The Old Ways

Not too long ago, we found out that my great uncle has cancer. He’d kept it from the family as long as he could. Last week, he went into the hospital and on Sunday they moved him into ICU. The cancer (prostrate cancer) has spread to the rest of his body. He does not want extraordinary measures.

He’s lived a long life. When I think of him, I think of him smiling and joking and his mustache. You could say the same for all my grandmother’s brothers really, all 5 of them. And my grandmother and her sister as well, um, except for the mustache part. :) I always loved it when they got together and told stories. There was always laughter.

But the cancer...well, the cancer has not been anything to smile or laugh about. The evilness that cancer is drained him of his health and filled him with pain. And I think that is the hardest part - watching someone you care about suffer. Cancer sucks.

Bolder, a fellow photoblogger, is trying to do something about it. If you can, please check out his blog and his website. Don't forget that there are lots of ways you can help fight cancer if you can't donate. As you all know, I like to make hats and I have been looking into ways that I can donate that way. I have found various charities that send hats to cancer patients to wear while they are going thru chemo and the hair loss that sometimes occurs. There are many ways you can help besides money, even if it's just spreading the word.

Bolder's blog

write2fight.com

Speaking of hats, I have not made one in a couple of months. In fact, I haven't been working on any of the projects I need to - a website, getting into stock photography, scanning all our old family photos to make books for my mom, sister, and I. Maybe a Spike book. ;) And trying to become the family chronicler, not only in photos, but in stories as well so they won't be lost. I've been asking my grandfather about his life and my grandmother's and I've learned so much. Some info that even my mom didn't know. I want to do more of that before the stories about the old ways are gone.

The Old Ways - Loreena McKennitt

So...I'm going to be here at photoblog a whole lot less. I was debating about deleting my account because photoblog is so addicting I can't seem to stay off it. ;) But I would miss you all too much. So, instead I will try to post just once a week so I can fit in all the other projects.