tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65895725392030055042024-03-19T03:47:35.908-04:00FieldNotes from Natural MedicineLife through the lens of my beloved field of medicineFieldNotes from Natural Medicinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898840901188522980noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589572539203005504.post-14394004150669159562018-03-04T18:52:00.000-05:002018-03-04T18:52:06.452-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Optima-Regular; font-size: 14px;"> </span><a href="http://bit.ly/2FnIORI" style="font-family: Optima-Regular; font-size: 14px;">http://bit.ly/2FnIORI A little piece published today---, click on link to left to read full piece! xo Amy</a></div>
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FieldNotes from Natural Medicinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898840901188522980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589572539203005504.post-75527201304476757922018-03-04T18:40:00.000-05:002018-03-04T18:40:32.779-05:00Naturopathic healthcare winter newsletter-march 2018<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">With a piece on c. diff!</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">https://tinyurl.com/nhcmed2018</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">xoxo </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Amy</span></span></b></div>
FieldNotes from Natural Medicinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898840901188522980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589572539203005504.post-68583849134817928662017-12-29T10:53:00.000-05:002017-12-29T10:55:28.345-05:00Naturopathic Health Care Happy New Year Newsletter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
FieldNotes from Natural Medicine- our latest practice <a href="https://tinyurl.com/y9xn9p5x" target="_blank">newsletter</a>. Enjoy and Happy New Year 2018!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDB4-wqLLxxeKBeHdOY0ZZ4lL1N-RiV8D0fse3bDlDEmRwAKoPHX4huCo-uh3O6LnVPrPQcQ0mcxecJd6H0MIwbwk51anndtO6_iDCpkw8AyWeLYHJ2O-QrHB-rmXc9cgIyv1wkn8SRmHm/s1600/IMG_6509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDB4-wqLLxxeKBeHdOY0ZZ4lL1N-RiV8D0fse3bDlDEmRwAKoPHX4huCo-uh3O6LnVPrPQcQ0mcxecJd6H0MIwbwk51anndtO6_iDCpkw8AyWeLYHJ2O-QrHB-rmXc9cgIyv1wkn8SRmHm/s320/IMG_6509.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting my winter sunshine!<br /></td></tr>
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FieldNotes from Natural Medicinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898840901188522980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589572539203005504.post-27451220775247838782017-12-28T10:37:00.002-05:002017-12-28T10:37:25.018-05:00Tips to Stay Healthy During Winter Travel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8D5Xlce_qQ4Towkxa7Q9sM1g4D4gMxGiC_nOQ4o8Pd5gb0Qr0LxXzntz0oQMucFs2TDZt5A6BNkek64t9xaltoVp85JUGnJ_494uAVQ9XhyphenhyphenDOykhjt-slNus-Br4n2ZLacd0OdwScVVvW/s1600/5a3d580b210000a9095f5926-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="547" data-original-width="820" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8D5Xlce_qQ4Towkxa7Q9sM1g4D4gMxGiC_nOQ4o8Pd5gb0Qr0LxXzntz0oQMucFs2TDZt5A6BNkek64t9xaltoVp85JUGnJ_494uAVQ9XhyphenhyphenDOykhjt-slNus-Br4n2ZLacd0OdwScVVvW/s320/5a3d580b210000a9095f5926-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Here's a recent piece from the Huffington Post you might find useful.<br />
<br />
Enjoy!<br />
AMY<br />
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/tips-to-stay-healthy-while-traveling-this-winter-season_us_5a3d55d2e4b06cd2bd03da6e</div>
FieldNotes from Natural Medicinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898840901188522980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589572539203005504.post-9253892932641718062017-04-21T23:07:00.000-04:002017-04-21T23:12:49.111-04:00Naturopathic medicine’s role in fighting the opioid crisis<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I wrote this <a href="http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2017/04/20/naturopathic-medicine-role-fighting-opioid-crisis/8mxd3RtVdRuZglLnC5TbRJ/story.html">piece</a> a while back & it was just published in the <i><a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2017/04/20/naturopathic-medicine-role-fighting-opioid-crisis/8mxd3RtVdRuZglLnC5TbRJ/story.html" target="_blank">Boston Globe.</a></i><br />
Unfortunately they cut out some of the parts I liked best AND ALL the references, so I've just put my entire piece up on the <i>Huffington Post</i> and can be read <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/naturopathic-medicines-role-in-fighting-the-opioid_us_58fac174e4b0f420ad99c7aa" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
Natural medicine has so much to offer patients suffering with chronic pain-- let's hope the right patients get to the right doctor when in need!<br />
Love & light,<br />
AMY<br />
<br /></div>
FieldNotes from Natural Medicinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898840901188522980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589572539203005504.post-29376800919309490992017-01-14T12:29:00.002-05:002017-01-14T12:58:55.939-05:00Governor Baker Signs Bill to License Naturopathic Doctors in Massachusetts<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "optima"; font-size: medium;">Thrilled to share our happy, happy news after a 24 year effort!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "optima"; font-size: medium;">Thank you for all your love & support in getting this over the finish line!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "optima"; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "optima"; font-size: medium;">Here's an op-ed I wrote right before this bill was signed into law!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/columns/2017/01/08/naturopathic-medicine-good-for-massachusetts/hfLdp9qUIcmqz9R6t5lUYL/story.html<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywRqrfrpUhyphenhyphenjP-zyObca4GjNcYJAI4ldnemCMQ_REg46crimAcfl7jWpDi9WpHoi-rruVgol8Sq8O-V9IWMpGZ4tTpCkfL7vFa3LF2r_x6tF6AfacOEWgNsQb3T0Z2Liy3O8Nw0kCABj8/s1600/paul+%2526+i++at+state+house+IMG_3695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhywRqrfrpUhyphenhyphenjP-zyObca4GjNcYJAI4ldnemCMQ_REg46crimAcfl7jWpDi9WpHoi-rruVgol8Sq8O-V9IWMpGZ4tTpCkfL7vFa3LF2r_x6tF6AfacOEWgNsQb3T0Z2Liy3O8Nw0kCABj8/s400/paul+%2526+i++at+state+house+IMG_3695.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here we are at the State House the day before the Governor signed the bill!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And the press release that went out today:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "optima"; font-size: medium;">Boston,
Massachusetts, January 12, 2017.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "optima"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Governor Charlie
Baker signed into law a bill that offers licensure to naturopathic doctors
(NDs) in Massachusetts. This licensure ensures the safe practice of
naturopathic medicine in the Baystate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "optima"; font-size: 14.0pt;">A
grassroots effort led by thousands of grateful patients helped get this
legislation over the finish line. Massachusetts’ residents will now be able to
access ND care locally instead of crossing state lines to seek such care. All
New England states, save Rhode Island, have licensed NDs for over 20 years.
This law affords people of Massachusetts an option to include well-educated and
trained NDs on their health care team for the ND expertise in both preventive
medicine and natural integrative care.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "optima"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Naturopathic
doctors</span><span style="color: #363636; font-family: "optima"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> are rigorously
trained in post graduate, four-year, in-residence, regionally and nationally
accredited naturopathic medical schools. Graduates pass psychometrically sound
examinations prior to eligibility for licensure and require industry standard
continuing education coursework.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="color: #363636; font-family: "optima"; font-size: 14.0pt;">There has been a paradigm shift in
attitudes and acceptance of natural and integrative medicine, which is ongoing.
