Three years ago I created Incurable Blessings and rented my own little sacred corner of the internet. It was December 27th, I know, because that will be the day this year I either need to renew my three-year lease or move out. The landlords have bumped the rent enough to force me to ask myself some important questions. Most importantly, do I even want to live here anymore? My blog began as a hobby, a way to pass the days while I waited for my body to recover from the trauma of a stem cell transplant. And perhaps, I thought, a way to make money so I could work from home alongside the comprom ..read more

I found this lovely image on Pixabay, contributed by a member with the username Prettysleepy. It drew me in with its vibrant colors. And I recognized myself in it — a woman trying desperately to still and focus her mind amidst the colorful and noisy backdrop of life. Images can succinctly and powerfully convey an emotion, tell a story and evoke a sense of mystery — sometimes better than even the most carefully chosen words. I write, so I enjoy creating mental images with words. But even my creative outlet has become more difficult since the pandemic began. I would like to deny the uneas ..read more

I didn’t want to end 2020 without a final post. And this isn’t it.  But for now I’d like to wish all of you a sincere happy holidays. It’s been a tough year for many, if not all, of us. And while most of us can’t be together in person, we can reach out to each other with affection and appreciation. Despite the heated political division, racial injustice, and wildly opposing views on the pandemic this year, I am still convinced we are more alike than we are different. We all want the same things — to be loved and appreciated for who we are, the freedom to express ourselves, and to find s ..read more

Not only does September bring change in colors and temperatures in Minnesota, it also marks a significant change in health care coverage for me. On September 1st, I started on Medicare. If you’ve been following my blog, you know that I am celebrating five decades of life by writing about fifty new and different things that I’ve experienced since turning 50. Starting on Medicare is now on the big list. And soon, so will be paying a fortune for prescription drugs. Back when I was teaching full time and running every day, I didn’t give much of a thought to the health care system or to the pric ..read more

 It’s hard to believe that not even three years ago, I was the crazy teacher lady who, while putting in 60+ hours a week, joined the pushup club after school and then went home to cook dinner and mow the lawn. It’s even harder to believe that two years ago I was recovering from surgery while preparing for a stem cell transplant. I wasn’t even looking for new and different then, but life offered it to me in spades. I still haven’t mowed my own lawn since my transplant almost two years ago. My body tires easily and often and without warning. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t seriously grie ..read more

It’s time for another new thing: Nancy’s Point Summer 2020 Blogging Challenge. I discovered Nancy Stordahl and her blog on Twitter not long ago. She writes candidly about breast cancer and loss and has published 3 books to help those facing the difficulties of a breast cancer diagnosis. This challenge is also a blog hop, so a list of all the bloggers doing this challenge will be posted at the bottom, allowing readers to hop from one blog to another. I’ve never done a blog hop before, so it’s now one of my 50 new things since turning 50! As part of this challenge, I’ll answer 8 questions that ..read more

In my last post I mentioned that to celebrate turning 50, I’d keep a list of fifty new or different things I’ve done since reaching this half-a-century milestone. And I committed to telling you about each one. Like all new things in life, some we choose, and others seem to choose us. Either way, we learn to see life with new and different eyes. The unpleasant and unforeseen remind us of both the inherent impermanence and unpredictability of a life we sometimes think we have planned out indefinitely. For me, they have been catalysts for spiritual renewal and inner transformation, reminders to ..read more

I feel like I’m walking into the office after a long vacation. I’m looking around, wondering where I left off, what I missed, trying to recall where I put everything. And all my coworkers are staring in anticipatory envy, waiting to hear of far and wide adventures. Must have been one helluva vacation. And it has been a vacation of sorts, the only kind I can safely take during a pandemic. But I also simply haven’t known what to say. And I’ve questioned if what I’ve had to say would only detract from those who know more and do more and say it more eloquently. From the socioeconomic devastation ..read more

My son’s parent-teacher conferences were a few days ago. His dad took him to sunny and warm California for the long break. I thought I’d be a good momma and former teacher and attend his conferences. I knew it wasn’t the best idea to walk into a large, brick petri dish during the height of flu season but figured it was early on a weekday; most parents would have attended the evening before. I managed to enjoy a few conversations before the relentless, productive coughing of a young child in the hallway sent me flying out of the building faster than the 757 that took my son to Palm Springs. S ..read more

Valentine’s Day 2020 came and went this year like any other day. I spent the day with a friend figuring out how to install a shower pan (correctly) into my dismantled downstairs bathroom. And other than mailing a few cards to friends and loved ones, I didn’t participate much in the romantic Hallmark holiday. I thought about getting myself some flowers but settled for a few bottles of organic carrot juice instead. It’s sweet and delicious, and it reminds me of the days I drank so much my skin actually turned orange. Those were my tee-totaling, pre-cancer days when I was sure that fresh, organ ..read more