Survivor? Victim? Another guy.

Leroy Sievers talks about the words we apply to people who have cancer:

... in the end, I think that we are all just people, who happen to have gotten a disease. What more do you need to say?

I took off my yellow LiveStrong bracelet the other day. It was a symbol that didn't fit particularly well, even though I had the disease. Actually, I didn't take it off. It came off when I pulled off a mitten, and I just let it stay where it landed.

I've worn it a very long time, yet it never really fit, much like Leroy's point about survivor or victim. And it was a relief of sorts to finally let it drop.

11:16:17 PM   permalink: []   feedback:   comments: []  

Humboldt, Agnosticism and Atheism

Chris Clarke talks about Alexander von Humboldt, agnosticism, atheism and that which is nameless that sometimes orbits near the latter two:

Agnosticism and atheism and ...:

To me, the word atheist implies that the person so labeling thinks the designation is important. Agnostic implies to me that the person being labeled cares enough to have reserved judgement for some later date.

As for me, I do not think that the question is there a god? is in any way an important question.

von Humboldt:

Few now know he existed and yet his influence on modern life is immeasurable: the opposite of God as described by those who carry pitchforks.

All this from reading a book. Pitchforks!

11:03:28 PM   permalink: []   feedback:   comments: []  

I'll Go With You

She told him she was going to the bookstore and then the drugstore and that she'd take the dog for a walk afterwards.

He nodded and said, I'll go with you.

Are you sure? she asked, smiling.

Sure, he said, and he returned to his keyboard, figuring he had a good 45 minutes until she got back.

A minute later she asked, Are you ready? Her voice was peppy, happy.

And he realized then that she understood his I'll go with you to mean to the store instead of when you take the dog for a walk. And now her are you sure? smile made more sense.

He sat at his desk for a moment in silence with his fingers still on the keyboard debating whether or not to explain. ...but the smile on her face. ...and the peppy spring in her voice. She was waiting for him at the door.

He went and got his jacket.

9:23:01 PM   permalink: []   feedback:   comments: []