Scientific rigor applied to the evaluation of empirically based nutritional,
botanical, and other naturopathic treatments continues. Numerous naturopathic
institutions are recipients of National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding and
other grants to advance medical research. Naturopathic doctors have been
awarded competitive NIH fellowships.</span><span style="font-family: "optima"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "optima"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Amy
Rothenberg ND, president of the Massachusetts Society of Naturopathic Doctors
(MSND) reports, "I, along with my colleagues in Massachusetts and across
the country, look forward to the opportunity to join the ranks of health care
providers in the Commonwealth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
applaud Governor Baker and the legislative process that studied and vetted this
profession for over 24 years and came to understand the unique role that
licensed NDs can play in the state.“<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "optima"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Paul
Herscu ND, MPH and </span><span style="color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 14.0pt;">MSND<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></span><span style="font-family: "optima"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Legislative Chair furthers, “Naturopathic doctors are
poised to bring evidence based knowledge and expertise to the Massachusetts
clinical, public health, teaching and research settings.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "optima"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“This is
the second state to gain licensure within the last two months. Governor Wolf of
Pennsylvania signed a bill into law in November, bringing to 22 the number of
states and jurisdictions that recognize naturopathic medicine,” states Anne McClenon
ND of Plymouth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "optima"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Because
Massachusetts is surrounded by licensed states, we had become a haven for those
without appropriate education and training to use the term naturopathic
doctor,” comments Lisa Arnold ND of Cape Cod. This law protects public health
by enabling Massachusetts’ citizens to understand credentials of practitioners
seen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "optima"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“We have
a long history in licensed states of providing safe and effective care. In the
weeks leading up to Governor Baker’s signing this bill, high level state politicians,
Secretaries of Health and Human Services, and members of Departments of Public
Health from licensed states weighed in with their positive experiences with
naturopathic medicine in their respective states,” adds Allison Willette, ND
from Hadley. In addition, insurance company executives, leaders from the
business world, medical researchers along with scores of medical doctors and
other allied health professionals contacted Governor Baker urging the signing
of this bill. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<span style="font-family: "optima"; font-size: 14.0pt;">In licensed
states, NDs work collaboratively with allied health providers, whether from
private practice, in integrative clinics or health care centers, and in clinics
that care for the underserved. Massachusetts patients will now be able to
safely access the skills and expertise of NDs in the Baystate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Massachusetts
Society of Naturopathic Doctors (MSND) is the professional association
representing licensable naturopathic doctors in the Commonwealth. </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "optima"; font-size: 14.0pt;">For further information please contact <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><a href="http://msnd.org/contact-us/"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "optima"; font-size: 14.0pt;">http://msnd.org/contact-us/</span></i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "optima"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
FieldNotes from Natural Medicinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898840901188522980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589572539203005504.post-79439976180050535862017-01-01T22:51:00.003-05:002017-01-01T22:57:21.586-05:00<div class="MsoNormal">
Leg of Lamb</div>
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Happy New Year!</div>
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During our holiday week, dear friends came over for dinner. We
had the idea of making something new. So I found a choice specimen at the
market of the required ingredient and came home to find Paul riveted to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">YouTube</i> watching a French chef expertly
preparing a leg of lamb. One part
of the operation required Paul poke gentle holes in the leg, insert a sprig of
rosemary on which he had wrapped a curled up anchovy and a clove of garlic. These
flavor spears dotted the meat here and there and made for a pretty display. As
basically a life long vegetarian, this production might well have given me
pause, but actually there was a bit of a thrill, when some hours later, with a
modicum of artistry, Paul presented that leg on a bed of wavy kale, dotted with
raspberries on one side and succulent green grapes piled high on the other.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Life came rushing back in for me during 2016.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just pretty much said YES to
everything in 2015, to every invitation, every date, every new opportunity. And
then in 2016, I had to make good on my word! It was a whirlwind year with many
blessings and opportunities in both work & play. We saw each of our kids
take giant leaps professionally, we welcomed new people into our lives and
celebrated our 30<sup>th</sup> wedding anniversary. A big ballroom dance party
where among other things, I
debuted my new (fledgling) skill- tap dancing, for which I had secretly taken
lessons for months. It’s hard to surprise a lifelong partner and Paul was
flabbergasted—just the reaction I was going for! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
My health is excellent and my spirits run high. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And all of this over the backdrop of so much trouble in the world
and an unknowable future. I lean on many of the tools I sharpened during
illness to stay grounded and centered and forward facing, during the much
larger, deeply concerning national and global stresses of our time.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We all sit poised to welcome 2017 into our lives, to vision
it, to create it, live it, enjoy it and wring out all the goodness we can find.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Learning ballroom dance cracked
our world open to the thrill of learning something new, doing something
strange, meeting people whose paths we’d probably otherwise never cross, taking
chances, being silly, doing something just cause it’s fun. Sometimes we look at
each other and say, what else should we try? What else should we learn? What else can we get good at? Where else
can we let this life take us? Watching Paul wrap those little anchovies around that sturdy sprig of rosemary,
I loved that, a small gesture, the familiar hands, the focused concentration, something
I’d never see him do before. </div>
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<br /></div>
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I don’t know what your leg of lamb will be this year, but
hopefully there will be a few things, some smaller, some bigger that tickle
your fancy, enliven your tastebuds, bring new energy and love into your life. </div>
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<br />
May we all be blessed for a healthy & happy New Year in
a world of peace.</div>
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With love & light,</div>
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AMY<br />
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCX-oB0loXjDc-WkMy6zW-RWVWl9qvIpAzcD4T-R1Q17LvlRT7bQhxhkRivzzEvI9O_zt_IT-AB_1TfKSkJ46jq_tYK_9P7Dp2AqESkLVpRPplsvNrPvF4gkrqXlz6wiCD6muntm93xNtx/s1600/paul+and+amy+quabbin+new+years+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCX-oB0loXjDc-WkMy6zW-RWVWl9qvIpAzcD4T-R1Q17LvlRT7bQhxhkRivzzEvI9O_zt_IT-AB_1TfKSkJ46jq_tYK_9P7Dp2AqESkLVpRPplsvNrPvF4gkrqXlz6wiCD6muntm93xNtx/s320/paul+and+amy+quabbin+new+years+2017.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Year's Day Hike. Quabbin Reservoir Snow & Sand!</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
