Reflections from My Stowe Weekend of Hope

May 4, 2010

I went to Stowe last weekend planning to take a lot of workshops and put more skills into my arsenal of survivorship.  But, like the best laid plans, I didn’t attend all the workshops I had circled on the schedule.   Instead, I made a lot of friends and learned more from the survivors around me that I ever could have imagined. 

I met George Kansas who writes and speaks about ‘Jumper Cables for the Soul.”  We are going to collaborate on writing and speaking, but more importantly on friendship.

I met Pauline Alghieri who founded “Friends of Mel,” to honor her dear friend who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2005.  The bracelets Mel made to cheer others during chemotherapy are still being made by her ‘friends’ and the profit from them funds cancer research, education and support programs.

I met Carrie Host a young mother living with chronic cancer who wrote Between Me and the River, a beautiful, tender story about a woman who is supported by friendships, love of family and the dedication of doctors.

I met a stunning 32 year old woman, bald from chemotherapy and wondered if she could be any more beautiful with hair.

I met Carl and Jane who helped lead me on my own spiritual path.

But most importantly, I met me.  I had time to reflect on my beautiful surroundings, take long walks, think uninterruptedly (yes, I turned off my Blackberry) and try to figure out where I want to be today, tomorrow, and in the future that I am lucky enough to have.

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