Mabon Elk Rut Moon
In my cancer season I had significant conversations with Bill Schmidt (at the International Wolf Center) and Mark Odegard (at Camp Du Nord and by e-mail) and Charlie Haislet (Camp Du Nord). Each in their own way helped me place my cancer in perspective. Mark’s own experience with prostate cancer gave me the most practical help, what to expect from the surgery and its aftermath. Bill and I talked, as we often do, about matters cosmological and philosophical, putting cancer itself in the broader context of life as a terminal disease. Charlie recounted his knowledge of patient’s husbands and fellow docs, emphasizing as he did the effectiveness of current treatments.
This is the Woolly way. All three of these conversations occurred while we were on retreat at the YMCA’s northern Minnesota Camp Du Nord. These conversations happened on the ancientrail of friendship, the strongest bond among humans outside the bounds of family.
At this remove from cancer season, which ended for now on September 25th, I can see the web of support that carried me on its strong threads. Though we are existentially and finally alone, we are also alone together. My image of the web is of arms joined hand to elbow in a network mesh, a bouncy but tough net, warm in its embrace and durable.
This goes by way of saying thank you. More gratitude.