FieldNotes from Natural Medicinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898840901188522980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589572539203005504.post-72175784689489915002015-12-31T09:06:00.003-05:002015-12-31T09:58:50.727-05:00Clarity<blockquote type="cite">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear All,</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Just had my one year full body scan and got the ALL CLEAR! Got me thinking about the New Year & the idea of clarity and a memory I have from years ago. As a young mother I loved carrying Sophie in a front pack while walking along a promenade that followed the curves of an oxbow on the Missouri river near my house. Each week I’d pass one house in particular where an older couple lived. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Fridays was window-washing day apparently, and she stood, in apron and hair scarf, on the inside of their grand bay window. He, in overalls and a feedcap was on the outside. With window cleaner & rags in hand, they each did their part. She wiped only up & down, he only side to side. In this way they knew whose streaks needed tending and how to get the cleanest windows to insure their pristine water view. Around this time with the New Year about to begin, I think about them, their routine, their goal, their simple division of labor and how I often yearn for the same things: clarity, vision & a view!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9V_aGUp7_L_KYceaja8WJRjEJ1OuzSCphM3W8bhvGLbs1t9b0SExE2g5Il6qPlLXLF45yE2kyS2Mk5v1SXqMk0rn-XyvmdGJmMxqMtCekiAQ-9eEbokKkilEJPI7Rf71hh-C_VxS68K6M/s1600/IMG_20150917_151911_934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9V_aGUp7_L_KYceaja8WJRjEJ1OuzSCphM3W8bhvGLbs1t9b0SExE2g5Il6qPlLXLF45yE2kyS2Mk5v1SXqMk0rn-XyvmdGJmMxqMtCekiAQ-9eEbokKkilEJPI7Rf71hh-C_VxS68K6M/s320/IMG_20150917_151911_934.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Mary's Cove, Nova Scotia, Fall 2015</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">My wish for this year beyond good health for all & peace in our crazy world is that we each have clarity in our relationships both at home & beyond and clarity in our goals, personal & professional. May we continue to envision & cultivate a peaceful and healthy planet and may we each have time to take in and appreciate the views along the way. Happy New Year from our home to yours! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Love & light,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">AMY</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span><br />
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<div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Optima;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Optima;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span></span></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Optima;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Optima;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Optima; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
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</blockquote>
FieldNotes from Natural Medicinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898840901188522980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589572539203005504.post-224717675862796632015-10-22T18:25:00.003-04:002015-10-22T18:25:40.389-04:00Short Videos about Breast Cancer <br />
In August 2014, after completing my care for breast cancer & before the ovarian cancer diagnosis, I was at my national convention in Arizona. Colleagues were making videos of NDs speaking on various topics. I declined the invitation to speak about my experience with breast cancer; one reason is that I did not want myself frozen in that time and didn't want to focus on what I'd just been through. But a friend & colleague, Rick Brinkman ND, who was doing the videoing and would do the editing circled back around to me a few days in and convinced me I should just do it-- could be valuable to people going through something similar. So--- here I am, threw them up on the web in a recent Huffington Post piece, during National Naturopathic Medicine Week earlier this month.<br />
Love & light,<br />
AMY<br />
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amy-rothenberg-nd/naturopathic-medicine-wee_b_8260790.htmlFieldNotes from Natural Medicinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898840901188522980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589572539203005504.post-30413384891611552872015-08-20T00:30:00.001-04:002015-10-22T18:27:46.278-04:00Technicolor<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I finally figured how to wear headphones under my helmut,
attach my car key to my rollerblades & tuck a water flask into my
waistband. Now I can rollerblade long swaths of the newly paved, smooth-as-glass
bike path, to music I love, <i>and</i> stay
hydrated on these 90 degree days. I dancer-blade really, with my arms extended, swaying
to the music, my legs kicking out in rhythm to the songs I hear. It’s true, I may look a bit
nutty, but I may occasionally look graceful & certainly enraptured.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I keep having experiences like that, where I feel a kind of
intensity of aliveness, pleasure, connection & joy. It’s not like I never
felt these things before, but this year, everything measures up in contrast to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">last</i> year; it’s as if my life used to be
in black & white & now it’s all in Technicolor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I felt that on the dance floor tonight with a favorite partner, eating a peach at the kitchen table this
afternoon with the sun streaming across the tablecloth, with a long time patient of mine yesterday morning in the clinic. It’s a kind of openness to
experience and an appreciation of all the small things that add up
together to make my life as I love it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
I had the distinct pleasure of addressing the heart of my profession at our
national convention in Oakland earlier this month, in a lecture, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">CliffNotes from CancerLand</i>, which I
rather enjoyed delivering, while a slideshow of choice images from last year
played behind me. I shared a bit of my story & some lessons learned. You
all know the lessons because you read these posts, so I won’t elaborate!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Suffice it to say, life is coming at us like a strong river these days, with
lots of opportunities to enjoy the kids, their shenanigans & achievements. To bear witness to their chasing of their dreams is our parental delight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">And after lots of travels, it’s pure sweetness to be home,
listening as I am tonight to the sound of the crickets, the katydids, the whir of the fan. It’s not a fancy house, ours, but it’s fits just
right and I miss it when we're away. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Work is humming along. The practice is back to where it was; it feels good to be back on that side of the medical equation. We are at long last going to teach
our NESH course in sunny San Diego starting this winter, our first foray into
California. We’ve also taken teaching gigs all over the map, which is a bit
terrifying for this itinerant homebody, but we love what we do and accepting opportunities to teach and inspire others feels about right just now. Also advocating for our licensure bill once again, always a good challenge which offers us chances to meet new people and share what we do.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">And in what could be filed under the over-achiever
category, I proudly completed my first triathlon 6 months to the day after my
last chemotherapy.</span><span style="color: #10131a; font-family: Optima; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> Me doing that race is testament
to conventional & naturopathic medicine and my own stubborn belief that I’d
come back better than ever. It was helpful to have that goal to drive my
already healthy discipline around exercise this year, plus fun to bring the
family together on a mission. I believe all cancer survivors/thrivers should
train like uber-athletes most every day. Can’t beat the endorphins and let’s
face it, in the realm of psycho-neuro-immunology, exercise is king!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #10131a; font-family: Optima; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">During the 5K run, (after the quarter mile swim &
10 mile bike ride,) when I felt a little bored, I went through the extensive
thank you roll call of so many of you who sent love & prayers, positive
thoughts & cards, brought food, gave massages & offered expertise with
medical & healing care. That got me right into the chute & over the
finish line, strong & healthy, and happy to be alive!</span><span style="color: #3e4551; font-family: Optima; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I know I am one lucky lady. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here we are post race, all
smiles wearing our hardware!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post race, all smiles and sore calves!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Here’s wishing you a sweet rest of summer and a good
transition into autumn. I love these long days, these sultry nights and summer
farm fresh food, but I also love fall with the crunching leaves and favorite sweaters! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We can’t
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Love & light<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">AMY</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
