6.25.2011
a tuesday on the trolley
Almost a month ago was my first day at the Monitor. Found a dad and a daughter on the trolley downtown. A different frame ran in the paper, but here's my favorite -
Sophia Kitchens, 4, rides the Concord Area Transit trolley after getting lunch with her father, Bill Kitchens, at Puppy Love Hot Dogs and spending time in Eagle Square by the fountain; Tuesday, May 31, 2011. The lunch and trolley routine is a Tuesday tradition for Sophia and her dad.
Sophia Kitchens, 4, rides the Concord Area Transit trolley after getting lunch with her father, Bill Kitchens, at Puppy Love Hot Dogs and spending time in Eagle Square by the fountain; Tuesday, May 31, 2011. The lunch and trolley routine is a Tuesday tradition for Sophia and her dad.
6.17.2011
welcome to snow pond
I left Jackson in mid-May, Explorer stuffed to the gills clothes and books and boxes, a little sad to leave the CitPat and more sad to leave my friends there, but looking forward to Concord and starting at the Monitor. 1400 miles later, I found New England, and my new address.
And it's delightful.
More to come!
6.09.2011
a story of faith - and the return of a prodigal blogger!
It's over a month since I last blogged, and I return with a bevy of excuses for my posting absence - the not-so-untimely demise of a 'well-loved' laptop, a trip home to the U.P., and a 1400 mile drive from there to New Hampshire, all of which have been great. (Even the death of my Mac, without which I spend a lot more time outdoors.)
It seems fitting to cap my experience in Jackson with my final photo story there, about Patricia Bland, a woman who credits her strength through her battle with cancer to God, her relationship with her husband, Jack, and the encouragement of people in her life.
Patricia Bland, 62, was diagnosed with anal-pelvic cancer December 14 of this past year. After an aggressive approach to battling the cancer, including a combination of radiation, two kinds of chemotherapy for six weeks, and 17 days in the hospital, she is back at home and hopeful for a full recovery. Bland says she had no inclination of her illness prior to her diagnosis, having gone in for a regular check-up when the cancer was discovered. She says she is unsure of her future, but at peace. “You have to just make up your mind, you know - do you want to get well?” Bland said. (The full text can be found here.)
Patricia and Jack fold laundry together around 8:00 P.M. April 20 at home. As Patricia's treatments progressed, Jack took on more and more of the household duties, cleaning and doing laundry. Now that she is home, they share the work together. “The caregiver is going through it with you," Patricia said of the illness and treatment process. "Now he has to pick up the physical work. He’s had to learn to be a housewife!” The Blands are firmly devoted to being a team.
Patricia waits in the April morning chill as Jack starts their truck to take her to Allegiance for a radiology appointment.
Jack and Patricia say a prayer before eating lunch April 28. After her liquid-only hospital diet, what she can eat is restricted to foods that are very easy to digest. Patricia's meal consists of rice, tender beef cubes and bullion broth. She is slowly re-introducing herself to a greater variety of foods, such as canned vegetables, more types of meat, and fruit baby food.
Patricia hugs her prayer partner, Janet McClentin-Austin, of Jackson, after a bible study April 29 at Cornerstone Christian Church. Patricia and Jan have been friends for four years and prayer partners for about three. "You're changed somewhat. You're more serious, maybe," said Jan to Patricia about her demeanor since the cancer diagnosis. "I don't want to be the old person. The old has passed," replied Patricia.
Jack and Patricia Bland laugh as they give an Easter basket to Jody Johnson, left, and Donna Wait, both baristas at Cafe Lilla on a morning during Holy Week. Before Patricia's illness the Blands were regular morning customers at the cafe's drive-through, and when Patricia was hospitalized she received several cards from the cafe employees. The basket was a surprise they made. "They're beautiful people," said Jack of their friends at Cafe Lilla.
