Don’t pass go

I'm over on Substack now and I wrote a piece on not listening to my body during an early spring adventure. Give it a read: https://bentcolumn.substack.com/p/dont-pass-go

Vampire hike

We headed out on a hike around noon. While I typically try to avoid the hottest time of the day for physical exertion, it was a day that skewed cooler. Wearing shorts, a shirt and a hat, I lathered on sunscreen and sprayed a thick cloud of skin-friendly yet reliable bug repellent. There were a …

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It’s still raining

I don’t know how long it takes for something to be obvious. How many individual accounts of the same story? How frequently do we need to see the same symptoms? When do they, the people and institutions in power, connect the dots or follow the strings? More and more often, journalists and celebrities are publicly …

Can I eat this?

No fiber. No fat. My diet is pretty much the antithesis of commonly practiced healthy guidelines. Gastroparesis is an up and down condition. It flares and wanes depending on many things, some of which you have no control over. Pain, nausea, and vomiting are often relentless. Since gastroparesis is basically a paralyzed stomach, learning major …

The end isn’t near

I moved again! Not far this time, but the arduous process of packing, unpacking, and settling in doesn’t seem to fluctuation depending on distance. It’s always time consuming and energy zapping. As I’ve written about before, I have moving down to a bit of a science. This was no different, with one major exception: My …

Logs on the fire

Four days ago, I was diagnosed with cancer. I’m still in shock. I had no symptoms or indicators. During my annual gynecological visit, they did a pap. It isn’t a requirement or even recommended to do a pap for every visit, but my doctor is diligent because of my chronic conditions and family history. A …

Sustain-able

Can any of us live “sustainably” with a chronic illness? I aspire to leaving a small carbon footprint. The IG-worthy images of reusable and minimalist lifestyles appeal to me. The idea of living light and making a more positive than negative impact on my surroundings… that all feels very right. Unfortunately, those desires tend to …

Invisible proof

What you didn’t know, was that you would spend the rest of your life trying to convince people that you are broken. Even as you wrestle with the daily mindfuck that is surviving with invisible conditions, people need you to prove your pain and symptoms. Your word isn’t enough. Descriptions of any detail will never …

Eddie would go

I had the blessing of a childhood tightly intertwined with nature. Instead of days spent with a television babysitter or smartphone appendage, I was nearly always outdoors. Rain, shine, or storm I was outside with only my imagination, friends, and ingenuity.  The reason I’m highlighting my relationship with growing up in a nature-filled life, is …

So many sorrys

We’ve been apologizing for as long as I can remember. Saying sorry to anyone who happens to see you on a hard day. Cowering to the people who consider our existence an inconvenience. Trying to soothe the awkwardness of those around us when we are flaring.  From the first time I was brought into the …