealthy, how beautiful... it just hurts. Devastates. Kills. It's real, it's big, and it affects so many. So many. TOO many. I pray. I pray every day that we find a cure. For every cancer. So that is my story, of dealing with cancer. I'm sorry it's not more eloquent, writing this post has taken me weeks... because it brings back memories. Painful ones. But I will say that being touched by it has made me more aware of my own mortality in a way that I hope will help me embrace life. Because I don't want to miss a moment, for we never know when everything will change.
Here are my two pieces, please excuse the pictures, it has been raining and the light is awful.
Thank you SO much Lori for organizing this and Heather for creating these amazing beads. This has been a truly wonderful experience and I am so blessed to know you both!
Here are the blogs to hop around, I hope you will visit as many as you can, this is such an important issue and we'd all love your support!
Your post really illustrates that cancer does not discriminate. Your pieces are lovely. I love the soothing color of your bean beads.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I wanted to choose colors that I knew I would wear often, to keep the awareness there, close by. Thank you so much for visiting and commenting, it means so much!
DeleteYour designs are lovely. A wonderful tribute.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tammy!
DeleteLovely pieces! Thanks for sharing your stories.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Liz!
DeleteYour jewelry designs are beautiful. I know so many people, both friend and family, whom have suffered from one form of cancer or another. It really is a cruel disease. Your design work is a wonderful tribute to those that have survived and honors the memory of those we've lost. Thank you so much for sharing your stories about your family members.
ReplyDeleteIt is cruel, may the cures be found... and sooner than later. Big hugs! Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteBeautiful bracelets, they are a lovely tribute to your cause. Thank you so much for sharing your story.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your words, Kim, I appreciate it!
DeleteThis has been so personal for so many of us, hasn't it? Beautiful work. Thinking of you Jennifer.
ReplyDeleteIt really has, Rebecca, it really has. Thank you so much for your words, I'm so blessed to know you! ((HUGS))
DeleteBeautiful pieces! I pray too for a cure some day.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Elisabeth! May it come soon!
DeleteIt is hard to find someone who has not been touched by cancer, one way or another. It is not common however to find someone who has dealt with it as often as you and your family. Your designs are beautiful tributes to your loved ones. Thank you
ReplyDeleteIt's so true, it seems to touch us all and so painfully. Thank you for your kind words, they mean more than you know!
DeleteThank you so much for sharing your touching story. I can imagine it must have been very difficult. You and your family have been going through a lot. I love your designs.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear about the loss of your family members. I too pray that there would be a cure for cancer and many other diseases. Thank you for sharing and I love your creation!!
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear about the loss of your family members. I too pray that there would be a cure for cancer and many other diseases. Thank you for sharing and I love your creation!!
ReplyDeleteYour post hits it on the nail head about cancer - it doesn't discriminate on who it targets. Thank you for sharing your story! Your pieces are just lovely - I love the color of the word bean - nice and soothing.
ReplyDeletePrayer is such a strong force, no matter in what you believe. Thank you for sharing your story !
ReplyDeleteCancer is such a devastating disease, and it seems to have hit your family hard, so sorry. Your bracelets capture a beautiful sentiment beautifully!
ReplyDeleteCancer just seems to touch everyone and is so devastating. Hugs to you for all you have gone through and for those you have lost. Your bracelets are a wonderful testament to those you love and have suffered.
ReplyDeleteTo me, "pray" is an incredibly powerful word. I'm so sorry for the things your family had to endure and am honored you chose to share them here.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! And beautiful designs. I really like the first one.
ReplyDeleteCancer is despicable. I'm so sorry for your losses. The power of prayer is extraordinary! Your designs are a great tribute to your cause.
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ReplyDeleteI am absolutely loving your gorgeous blog!I love this blog.Thanks for sharing.