Pet ownership vs. our lost nouns

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 1 Comment

by Carolyn Thomas   ❤️   Heart Sisters (on Blue Sky)

We know that cognitive decline as we get older is a major public health concern that’s been linked to diminished quality of life. For example, I’ve been noticing small yet alarming changes in my own brain function – not only because I’m getting older every year, but now my breast cancer chemotherapy treatments have suddenly introduced the scary reality of what’s called chemo brain fog.

It’s real, and it’s awful.

Here’s an example of how an average family conversation might now sound.
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Remember when food tasted like food?

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 11 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas   ❤️   Heart Sisters (on Blue Sky)

It all started with a burger a few weeks ago.

My lovely daughter-in-law Paula had picked up a takeout lunch for me from the village. The burger looked perfect:  a freshly baked crusty bun, butter lettuce, juicy ripe tomato slices, yellow mustard and garlic dill pickle relish. I took a nice big bite – and then immediately spat it out onto my plate. Continue reading “Remember when food tasted like food?” →

Optimistic, pessimistic or realistic: take your pick

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 10 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas   ❤️   Heart Sisters (on Blue Sky)

As far back as I can remember, I have always been one of those annoyingly cheerful early morning people who bounce out of bed most mornings, raring to go.  And so when  I first heard the term “optimism bias”, my immediate reaction was:”That’s me!”  But there’s apparently far more to optimism bias than bouncing cheerfully out of bed.  (And my own mornings are admittedly less bouncy lately, given that I’m approaching Round 3 of chemotherapy for breast cancer, including a whack of side effects that have often felt like being run over by a large bus).
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It’s not what you know, or who you know, but who knows you

~ Carolyn Thomas ~ 4 Comments

by Carolyn Thomas   ❤️   Heart Sisters (on Blue Sky)

Almost exactly one year ago, I started feverishly begging everyone I know to please-please-please ask their own family doctors to take on just one more new patient (ME!) despite every family practice clinic in town having a policy of  “Not Accepting Any New Patients” during a doctor shortage.

And my wonderful longtime family doctor had just sent out a “Dear Valued Patient”  letter, announcing her upcoming retirement by Christmas time. Worse – her letter said she’d been unable to arrange a replacement physician for her patients.
Continue reading “It’s not what you know, or who you know, but who knows you” →