I perched in the padded tattoo chair grateful for the lymph, the healthy white blood cells rising up to the surface that allowed my skin to take the needle and the ink. I ate a strawberry in the name of sympathetic magic and texted a picture to a few friends.
Wow, Bronwen. What an incredible journey. Thank you for sharing. While I read, I had an image of you knitting peacefully, listening to me and fellow grad students while we shared our poetry assignments at the 2022 UBC summer intensive. Your feedback was generous, the assignments generative. Sitting in that classroom had been a 10 year goal for me, and it turned out to be everything I needed it to be. Thanks for that. Your story is a reminder of the complex trials of the strangers that sit across from us. Congrats on this giant achievement.
Thanks so much, Carmen. That class was really special for me because it was my first time in a small in-person classroom at UBC, and it felt so great to read breath or communicate with just a nod or a little hand gesture again.
I have been meaning to respond to this post for weeks...and tonight, re-reading it again, I am so grateful for your words, Bronwen! This whole post was like one long prose poem...."They speak to me of sweetness, abundance, beauty. Remind me I can choose to adorn and care for my stretch-marked and aging body as it changes and sometimes grows strange to me. That I’m perishable, like the berries and the flowers. Here now." Such beautiful, important words.
And this part - " It feels like a big fucking deal because it is. But also, a lot had to go right and a lot had to go wrong to get me to this particular point." YES. Congratulations on celebrating you and acknowledging how hard some stuff is, and that saying it's a big deal is crucial!
Beautiful tattoo, loving words!! I felt as if I was walking side-by-side with you on this part of your journey, Bronwen. Sending love and healing thoughts to you, your Dad, and all in your family.
Oh, my god--I lOVE that tattoo and the whole story behind it! And I love how when you went for it, you really went for it, not just one little strawberry on your ankle! XOXO
LOL, yes. An 18-year-old was there getting a little snail on her ankle, and the artist was like "This is HER first tattoo as well" pointing to my super inky shoulder. :)
Congratulations and well-deserved, Bronwen... a tatoo is just an indelible way to mark this milestone...can't wait to read about your "weird" Vermont experience... some day, I may write about that, too.
Wow, Bronwen. What an incredible journey. Thank you for sharing. While I read, I had an image of you knitting peacefully, listening to me and fellow grad students while we shared our poetry assignments at the 2022 UBC summer intensive. Your feedback was generous, the assignments generative. Sitting in that classroom had been a 10 year goal for me, and it turned out to be everything I needed it to be. Thanks for that. Your story is a reminder of the complex trials of the strangers that sit across from us. Congrats on this giant achievement.
Thanks so much, Carmen. That class was really special for me because it was my first time in a small in-person classroom at UBC, and it felt so great to read breath or communicate with just a nod or a little hand gesture again.
Beautiful writing and beautiful tattoo! I LOVE that you did that, Bronwen!
Thanks so much, Kelli. 🍓
I have been meaning to respond to this post for weeks...and tonight, re-reading it again, I am so grateful for your words, Bronwen! This whole post was like one long prose poem...."They speak to me of sweetness, abundance, beauty. Remind me I can choose to adorn and care for my stretch-marked and aging body as it changes and sometimes grows strange to me. That I’m perishable, like the berries and the flowers. Here now." Such beautiful, important words.
And this part - " It feels like a big fucking deal because it is. But also, a lot had to go right and a lot had to go wrong to get me to this particular point." YES. Congratulations on celebrating you and acknowledging how hard some stuff is, and that saying it's a big deal is crucial!
Also the tattoo is stunning.
Lots of strength to you and your family.
Thank you, Gabriela. Can't wait to hold your new publications!
Congratulations, Bronwen. So very pleased for you, & sending tenderness & good vibes & powerful magic to you & your dad.
Thanks, Jason. He's got some likely matches for stem cell transplant likely to happen in early January, and we're hoping for the best.
Love this so much! I'm so pleased for you, my lovely colleague who is always inspiring me in my work. The tenure is so well-deserved.
So grateful to work together!
Congratulations, Bronwen, on your tenure and your journey. Thinking of you and your family.
Beautiful tattoo, loving words!! I felt as if I was walking side-by-side with you on this part of your journey, Bronwen. Sending love and healing thoughts to you, your Dad, and all in your family.
Miss you and those walks, Gloria. Thanks for reading and for your warm wishes!
Oh, my god--I lOVE that tattoo and the whole story behind it! And I love how when you went for it, you really went for it, not just one little strawberry on your ankle! XOXO
LOL, yes. An 18-year-old was there getting a little snail on her ankle, and the artist was like "This is HER first tattoo as well" pointing to my super inky shoulder. :)
Congratulations and well-deserved, Bronwen... a tatoo is just an indelible way to mark this milestone...can't wait to read about your "weird" Vermont experience... some day, I may write about that, too.
Ha, yes. So many stories within that story.
This made me cry. Thank you for sharing this, all of this, with us. Congratulations, and sending love.
Aww, thanks so much for reading and for telling me that, Cynthia.
Beautiful! Sending love to you and your dad. Thinking of you!!
xoxoxo!