FieldNotes from Natural Medicinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898840901188522980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589572539203005504.post-28770951879319630082015-07-09T12:12:00.001-04:002015-07-09T12:12:15.711-04:00Oregon Naturopathic Physicians and Patients File Class Action Law Suit Against Insurance CompanyThis out today in the Huffington Post: It's about time!<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Optima;"> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amy-rothenberg-nd/oregon-naturopathic-physi_b_7749718.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amy-rothenberg-nd/oregon-naturopathic-physi_b_7749718.html</a></span>FieldNotes from Natural Medicinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898840901188522980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589572539203005504.post-58734288908583217652015-05-11T00:43:00.004-04:002015-05-11T00:48:51.238-04:00Flow<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">With the wind whipping off of Lake Michigan yesterday, and our fancy graduation clothes severely inadequate, we nonetheless whooped and hollered when Jonah, tall and confident, made his way across the stage to accept his college diploma. That's three up, three down for Paul & I, a kind of graduation for us, too! One of my all-time favorite prayers is the <i>shehechayanu</i>, which loosely translates to thanking the powers that be for sustaining us and allowing us to reach this moment. The narrow tunnel I went through last year, makes me even more aware of my blessings and more alive to the poignant moments that string together to make this life I love.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWLC1M9QX8x1F8ZOtPO43k-TcSryGeGzUH2rPsCQ5fy3AIV6oNgRdNyj6RlzUUCdLkfyySQ-U4JL-rzJwmDLev-rlnv7Fpdp7luY_iA0t-gLduo4oQem2X3TKVbPVQPlG6kO7x2woCq1c/s1600/jonah+college+graduation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWLC1M9QX8x1F8ZOtPO43k-TcSryGeGzUH2rPsCQ5fy3AIV6oNgRdNyj6RlzUUCdLkfyySQ-U4JL-rzJwmDLev-rlnv7Fpdp7luY_iA0t-gLduo4oQem2X3TKVbPVQPlG6kO7x2woCq1c/s640/jonah+college+graduation.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">On Mother’s Day today I am thinking about how milestones are stacking up for our kids, as they reach for their dreams, live the lives they want and outfit themselves for futures they envision. Diana Nyad, the famous long distance swimmer & athlete extraordinaire, gave a rousing commencement address, urging grads to relentlessly grab for their highest aspirations. Channeling the poet Mary Oliver, she quoted, “…<span style="color: #313131;">what is it you’re doing with this one wild and precious life of yours?” a line we all need to hear about once a day!</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span>The student speaker was equally inspiring, recollecting homosapien forbearers deciding to make their mark on cave walls with hand prints, raising his own hand he asked, what kind of mark will you make? I think about being a mother and how the marks I make include my kids and how they go forward to make their own marks--and so the generations go! What a blessing to be a mother, with all the craziness, the constancy, the exhilaration, the worry, times of bewilderment and times of fascination, the bits of self-discovery that go along with the territory, all the pride and gratitude. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Paul & I took a <i>Architecture of Chicago</i> Boat tour today (highly recommended!) with Jonah before hopping on our flights home. Our guide described the mind-boggling engineering feat of changing the direction of flow of the Chicago River in the beginning of last century to help improve water quality, among other things, for the city. For me, the direction of flow of love between us and our kids flows both ways now with some serious current and sustains us all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sometimes all the pomp & circumstance of a formal graduation seem longwinded or pretentious. But not this time. It feels like we are all graduating from one thing or another at any given moment: a recent challenge, a course of study, one phase of life evolving to the next, a job or relationship shift, an accomplishment ,big or small, or simply a realization that shifts our focus or changes the course of our own rivers. I am wishing for myself, my family and all the people we know & love to be fully present and appreciative of life, every step of the way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Happy Mother’s Day and Happy Graduation!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Love & light,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Amy</span></div>
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\FieldNotes from Natural Medicinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898840901188522980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589572539203005504.post-90701113066706177482015-03-31T03:39:00.001-04:002015-03-31T03:39:38.414-04:00Angelina's ChoiceDear Friends & Family,<br />
Thought you might enjoy this last bit of mine in the Huffington Post:<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Optima;"> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amy-rothenberg-nd/angelinas-choice_1_b_6965214.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amy-rothenberg-nd/angelinas-choice_1_b_6965214.html</a></span><br />
Love & light,<br />
AMY<br />
<br />
<br />FieldNotes from Natural Medicinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898840901188522980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589572539203005504.post-90843510886360884862015-03-02T19:00:00.000-05:002015-03-02T19:00:07.036-05:00Voila!<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
Dear Friends & Family,</div>
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Slicing through warm hotel pool water, doing consecutive laps of freestyle, back stroke & breast stroke, surrounded by tall, rain-green pine trees shimmering in the Seattle rain, I feel like I am in another episode of AMY- SHE'S BACK! Two months since the end of treatment have slid by, happily marked by such points of normalcy, old routines and even some adventure. In ways it seems like there was a crack in my world, the year 2014 fell wholesale into; now it has healed over and I’m not sure I can even locate the crack. Chalk it up to the resilience of the human body, the miracles of conventional medicine especially when coupled with natural medicine support and …..Voila, I'm back, very much like the old Amy, only with curly hair!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feb camping trip to St John with Misha's Felicia & our dear friend Willie!</td></tr>
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I love having a whole lot of energy like I always did, moving this body with pleasure and purpose, walking, dancing, doing yoga, swimming. I love being back in the saddle at work, helping other people find ways to better health, and teaching our students near & far. Of course I also love having time to myself, time for Paul, time for other pursuits, i.e., time NOT running to medical appointments! I have the occasional day where I nap long deep sleeps, which I must still need and rather enjoy. I experience a bit of PTSD, not that anything in particular was so traumatic, except the <i>whole shebang</i>! I am doing some short term, pointed therapy to help my nervous system & my psyche let go of all that. But as my (first time ever) therapist says, I am “well resourced,” and I guess figured out much of this, unbeknownst to me, on my own.</div>
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Thank you to everyone who has checked up on me these past weeks. It is a strange phenomenon to go from a pretty constant state of focusing on healing, keeping my eyes on THAT ball, to being free. And in my definition of health there is a whole lot of freedom: freedom from thinking about health, freedom from discomforts or pain, freedom to experience a wide range of emotions in a happy balance. Many of you have asked if I am worried about the cancer coming back. I’m pretty sure that anyone who has had cancer thinks about that, but I’m good at thought stopping and ultimately, I know worrying doesn’t help. I’m clear and calm knowing I did every possible thing in my power to make that not happen. I do not have to change much in my pristine lifestyle, just have to keep it up, which as you know, comes easy for me.</div>
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Before I was diagnosed with cancer I had be wondering about my next incarnation in this life, what else I might try or do, experience or create. I put all that on the back burner last year but have found it simmering up front again. I do not know what the future holds, who really does? But I am spending time consciously open to the possibilities and trying to listen in the quiet spaces to the yearnings of my heart.</div>
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My birthday is next week on Pi Day (3.14), so have a slice of pie and think of me!<span> </span>I cannot say I am sorry to close the chapter on year 54. That said, though it may not have been my brightest hour, that whole experience shed light on my patience AND my fortitude right nearby my mortality.<span> </span>I don't recommend using this approach to garner such self-knowledge, but!! That twelve-month interlude showcased the incredible, devoted, unwavering man by my side and highlighted the broad & loving community of people that make my life worth living. I am someone who tries to be present & appreciative of my many blessings, and last year, with all its ups & downs, provided endless opportunities for that. I may as well capitalize on perspectives gained and carry some of these new bits of understanding forward. Here’s to a beautiful, long-awaited, reawakening spring for us all; I hope our paths cross soon.</div>
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Love & light,</div>
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AMY</div>
FieldNotes from Natural Medicinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898840901188522980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589572539203005504.post-85557517805205317042015-01-05T16:30:00.004-05:002015-01-05T16:30:20.776-05:00Fini<br />
