Writing

If I could choose just one thing I wish people would stop saying to me, it might be this -- “You’re such a strong person.” There were a whole lot of things people said during my cancer treatment that didn’t work for me. This was just one of them. In fact, I wrote an entire piece called “ 10 Things Not to Say to Someone with Cancer, and What to Say Instead.” It’s on my blog somewhere, and I think on TikTok as well. I wrote this in April of 2021, during the first anniversary m

Last April, my newsletter posting was entitled, “Am I Cancer Free?” Since April is the anniversary month of my breast cancer diagnosis in April of 2020, I’m usually asking myself a lot of questions about where I am post-cancer treatment in April. Now it’s October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Almost five years since I completed treatment for Type 2 breast Cancer. I don’t like “awareness months.” If people have to be forced into being aware of something, how reachable are th

In 2019, I wrote, produced, and starred in a one-woman musical show on my 65th birthday. I still hate looking at the DVD. I was at my highest weight. Nothing I wore (and yes, there were several costume changes) looked good. I looked like a fat woman singing. We all know what happened in 2020. The COVID pandemic. By this time Ernie and I lived in a downtown high rise with its own little gym and swimming pool. I chose the building largely because of its athletic facilities. I h

I was definitely gaining weight back. As I moved through several job changes, I needed more variety and larger sizes in my business...

1972 - 1982 In the fall of 1972, I started freshman year at Northwestern University. I’d survived long enough to make it to college!!! I...

As I write this, I’m at my lowest body weight in years. I’m happy with how I look – at least, as happy as any woman can be in the...

I am a writer, a musician, and a sexual abuse survivor.  I have authored two books. I have performed my music at clubs and events in both...

Most of you reading this are now going to think I’ve started to ask myself some really stupid questions. Of course, Jean, you are an...

Last week, Kirk, my swim coach, pulled me aside after a lesson and told me, “Jean, in all honesty, I have to tell you something.” Oh oh....

Who knew that Mother’s Day was such a great day to run errands? She stood six persons back in line at the bookstore, musing idly as she...

Yes, I was writing another book. A book of poems, although later I would hire an illustrator. Things just kept happening, and I turned...

So there I was, sleepless in my bedroom, night after night, with my childhood nemesis, MOTHER’S JEWELRY, at the foot of my bed. I felt...

Who knew that Mother’s Day was such a great day to run errands? She stood six persons back in line at the bookstore, musing idly as she...

As I write this, I am not wearing any jewelry.  That’s because I’m still in my pajamas.  Early morning is my best writing time. However,...

I swim for exercise three to four times a week. I have a wonderful pool in my building, a quick elevator ride away. Lucky lucky me! So...