18 July 2013

Blogs




Ten years ago I doubt if I knew what a blog was. Now I have 6. This is the main blog and where I put most of my time. I also have my Surface Design Workshop blog which is a business blog, my What I can see from here watercolor blog, my Maine Coast Fiberarts which is where I moved everything from my website when I closed it down. I started a private blog for a few friends who wanted to work on Jane Dunnewolds book, Finding your own Visual Language and I grabbed my name as a blog just because.

When I was getting my masters degree, an important part of my research was spent defining what constituted community. What is community? Basically what community came down to was a group of people united by an ethnicity (Italian), a cause (Earth First), a location (neighborhood) or any other major impetus that united them. In the literature back as far as 1997 when I was writing, researcher alluded to internet communities. I thought this was absurd. How could you have a community of people who can't even see one another. Well...now I know.

A community of people have come to this blog and interacted, shared their thoughts and in many cases their life stories with me via email and I feel as close to those people as any friends I have here in Maine. Some of those connections are 4 years old.

Now I have some unpleasant news to share with my online community. A few weeks ago I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. The 11th, I had surgery to removed the "lump" along with all my lymph nodes in my arm pit. Tuesday, the 16th, I will have a bone scan and CT scan to see if there is cancer anywhere else. My chemo starts in 3 weeks and afterward radiation. Both of these treatments will leave me a bit fatigued.

My goal is to continue to keep up this blog only for as long as I can even if it is only one post a week. I find it therapeutic plus I have come to really appreciate contact with all of my online friends.

This may have been a poor venue for sharing my recent news but there is really no good way of delivery these facts. I struggled with telling those who read my blog at all but I just felt it was the right thing to do.

So keep posted and I will keep sharing my adventures in surface design and life in general.
Beth

18 comments:

  1. Beth, I am so sorry to hear your news, but very glad you felt you could share it with those of us who have come to think of you as a friend. I will be praying for you and sending healing thoughts every day, and hope with all my heart that you get through this and continue to create and inspire so many of us! My surface design teacher and friend Melly Testa was diagnosed about 2 years ago, went through surgery, chemo, radiation, and is doing well, so I know that the treatments used today are much more effective than when my Mother was diagnosed back in the 50's. Please just focus on getting better, and know that there are many of us out here in cyberspace pulling for you!
    Hugs and well wishes,
    Judy

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  2. I'm so sorry for your news. I want to echo what Judy said. Share what you want when you want. We will all still be here while you are going through treatment and healing. I hope you have time and energy for some creativity too. That's good medicine for your soul. Good luck with all of your treatments and tests.

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  3. That is no good news. So very sorry to hear that. I hope we can keep in contact. I'll think of you!

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  4. Beth I'm so sorry to hear your news - I hope you will feel well enough to pop in here occasionally, we will all be here!
    Take care - you are in my thoughts

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  5. I am so verry sorry for this bad news. Belgium is thinking about you and sent all the healing vibes you shal need now.

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  6. You've been in my thoughts since I heard this news from Judith a couple of weeks ago--hope you've been receiving positive vibes. I'm glad you shared your news here on-line because so many people do care, even if we are only on-line friends. Hope you are able to do some creative things while you are going through these treatments. Take care!

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  7. So sorry to hear this Beth. You will be in my thoughts.

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  8. Beth I am so sorry to hear this news. I have not been here very long with you, but from quick emails I know you are a lovely person. Colour and creativity will get you through this, along with the drugs :(
    Light and hope
    Jane x

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  9. I do so appreciate you and your blog but most importantly I appreciate your kind support on an ongoing basis for the past few years. You are always there with a word of encouragement and I thank you for that. And for your honesty with us.

    I will be here cheering you on as you battle onward and regain your health. Prayers , thoughts and happy hugs-I am selfishly glad you will continue to blog as I continue to learn from you.

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  10. Of course I'm sorry to hear this Beth, even though we've been just getting to know one another. But I feel that you're a bit of a kindred spirit and will be rooting for you from my corner of the world. It is good that today the prognosis for this disease has improved considerably and I know quite a few women who have survived this and are now thriving as you will too!

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  11. Beth what a tragic news, I hope that you have the struggle in you, too keep your head up and thinking that there are wonders. I hope that you will inform us about your journey. Good luck

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  12. So sorry to hear this Beth.Stay positive! Many people cured of breast cancer.You will be in my thoughts.

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  13. Beth, I hate to hear this news, but you are a warrior. Cancer doesn't stand a chance with you. You have an army of people to support you both on-line and off. Stay positive and strong. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

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  14. my thoughts are with you, wishing you a speedy recovery. Take care!!

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  15. Dear Beth, terrible news to hear. If anyone made these online communities work, it is you, as we all know. Always appreciating, kind, supporting, enouraging. I can only but hope that this will return to you, now that you need us. My thoughts are with you, and your family, putting you 'in the light' as we call it in the Netherlands. All the best and a big big hug.

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  16. So sorry to hear your news. Sending you thoughts, prayers and good vibes for a speedy and complete recovery. I am a 13 year BC survivor. BC treatment has come a long way.

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  17. Oh Beth... I'm way behind on checking in on my favorite blogs. Flying through them today when I saw this post. I'm so very sorry to hear your news. Hugs, loving light, and strength to you. You'll be in my thoughts.

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  18. That is very scared What have you chosen a great project for the chemo process to get through. I wish you much strength ..

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