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 12pt;">At my very first chemo-extravaganza last winter, Paul set us up to watch our first episode of <i>Downton Abbey</i>. During the slow times last year, we watched it all, including the bootleg version of Season 5, which we just finished off. Decided to underscore our viewership by attending the <i>Dowtown Abbey Ball</i> this Saturday night, a fundraiser for our local public TV station. Here we are with dear friend </span><span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 12pt;">(& acupuncturist <i>extraordinaire</i>,) Lynn Curry, where we ballroom-danced the night away to </span><i><span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 12pt;">The Masterpiece Ballroom Orchestra,</span></i><span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 12pt;"> playing period music, think: Foxtrot! </span><span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 12pt;">The point being, even at the tail end of the cumulative chemo-rah-rah, Paul doing the lion’s share of cheerleading, information gathering, emotional support and random heavy lifting this elongated, somewhat strange year …. I think we still clean up pretty darn good!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Downton Abbey Ball January 3, 2015. The Log Cabin, Holyoke MA</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 16px;">Also this: a neighbor called a few days back to tell us a bobcat had just walked through his backyard and was heading to ours. Perched from our upstairs bathroom window, binoculars fetched, Paul & I watched incredulously as the stubby-tailed, broad- shouldered, tawny cat slinked through the raspberry patch and around the garden gate. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"><i>Bob</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;"> came to stand sentry at the (one of our sad to say, many) groundhog holes, then sat majestically back on his spotted-like-a leopard-hind legs a moment, and poked a curious, husky paw into the opening. He soon gave up and sauntered across the lawn to our fire circle where he hopped up, like a tiger at a circus show, onto one of the tall log stump seats, lingering a bit before nonchalantly ambling off, stage right.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">As I lay in the reclining chair today taking in what I hope to be my last-ever chemo cocktail, I thought about that cat, comfortable in an unfamiliar setting, but not too interested in sticking around. That’s how I feel about this year. I was comfortable enough in the medical worlds but BOY, am I ready to move along. Of course there are scans and blood tests and lots of follow up, which I aim to do with my usual cheerful demeanor; I will stay with the pristine lifestyle and all the prayer, song, dance, time with loved ones, satisfying work, etc., I can muster. I know with a confident mind and strong heart I have done everything in my power and taken advantage of all that both conventional and natural medicine has to offer. Really, all I can do is hope for the best.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">I will sign off today wishing you every blessing and with my deepest gratitude for your year’s worth of being there for me in the myriad of ways you have shown up: prayers, humor, cards, little gifts, food, love and care-- I will not soon forget your kindnesses and the time you took to be with me in your own way. And god-willing, I will soon be back to my usual posture of giving-more-than-taking from this life-affirming-community pie!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">Love & light,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">AMY</span></div>
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FieldNotes from Natural Medicinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898840901188522980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589572539203005504.post-20006057535405750702014-12-29T23:27:00.001-05:002014-12-29T23:29:05.948-05:00Grasp the Baton<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
Dear friends & family,</div>
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As a beneficiary of the first wave of Title IX, I play three sports in high school. I gain skills and understanding about so much in life, from the importance of teamwork & the commitment to discipline, from learning to trust & lean on others to knowing how to push past fear, difficult moments and disappointment. I also learn how to be a gracious winner. I was an outside striker for the South Shore High School volleyball team in Brooklyn, SO FUN: I miss SMASHING something….anything…to smithereens like that! I certainly learn about being in the moment and finding ways to get my head in the “zone,” though I’m fairly certain that in 1974 we don’t call it that. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sporting #18 here, the Hebrew equivalent for the word CHAI= LIFE :) </td></tr>
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When I run track, my favorite event is the 4 x 100 relay race where I run the anchor position, the last of four runners responsible for catching up if the team is lagging or being sure to guard and improve on a lead if we’re ahead.</div>
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When I found the little “bugger in the boob,” on New Year’s Day last year, I never could have known how my year would unfold. Today I begin running the anchor leg on some iteration of an exceedingly long race; just one more <i>chemo-can-can</i> next Monday. In other words, I am turning the clubhouse corner into the home stretch. I am not competing with anyone <i>per se</i> or myself, but I feel a similar rush of adrenaline seeing the finish line in crystalline view a skinny slip of a week away. I know as I grasp the baton to take this last lap, it is from the loving hands of my family & friends. I would never have made it this far, in this good a shape, without you.</div>
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Sending Happy New Year Wishes to you & all the people you love, for good health, family peace, time for both reflection & action, work that satisfies and enough wisdom to grab for the fun stuff, too.</div>
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Love & light,</div>
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AMY</div>
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FieldNotes from Natural Medicinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898840901188522980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589572539203005504.post-7133265272788658082014-12-18T17:31:00.001-05:002014-12-18T17:31:10.929-05:00Giddy up<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Optima; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">
Dear friends,</div>
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The sun burst through the sky this afternoon briefly, after a long stretch of grey, dreary days. I grabbed myself for a walk and felt like I was being reconstituted by the light, the air, even the cold. After having a bit of a hitch in my giddy-up this year, I am replacing it now with a hop, skip & a jump to the finish line. As that end point comes into vision, I literally feel like I am walking faster, going harder and single-mindedly determined to get to January 5<sup>th</sup>, my last adventure in the difficult to describe, always a bit bizarre, land of chemotherapy.</div>
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Of course the vital energy could also be credited to the two units of blood I slurped up (through a vein, not to worry,) this week. Been doing a good job keeping me platelets up, but when the baby reds went so low and as we say in the vernacular, I was <i>dragging my arse</i>, I said, let it drip! With that elixir of life coming in, I gave thanks to the kind soul who donated blood anonymously. And I immediately absorbed it, integrated it and let it power up some new experiences.</div>
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Like how ‘bout: this lifelong vegetarian finally learns how to roast a chicken. So easy! So yummy! So perfect. Decided to do two today, one for a friend!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Two roasted chickens ready to go!</i></td></tr>
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And how bout: watch my first movie on Netflix. I know, you think I’d have watched endless movies during this year when I had a seeming surplus of time, but truth be told, my grand total: 2. <i>Million Dollar Arm</i>, which I thoroughly enjoyed & <i>Two Days In New York</i>, which I'd give a <i>meh</i> rating, though who doesn't love Chris Rock?</div>
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Or how 'bout our 1st Brown Bag Lunch via Skype with students in Seattle, Paul and I dressed professionally from the waist up, pjs on the bottom, hopefully sounding smart and articulate over the miles.</div>
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We also had our second annual virtual Hanukkah with the kids on a GoogleChat so we could light the first night candle together. Latkes do not translate well, but love sure does.</div>
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Sending along here season's greetings and happy times for you & yours. Thank you for your ongoing love and prayers, good thoughts and wishes. I continue to take it all in, that's the <i>real</i> medicine in my book.</div>
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With love & light,</div>
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AMY</div>
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<i>My writing from this year can be found here: <a href="http://dramyrothenberg.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://dramyrothenberg.blogspot.com</a> Feel free to pass any of it on if you think it might help someone you know. The Huff Po pieces are here: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amy-rothenberg-nd/" target="_blank">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amy-rothenberg-nd/</a> </i></div>
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FieldNotes from Natural Medicinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898840901188522980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589572539203005504.post-76115178728089178582014-11-24T20:24:00.001-05:002014-11-24T20:24:18.523-05:00Bookends<div class="MsoNormal">
Dear Friends & Family,</div>
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On one of the warm sultry days tucked into November, Paul & I planted two hundred bulbs all around the yard. Though we used fertilizer & covered well & even mulched about a bit, we know many of the bulbs will never see the light of day. But plant away we did with childish faith in both nature & the unstoppable promise of spring.<span> </span></div>
