Sunday, August 30, 2009

Sunday....August 30th....2009

The following is the piece on BLOGS that I wrote for the DEFEAT CANCER program.......I think it has insights worth letting all see....

A BLOG and Cancer

After my wife Linda was diagnosed with lung cancer over two years ago and after we “adjusted” to our “new life” of treatments and all associated with this disease, we wondered how we would deal with the onslot of phone calls, requests for updates, etc., etc.. We decided it was important to let family, friends and all those interested know what was going on and further, to make sure we were consistent and timely with our information. Our “vehicle” for accomplishing this goal?......a BLOG.

There are many ways of communicating on the internet…twitter, facebook, etc…etc… Our choice, was a BLOG on Google…www.blogspot.com. It was free. It provided us with a simple colorful platform for communciations, including the addition of pictures. The good news is that it is very simple to set up as opposed to a personal web site. The most special surpise of all was that the BLOG allowed for readers to leave comments…..comments that we look forward to reading each and every time a BLOG is written.

To see what this all has looked like…..please go to
www.linda-lou.blogspot.com and see for yourself…..two and a half years of reporting cancer treatments, low spots, high spots, feelings, inpressions, etc..etc.

Is this something for you? Maybe….just be aware it is easy to set up….the directions on
www.blogspot.com are simple.

We love this so much, we have canceled our personal web site. We feel the BLOG is a great means of communciations for anything we want to let folks know about.

In summary:

A BLOG allows us a simple way to communicate a consistent and timely message to those who want to know.

A BLOG is easy to set up and easy to use.

A BLOG allows readers to communicate with us and provide incredible support in a timely way.

A BLOG allows us to post pictures, letters, cartoons easily.

………Dave

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dave;
Well-written...were you a teacher in one of your former professions? It would have taken me hours to write something so well-organized and complete.
It is good of you to share with others a vehicle that draws the cancer-fighting "team" together.
Ruth Ann

Marjorie said...

One unexpected thing I've noticed is that I have become very fond of some of the "commenters" on your blog. They are such great people. I wish I could meet them or correspond with them. I try not to direct comments to them, I mean, it's YOUR blog, but sometimes I'm just so tickled with something one of them will say.

It might be better that we don't communicate amongst ourselves because I think there would be posse rustled up to GET THAT DOG. Ahem, cough, yes, ah, back to lower case letters....

But I'm definitely in favor of a Posters' Picnic at some time and place of your choosing. Something to look forward to for next year perhaps?

Love and admiration from smokey LA.

Anonymous said...

Just caught up on the blog. Darrell, Dave, Brad and a friend have been down in Arizona playing golf in the heat. Home tomorrow.
We both think about you all often. Our daughter has a blog that she uses to communicate their activities in Philadelphia and they love using the site. Her blog is fiveinphilly.blogspot.com.
I think we would bore the world if we started one. Glad all is going well...may your home sell soon. Shar and Darrell

Anonymous said...

Dave, you did it again. Keeping us inform of the importance of a BLOG especially Linda's. It has been imformative and educational. It has put alot of insight in the battle of Cancer. You would be the person to contact if they would need to find out about lung cancer.
Here in Nebraska we are having fall weather.
Got to go for now.
Love, Janet

Anonymous said...

Read your blog posts frequently, but don't often comment. Too bussy assimilating the info you give! I'm glad you have kept it up. Miss seeing you at Champ races - open wheel will never be the same.
Margaret

Cheryl Jones said...

Oh, I love Marjorie's idea of a Poster's Picnic! The two of you will put that together in your spare time, won't you? ;-) It is a great idea, though. I'd love to see it happen eventually.

The BLOG was really a fantastic idea. It's allowed all of us who love you, who are scattered around the nation, to keep in constant touch with you, without having to track each other down by phone or connect through email. You post it, we read it, we post a comment or two. Simple, quick and very, very effective for all involved. It's been so wonderful to be able to stay completely informed on what's happening with you, whether good, bad or ugly. Without this blog, I know that I would have spent so much more time worrying and wringing my hands about what you're going through and how you're handling it. With the BLOG, I can see right away what's happening and have photographic evidence to back up everything you're saying. Thanks so much for thinking of all of us at a time when it would have been very easy to withdraw and cocoon yourselves. It was brave and generous of you to share your experiences and allow all of us to travel with you through this journey.

I hope what you've written will help others to use this tool effectively, Dave. Love to you both, as always.

Anonymous said...

I check in here quite often -- one of my sorta-daily rituals. And it's a link that I've listed under my "spirit" bookmarks -- right below Louise Hay, as a matter of fact. And as a fairly regular reader, you need to know about the strength and uplift I get from y'all. No, really. To read about Linda's continuing journey toward the new normal, the new perfect health -- all that somehow gives me a lift and a renewed commitment to continue on in my journey toward my personal goals. And I get great joy out of visioning Linda and Dave -- both of y'all -- in the golden glow of all things good and peaceful and strong and loving.

Know that while there's not always a comment each time I read (because, OMG, you MUST get rather bored with Susie's "wrapped in the golden glow" stuffies.... at least that's what I think to myself), there's always the thoughts and the visions and the positive energies flowing your way.

Y'all rock. Just thought you needed to know.

Susie

Anonymous said...

You two just don't know how much you have helped many of us in no only understanding cancer, but in how to confront and deal with adversity in our lives...This blog is so wonderful in so many ways..I thank you both for it and for the examples you have been throughout this "new" normal..
Claudia

Anonymous said...

Marjorie, great idea about a posters picnic. I am from the midwest, but it would be worth the trip to meet some of you....of course, I would love to see Dave and Linda, too. Oh, my, here we go, sending messages to fellow posters.....see what you started, Dave. At least we aren't talking behind your back.
Marilyn

Anonymous said...

HI DAVE AND LINDA,

WE MISS YOU GUYS. IM SO GLAD YOU ARE FEELING WELL AND HAVING SO MUCH FUN. WE HAVE HAD A GREAT SUMMER TOO. WE ARE LEAVING FOR 2 WEEKS TO SUN VALLEY, JACKSON HOLE, YELLOWSTONE, GLACIER, IM REALLLY EXCITED. MAYBE WHEN WE GET BACK WE CAN GET TOGETHER FOR SOME CARDS.
LOVE, DEB BRUCE

Anonymous said...

I just realized i yelled a you again. Sorry. you are truly an inspiration. love Deb