Jack and Patricia quietly link fingers while singing hymns on a May Sunday at Cornerstone Christian Church. Jack is Catholic, and attends mass on Saturdays, but always goes to Patricia's church with her on Sunday mornings. Since her diagnosis Patricia and Jack have had a two-fold plan for battling the cancer. “We’ve done a lot of learning." Patricia says. "(When we found out) we just looked at each other and my husband says, ‘Well, we’re a team.’” Their second strategy is to take things "one day at a time in God’s hands."
I'm very grateful to have met Patricia and Jack and that they allowed me into their life together. They're two of the kindest and most gracious people I've ever met. And I'm overjoyed to report that as of last week, Patricia's remaining tumor is nearly gone.
It seems fitting to cap my experience in Jackson with my final photo story there, about Patricia Bland, a woman who credits her strength through her battle with cancer to God, her relationship with her husband, Jack, and the encouragement of people in her life.
Patricia Bland, 62, was diagnosed with anal-pelvic cancer December 14 of this past year. After an aggressive approach to battling the cancer, including a combination of radiation, two kinds of chemotherapy for six weeks, and 17 days in the hospital, she is back at home and hopeful for a full recovery. Bland says she had no inclination of her illness prior to her diagnosis, having gone in for a regular check-up when the cancer was discovered. She says she is unsure of her future, but at peace. “You have to just make up your mind, you know - do you want to get well?” Bland said. (The full text can be found here.)
Patricia and Jack fold laundry together around 8:00 P.M. April 20 at home. As Patricia's treatments progressed, Jack took on more and more of the household duties, cleaning and doing laundry. Now that she is home, they share the work together. “The caregiver is going through it with you," Patricia said of the illness and treatment process. "Now he has to pick up the physical work. He’s had to learn to be a housewife!” The Blands are firmly devoted to being a team.Patricia waits in the April morning chill as Jack starts their truck to take her to Allegiance for a radiology appointment.
Patricia lies back in the CT scanning machine, told to breathe in and out as her body was examined May 9.
Jack and Patricia say a prayer before eating lunch April 28. After her liquid-only hospital diet, what she can eat is restricted to foods that are very easy to digest. Patricia's meal consists of rice, tender beef cubes and bullion broth. She is slowly re-introducing herself to a greater variety of foods, such as canned vegetables, more types of meat, and fruit baby food.
Patricia hugs her prayer partner, Janet McClentin-Austin, of Jackson, after a bible study April 29 at Cornerstone Christian Church. Patricia and Jan have been friends for four years and prayer partners for about three. "You're changed somewhat. You're more serious, maybe," said Jan to Patricia about her demeanor since the cancer diagnosis. "I don't want to be the old person. The old has passed," replied Patricia.
Jack and Patricia Bland laugh as they give an Easter basket to Jody Johnson, left, and Donna Wait, both baristas at Cafe Lilla on a morning during Holy Week. Before Patricia's illness the Blands were regular morning customers at the cafe's drive-through, and when Patricia was hospitalized she received several cards from the cafe employees. The basket was a surprise they made. "They're beautiful people," said Jack of their friends at Cafe Lilla.
Jack and Patricia quietly link fingers while singing hymns on a May Sunday at Cornerstone Christian Church. Jack is Catholic, and attends mass on Saturdays, but always goes to Patricia's church with her on Sunday mornings. Since her diagnosis Patricia and Jack have had a two-fold plan for battling the cancer. “We’ve done a lot of learning." Patricia says. "(When we found out) we just looked at each other and my husband says, ‘Well, we’re a team.’” Their second strategy is to take things "one day at a time in God’s hands."
I'm very grateful to have met Patricia and Jack and that they allowed me into their life together. They're two of the kindest and most gracious people I've ever met. And I'm overjoyed to report that as of last week, Patricia's remaining tumor is nearly gone.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
- libby march
- United States
- I'm hungry for life and pictures and giving of myself. Photojournalism, for me, is an avenue for documentation, art, and compassion. All photos copyright Libby March, Central Michigan Life, The Midland Daily News, The Jackson Citizen Patriot, or the Concord Monitor.