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We also asked Kim ( who runs NESH and many of our other work endeavors!) <span> </span>to take a few pix of us that could pass for a professional look, I really needed a pix with the shortie hairdo—which by the way, I am really enjoying AND I am <span> </span>giving Paul a run for the money in the curls department!</div>
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As might have been predicted, based on this nutty year, I hit a big bump in the road this month, a not very bad fall where I jammed my shoulder coincided with an exceedingly low platelet count, causing after some weeks, excruciating pain—turns out bleeding into a joint capsule and also forming a hematoma the size of a nectarine below the armpit and thereby pressing on the nerve bundle under the arm-- you should cross off your to-do list. I have mercifully shot out the other side ever thankful that of all the gifts this year has bestowed upon me, pain of any lasting or intense measure has not been in the basket. I feel I now have tidy bookends: Thanks to my post chemo prednisone crashes, I am conversant with the deep hole of depression heretofore a foreign tongue, and on the other end, I now know the taste of unrelenting and agonizing pain. My ability for compassion is fanning out by the mile and yes, I think I have now completed all the lessons in the book of what I needed to learn this year. Enough is enough! May we all be spared these kinds of bookends from here on out or seek and find deep and lasting help.</div>
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Many times this November i felt how this really is <i>not my finest hour</i>, I have held on to the lifeline of faith: in myself, in my ability to heal, in my greater purpose in life, in god, it’s true, in my love with Paul and the kids, in my love to and from family, friends, patients, students. colleagues and even strangers who have come across my path. I continue to be blessed by predictable support from those close in, but also by so much kindness and care from people and places I barely knew before. When I recently mentioned to Paul how I could never repay everyone in kind, he didn’t miss a beat and said, have you ever thought maybe everyone is repaying you!? That is a very kind thing to say, he has always been quick on his feet.</div>
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Today I took in #8/12 chemo, so am into the homestretch now. I am a real pro. Had the infusion room to myself early on this morning so took the opportunity to put on some funky music and dance it out a bit, why not? The nurses sit on the other side of a glass enclosure and each had their iphone out taking pictures—HA! These lovely and sweet people have nowhere to file me, may as well let my freak flag fly!</div>
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Every Friday my oncologist threatens no chemo on Monday due to low blood counts, I rally & voila-- I either blow the numbers out of the water (my athletic, competitive, type A side vindicated once more!) or just slip in under the bar—either way, I wind up being elated that I get to have my chemo-a-go-go day in the sun.</div>
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During this week of Thanksgiving, may we all continue to nurture and encourage postures of gratitude; may we all know good health, family harmony and peace- inside & out. And may all the things we sow during this darker times of the year find light and beauty come spring.</div>
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Love & light,</div>
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AMY</div>
FieldNotes from Natural Medicinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898840901188522980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589572539203005504.post-49115079352042521292014-11-07T09:35:00.000-05:002014-11-07T09:35:03.925-05:00How Ballroom Dance Makes Me a Better Doctor<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Optima;"> This out today, just for fun!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Optima;"> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amy-rothenberg-nd/how-ballroom-dance-makes-_b_6104284.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amy-rothenberg-nd/how-ballroom-dance-makes-_b_6104284.html</a></span>FieldNotes from Natural Medicinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898840901188522980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589572539203005504.post-43121579343837966262014-10-28T19:47:00.001-04:002014-10-28T19:48:12.711-04:00BreezyDear friends & family,<br />
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After chemo today, riding the energy wave of the dexamethasone, Paul& I went for a long breezy walk along the Hadley dike. The brush hog must have just come through; the unobstructed views of the meandering Connecticut River shimmered in the midday sun. Off to the side we saw a field of feed corn, I don't know how many acres, planted seasons ago, in meticulous row after row. We scampered down the embankment and decided to walk between the densely packed crops from one end all the way to the other. If you’ve never walked between endless rows of corn, I highly recommend it! </div>
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First of all, this corn is just about 11 feet high! The ground was soft and smooth, with corn roots, like gnarly fingers, determinedly grasping the ground. The rustle of the crispy leaves poking at my sweater and drying corn peaking out from the cobs, spoke loudly of autumn. I felt protected in there; I felt quiet and peaceful and a little bit silly tromping along this long, slender corridor of corn. I felt like I was on a different sort of path, like this entire year, and one that has not been all bad. I’ve had things to learn and experiences to have everywhere I’ve been, both inside & out. God knows I am a better person for it.</div>
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And to catch you up after my previous post: After ongoing very low blood readings last Thursday, I was told I would have to forgo chemo unless the #s came up by Monday. Paul & I, with input from our loving advisor (thank you Jacob!), tweaked the game plan. I am back on the IV Vitamin C (thank you Ian!), which helps protect many organs and the bone marrow; I have bumped up some of my bone marrow supporting botanical medicines, added more of certain foods and less of others, kept up with acupuncture each week (thank you Ms. Lynn!), I really worked harder at staying better hydrated (bizarrely one of the hardest thing for me, just not a thirsty gal….) I took a homeopathic remedy. I added more exercise and cranked up my personal visualizations of healthy marrow. I also increased my own time praying for and sending +++ vibes to <i>other</i> people. And with my secret powerful ingredient of all your +++ thoughts & prayers, a scant 4 days later, I walked into that lab and wouldn’t you know it: platelets: normal! white count: normal! & my baby reds comin’ right along. SO! Like anything in life, it was gratifying to see a problem, make a plan, take specific action & see desired results. And in the end…….. I could have my chemocake and eat it too!</div>
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It’s true that these are powerful drugs doing good work AND my marrow is tired. My goal is to keep up all the things I do, along with the stuff of normal life……to be creative finding solutions for issues that arise, to not get thrown off by bumps on the road and to carry on strong to that glimmering January 5<sup>th</sup> finish line. That someone tells me, okay girl, you can have your chemo today and I feel elated, reflects the particular oddness of this phase of my life and believe you me, I will not miss it ONE bit.</div>
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Love & light,</div>
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AMY</div>
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FieldNotes from Natural Medicinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898840901188522980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589572539203005504.post-27227701900702234332014-10-21T23:41:00.001-04:002014-10-21T23:41:21.283-04:00Sweet Spot<div>
Dear Friends & Family,</div>
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<div>
Today, walking the perimeter of the newly mown fields of my backyard Mt. Pollux, I was blown away by the sultry October warmth, the grasses lying down as if swaying in water, the leaves on the painted mountains, the blast of colors alive. I could walk forever here, with breathtaking closeup eyefuls and of course this view. Most of you have seen the vista, curvy and soft, cradling the valley close. The puffy clouds run along the clear sky with late afternoon shadows coming across the meadow, this sweet spot in the middle of Amherst, a blessing I never take for granted. </div>
<div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAehNUW9D87TVrhlNMLCFd3UEVcr-D8kWByrSKzl4i6rFgel5Gp-5Qln72W6eofuTyscspWy7jNzi2PeotUcV3SMYT2zFnHKUo8JJ7hyphenhyphen85Y21ZQqBzCWg6-0et7rOBV8P8btjnGUuCHRFd/s1600/mt+pollux.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAehNUW9D87TVrhlNMLCFd3UEVcr-D8kWByrSKzl4i6rFgel5Gp-5Qln72W6eofuTyscspWy7jNzi2PeotUcV3SMYT2zFnHKUo8JJ7hyphenhyphen85Y21ZQqBzCWg6-0et7rOBV8P8btjnGUuCHRFd/s1600/mt+pollux.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side meadow on the way up Mt Pollux</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Personally, I am in a different kind of sweet spot, between chemo infusions, where everything seems fine, cancer treatments are like a vague far away concept and life is normal & full. </div>
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I often get the question, what can I do for you? What do you need? How can I help? </div>
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Thank you for asking, thank you for caring. </div>
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For the most part Paul & I don't need or want a thing, we are in a good rhythm with my treatments, our writing, teaching, family, resting and healing. </div>
<div>
But! My bone marrow is a bit weary at the moment, meaning that all my blood counts are quite low. The marrow, where new blood cells are born, has taken a bit of a hit by all the strong medicines I have taken for many months now, with very little reprieve. Once chemo is over, I will be able to build back up, but in these intervening months, I can use all the help I can get. I know what to eat and how to exercise; I am taking all the right supplements and herbs. I am good at resting and being peaceful, I know how to do powerful positive imagery. Now I am calling out for some prayers & +++ thoughts to help me along. <i>And</i> if you can give blood, please do. I was so helped by a transfusion last week and sadly, neither Paul nor I (later on!) can give blood any longer. We have traveled to too many (wonderful!) places or stayed too long in others, which puts us on the CAN'T GIVE BLOOD LIST. But if you can, it will help someone else in need and blood banks are pretty much always in need.</div>
<div>
So…. here's that verbiage for some positive thoughts or prayers if you have a sec: <i>Let Amy continue to handle treatments well, and make plenty of healthy white & red blood cells</i>. Let her healing be complete.</div>
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I will now instruct my bone marrow to listen up :)</div>
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THANK YOU, thank you, as I go further into your debt!</div>
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Love & light,</div>
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<div>
AMY</div>
FieldNotes from Natural Medicinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898840901188522980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589572539203005504.post-74761529457848987352014-10-16T19:18:00.002-04:002014-10-16T19:18:20.887-04:00Lordy- Loo!<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 13pt;">Dear Friends & Family,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Optima;">After my last post, a number of you wrote asking
how could I continue to be relentlessly positive in the face of challenging
news, intermittent discomfort & the sheer amount of it all. First off, know
that I have the urge to write when I feel good. When I feel badly, like many
people, I want to crawl into bed, curl up in a ball and pull the quilt over my
head!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Optima;">Got me thinking. I will share with you some views
from the underbelly, not so you feel bad for me, but so you can see better the
range of this experience. Last time round, I felt a bit defeated by fasting,
seemed like a bit of mean culminating in <i>worse</i> mean with the attempted
needle stabs into my veins. My erstwhile uber-competent nurse, who I trust like
a bodyguard, kept hitting valves in my otherwise full and pumping veins; it
took her 3 attempts to get my IV right. I kept my spirits up--just kept saying
to myself and increasingly aloud, "Well it HURTS, but I'm not SUFFERING, <i>I
know the difference</i>! I might have yelled that out Southern Baptist style,
but reined in my enthusiasm, didn't want to scare the other kind people I share
that infusion room with. We had a good laugh, but when the nurse
walked away, I burst into tears. It's like that sometimes. My goodness, I would
hate that job--having to hurt people to help them, no wonder I got into
homeopathy, for God's sake, the medicine tastes like candy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Optima;">It somehow reminded me of my birthing stories, I
always wound up, during the intense moments in those little back bedrooms of
our homes where our kids were born, yelling through gritted teeth, “JESUS
FUCKING CHRIST YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME... LORDY-LOO!!!!” And Paul would
murmur to the midwife or to no one in particular, why is my New York Jewish
wife praying to Jesus with a full-on a southern accent!?</span><span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Optima;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Optima;">Section II of the downer report:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Optima;">As part of my drug offerings I am given
“pre-meds,” via the IV. First in is an anti-nausea potion, fair enough,
followed by what is essentially 100 milligrams of prednisone. The latter is given
to prevent allergic reaction to the chemotherapy, but it was found to also
potentiate the efficacy of these life-giving elixirs. Don’t know how many of
you have ever taken prednisone but this sudden ramp up also helps prevent
nausea, offers a huge jolt of energy, jerks around your sleep
& messes with your head. A taper is not offered. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Optima;">So, day one and two
have me doing all sorts of things like cleaning the refrigerator, washing
walls, scrubbing grout, little house jobs, catching up with bills and filing all those chores that tend to slide to the bottom of the to-do
list seem just easy as pie. But the drug wears off in a jiffy and at least in my
case, that going a hundred miles an hour ends with me slamming head first into
a thick brick wall of depression right around day 3. It’s a deep hole of
depression, entirely unknown and unfamiliar territory for me, all consuming and
sickening. Even though I know it’s from the drug. Even though I know it will
end. Even though I know it’s not me, I would say this is the worst part of
chemo. Eating helps, exercise helps, positive self-talk helps and nothing
helps. I just say to Paul in a very small voice, “Can’t find my happy
place.” Now that I’ve gone through this 8 times, I am better at handling
it, it’s relatively short-lived and my ND helpers have given me useful advice;
I also know it will help me be a better doctor to the many, many patients I see
for whom depression is part of their story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Optima;">On a lighter note, I had my first blood
transfusion yesterday. I thought it was well-timed with impending Halloween and
all. My red count has slipped precipitately low, not uncommon with these
medicines; I was not all that tired really, but a few nights ago after a
particularly exuberant hustle with my dance teacher, which sometimes might make
me say, “Oh, my God, that dance took my breath away—meaning in an awesome
dance, nice connection kind of way, I found myself so literally out of
breath—the OTHER kind of taking one’s breath away, I realized I must have
become severely anemic. My aorta was throbbing and I had to sit down, something
I never do when I am out dancing. So, I was glad to be able to receive a lovely
dark red unit of blood, while lying with my feet up and watching some low brow
TV and eating a hospital burger on a gluten free bun. I had quiet afternoon by
myself, they let the good stuff drip in slowly. I had views of the little Zen
Garden, recall my spa experience! Of course the nurse who checked me in to that
floor for my bloodthirsty adventure is someone I have danced with often, never
knew he was a nurse. That juxtaposition of a dance partner, checking my vitals
and my IV connection, like it was life or death for me to get back on the dance
floor, gave me a good laugh. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Optima;">I am now 4 infusions down, 8 to go, after the next
set will be at the half way mark. I see January 5</span><span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Optima;">th</span><span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Optima;"> my
clear finish line. Thank you to everyone who did a fast or a cleanse with me
these last months, that shores me right up to know you would do that with me. I
am thinking about NOT fasting this next time through, we have a Two Year NESH
class beginning in Boston and I want to be part of the whole experience with
this group of new people. And maybe take out our own Boston crew for a nice
dinner on the town. Here we are a few weeks back at SOWA- I WAS fasting &
missed out on the FOOD TRUCK experience! That's Felicia with us; we're just
missing Jonah, who will hopefully be here soon enough for Thanksgiving! We all
have so much to be thankful for.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Optima;"><o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIand6mqbK5xijUdurUkIRTuDGiHxOU4edgxhaBzDlTEJqBH-zXJQYb9qaGWr03U6iNASHmOZGASE9GihkBcTandpUJCNJfDihpAwWGuGw3eqGgYY78PjbUcWTBSbejNvbeiwVz9IfUdVN/s1600/IMG_20141005_165919_773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIand6mqbK5xijUdurUkIRTuDGiHxOU4edgxhaBzDlTEJqBH-zXJQYb9qaGWr03U6iNASHmOZGASE9GihkBcTandpUJCNJfDihpAwWGuGw3eqGgYY78PjbUcWTBSbejNvbeiwVz9IfUdVN/s1600/IMG_20141005_165919_773.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boston on a Sunday afternoon zipping around town!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Optima;">Love & light,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Optima; font-size: 13pt;">AMY </span></div>
FieldNotes from Natural Medicinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898840901188522980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589572539203005504.post-29572827965383727202014-09-23T04:45:00.003-04:002014-09-23T04:45:59.468-04:00Book of Life<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dear all,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Two infusions down, 10 to go. Making my progress, slow & steady. AND enjoying this spectacular fall, walking in the neighborhood.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXifGWb_Ke2_rWP68Gw10JIAo1OL1zCsKQbeqpDo0yF31NwSKIJtjmagK_qTy3unRrivAN1AIGE5Z3q62LK4rpdxrehhKrzucmiLcT2iXCjnsqY9zOuAnxcmjBx9UwX-3R6SZwkNpaLMJh/s1600/amy+&+paul+spet+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXifGWb_Ke2_rWP68Gw10JIAo1OL1zCsKQbeqpDo0yF31NwSKIJtjmagK_qTy3unRrivAN1AIGE5Z3q62LK4rpdxrehhKrzucmiLcT2iXCjnsqY9zOuAnxcmjBx9UwX-3R6SZwkNpaLMJh/s1600/amy+&+paul+spet+2014.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">I wanted to share this HUFF PO piece published today. Please post to FB or tweet if you do those kinds of things; I would like to spread this word. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amy-rothenberg-nd/brca-test-and-retest_b_5853156.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amy-rothenberg-nd/brca-test-and-retest_b_5853156.html</a></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As we are about to step into the Jewish High Holidays, I will share an image I love from the liturgy: that we all be written into the book of life for a healthy and peaceful new year!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">With love & light,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">AMY</span></div>
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FieldNotes from Natural Medicinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898840901188522980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589572539203005504.post-31552135091051029782014-09-16T13:13:00.002-04:002014-09-16T13:13:23.511-04:00Sparkly Gal<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dear friends,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I have to go to chemo in the morning, I rise early to psych myself up. I stick to my morning routines at the house and take myself for a long walk. Today, a nip of fall in the air, I zipped up a jacket and tied up hiking boots and made my way down Middle Street. I turned left and walked east, face tipped to the warming sun, along the little lane that leads to the beaver pond.<span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The rickety chairs set alongside the water’s edge were dripping with dew, but I sat down anyway to meditate a bit and take it all in. The morning sun bounced off the water golden & clear; the misty steam rose in billows from the deep green and black of the pond’s surface, mysterious and graceful like swirling clouds moving free. Thousands of spider webs connecting branches to tansy flowers and long grasses to cattails were backlit, water droplets clinging to their silvery threads. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A spider web might provide one of the best metaphorical images around! The strength and resiliency of all those webs, usually not visible, now with their beauty and purpose exposed, called to mind so many things: the interconnectedness of life, the intricacy that goes into so much of what we do, the bravery it requires to both love & create and hopefully the rewards of consistent & hard work. Mostly today, sitting there, I was filled with the power of serenity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The drugs I had today, Carboplatin and Gemzar, went in without a hitch; I can proudly say I no longer get bent out of shape when there are small inconveniences, discomfort or pain. I suppose I have reframed cancer care into the great teacher on the practice of equanimity. So, it’s one infusion down, eleven to go. I immediately renamed the second medication Gem Star, so I can think of myself as one sparkly gal with connections to the galaxies. This way I can stay bright <i><u>and</u></i> aligned and continue to be relevant and compelling to my astronomy-loving husband!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I can also visualize myself as part of a twinkling constellation of family & friends that have made this year tolerable and not without its silver linings. I continue to learn from the generosity of spirit, time, intentionality and material offerings from so many of you-- and there I thought I had that skill-set down! Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts, prayers and positive energy; I feel it all and drink it in right alongside my chemo-elixir, knowing how lucky I am.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Love & light,</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">AMY</span></div>
FieldNotes from Natural Medicinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898840901188522980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6589572539203005504.post-37256675283478877342014-09-07T10:42:00.000-04:002014-09-07T10:42:22.947-04:00Fast Friends<span style="font-family: Optima; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">Dear Friends,</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; font-family: Optima;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Optima; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><div style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;">
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So many people replied with the affirmative to the in-jest line of my last email, when I wrote about my upcoming return to chemo-land: <i><span style="font-family: Optima;">I will be doing the whole fasting regimen again (can’t wait, anyone want to join me?!)</span></i></div>
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Got me thinking.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9OZR7wQhj_R2I9IrGA8NH6mdYX3UUR07nzBJRJuaA6WpcjDPEu65IJZvWteRzba1AofRHw8e5WY-Xga39yQaUTbM_kHqp1otBgjVRZh5tWT38wvl_EEhm_1NgmUFgKTvJ8hfsw1x1Cpb/s1600/amy+on+mt+pollux+8:14.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9OZR7wQhj_R2I9IrGA8NH6mdYX3UUR07nzBJRJuaA6WpcjDPEu65IJZvWteRzba1AofRHw8e5WY-Xga39yQaUTbM_kHqp1otBgjVRZh5tWT38wvl_EEhm_1NgmUFgKTvJ8hfsw1x1Cpb/s1600/amy+on+mt+pollux+8:14.png" height="221" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Mt Pollux late summer</span></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Part of what feels bad about a cancer diagnosis is that you can get to feeling isolated. And although I can’t say I actually missed too much this last year, I did have to narrow my plan-making and social world to accommodate appointments and procedures. And let’s face it, food is the great social connector. So during fasting, at least for me, it’s a very real manifestation of self–imposed isolation, even when fasting for a higher purpose. The higher purpose here is to weaken any cancer cells that might be trying to set up shop, so that ensuing chemotherapy is that much more effective. Turns out, a welcome benefit of fasting is to severely limit side effects of the chemo, so a win-win situation.</span></div>
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Another thing I hate about this whole diagnosis is the seemingly endless need for self-centeredness, which is neither my general nor preferred posture. I am a giver and doer and an outgoing, face-the-world kind of person. If I knew my fasting, just among my circle of friends, had some kind of <span> </span>broader impact, something more lofty than just helping my personal health outcome, it would help me immeasurably <i>and</i> would help me feel more connected! My friend DH wants me to call this the ChemoNationFastingTour! HA!</div>
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That said, my 500 calorie for 4 days routine is a bit severe & I think for most, would be difficult to sustain while working and doing life. So I had an idea: I’m a naturopathic doctor, I LOVE to take patients through seasonal cleanses, something most people can do without too much planning or stress, which does not deeply restrict calories and which offers some pretty quick health benefits. So, if you’d like to join this virtual party, howzabout a Fall Cleanse? If you’re game, you can do one day, two days or three. <span> </span>Okay, if you do four days I would start to think you have an eating disorder! And of course just do it once, not 6 times like me. I need to retain SOME bragging rights here folks.</div>
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If you want to fast/cleanse with me, you can tell me what it’s like for you. You can cheerlead. You can glow among coworkers. You can lose a few pounds! Heck, you can take the money you would have spent on your usual food intake and donate to the charity of your choice. Here are things a fast/cleanse will not do: permanently shift your BMI, bring back hair for male pattern baldness, provide effective birth control or get your windows clean!</div>
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If you’d like to take up a cleanse, see the attached handout for the why & how, food shopping list included. <span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Here are the dates of my fall fasts starting right up next week. I do not recommend doing a fast/cleanse once the cold sets in, wrong time for it for it. I will carry on through the January 5</span><sup style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">th</sup><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">, mercifully the last infusion, but you shouldn’t go on into the cold.</span></div>
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First round of fasting: Friday, Sept 12 through Monday September 15<sup>th</sup>.</div>
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Second time if dates work better for you: Friday Oct 3<sup>rd</sup>-October 6<sup>th</sup>. This is serendipitous, coincides with Yom Kippur. If you tend to fast that day anyway, you’ll have a nice jump start!</div>
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Third round: October 24<sup>th</sup>-27th</div>
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I will sign off here with a surge of energy to create this little offering; you know me, always love a project!</div>
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With love & light,</div>
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AMY</div>
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Here's the link to the Fall Cleanse info:<br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByMZa1O2AxMZLU1Rdmt3cldaMmM/edit?usp=shari">https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByMZa1O2AxMZLU1Rdmt3cldaMmM/edit?usp=shari</a>FieldNotes from Natural Medicinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898840901188522980noreply@blogger.com0