Artineh's Bachelorette Party at Malibu Wines
I'm on a self-imposed mildly-unsuccessful non-drinking phase.
What a hard worker! (Jamie on her work cell while in Catalina.)
Newlyweds: Anai y Roberto
Anai, Uma, me, Marie, Erik (newly and happily divorced: uma y erik)
The Empire State Building.
Mom, Jaci, Andres y me at Katie's company (Rosenblum's) event.
Uncle Jimmy y me with Palace of Fine Arts & the bay behind.
speaker for Erica's blog this week. Bear with me as this is my first blog attempt, and I am rather uncertain as to the protocol and etiquette of the cyber world.
this (usually) alone every single wednesday. It's comforting to demystify what is happening to her and it's impossible to watch her and Kecia (her awesome nurse-- pictured here) cut up without joining in. Anyone reading this who happens to find themselves with a free Wed. afternoon should definitely consider catching their show! And I'm sure Erica would really welcome the company!
We are halfway home! Yesterday afternoon we walked into the southern Wyoming oil town of Rawlins - 1500 miles from our start of the Mexican border and 1500 miles from Canada. We celebrated with an all you can eat pizza buffet, steaks, a double feature at the local movie theater and a night in some comfortable motel beds!
There is an episode of The Simpsons where Lisa sets out to scientifically determine “Who is smarter: my brother or a hamster?” She sets up an experiment where the hamster is shocked each time it tries to eat a food morsel. Likewise, Bart receives an electronic shock whenever he reaches for a cupcake. The result? The hamster learns much quicker to avoid the temptation.
i need to apologize. 
today, we celebrated memorial day with a backyard bbq at my new casa. it seems that boston does not really believe in spring or fall, but prefers only the extremes of winter and summer. even so, i'm glad that we've entered the hot part of the year. thank you so much to those who came today! 
Their members have a tradition of being from royal or chivalrous families in Europe but now the knights and dames (that's what the members are called) are supposedly from all walks of life. [In reality, in the U.S. association that I was with, it seems that lineage may not matter as much, but money doesn't hurt.] Today, the Order does some really great stuff, the least of which is probably bringing all of us malades to Lourdes. They have a special commitment to the poor and to the sick, so they do extensive humanitarian work with the elderly, the disabled, people with AIDS, and especially in disaster situations around the world. I have to say that it was a trip seeing everyone dressed in their Malta regalia all week, like this lady here. Over the course of the week, I met many wonderful people, both members of the Order and other malades and their companions. As everyone does, each had a unique story of how they came to be a part of the trip and what hopes they harbored for traveling all that way. I met a 4-year-old (who just stole the show) whose family brought him to pray that his tumor never comes back. I met two sweet students studying in Florence who were a refreshing dose of youth and perspective. I met a priest who agreed with me that the Church should be much more open to gays. I met a bishop who worries a great deal about his retirement and likes single malt scotch.
I met a man whose mother received water from Lourdes and lived 13 more years after leukemia (back when leukemia was like a death sentence). I met a woman whose every breath is now dedicated to her wheelchair-bound husband who had a stroke two years ago. And on and on and on...
What I actually did there was attend many masses (one with 30,000 people!) and other special services. My feet were actually washed and kissed by priests and I was dunked in frigid holy water by burly Italian women who made me kiss a lipsticked-headed mary statuette-- the bathes were NOT the most spiritual experience. In traveling from the hotel to each of these activities, I was pulled and pushed in a blue cart, along with all of the other malades. This allows the sick person to fully experience the domain and allows the Order 
to fulfill their duty to serve the sick. At first I thought I'd prefer to walk, but then I got used to the whole service bit and wouldn't mind a permanent cart and puller here in Boston, if anyone is interested. When I move next week, I'll only be one mile from school. tempted, aren't you?
Although I'm not sure that Mary and I got to commune as much as the pilgrimage intends, my bio mama and I spent a precious week together. It's sort of amazing how my family, on my Mom's side, have been Catholic for generations. Apparently my Mom's grandmother was already a Catholic; I'm pretty sure that the missionaries jumped straight off the boats in China and hit my family first. Anyway, my Mom was was super patient and cool about all my 
questions and commentary on the trip, while still being the steadfast believer and devoted Catholic she always is.
If Mary is to be found in each of our mothers, then I did get to take a holy journey.
Tomorrow is wear marroon and orange day nationwide.
Per my request, particularly because I think she has an intersting comparison btw Bush's quick reaction to international conflict but not to domestic disaster, Jaci's letting us read her journal from yesterday. Interestingly, today, at work, she had to phone two area superintendents for suggestions on how to update her school's lock down policy.
"Wednesday, April 18, 2007 Boston, MA
I find myself glued to the news... 2 days ago, a student on the Virginia Tech campus killed 33 people, including himself. He bought two hand guns and ammo and had a massacre in class... my heart aches for everyone, including the gunman, and my mind can't find reason for this. i just can't process why, how, WHY a boy thinks this is an option... apparantly, he was referred to counseling, to the police. how did he slip through the cracks? aren't these organizations set up to protect kids before he gets to this place? i know i should be angry with him for killing 32 people (students & teachers) but maybe because he killed himself too, it is just too tragic to point fingers. the anger he felt went unaddressed...
as a counselor, will i be able to help a child like him or am i even strong enough? would i feel guilt and remorse if i couldn't reach him? at what point does a person take responsibility for their own life and say, "yea, i've had a shitty life. unfair things have happened and no one protected me." then shouldn't one move on and heal? was this his healing method? oh the parents... the families of the dead grieve. the families of the survivors are so thankful. and the rest of us are only shocked.
i really don't understand. our nation grasps for answers to make sense of such a tragedy and President G.W. Bush only scolds anyone for asking. he says we need to heal first but we need solutions now. he should take as swift movement in our own nation as he did in the Middle East. after 9/11 we were a nation empowered by his leadershipto unite... why does it happen for a foreign enemy and not a domestic one? gun laws are lax. repubs on the news say, "if other students were armed maybe more lives would be saved." are they stupid?? the solution to gun violence is more guns? in the hands of kids only18-years-old... a firefight in the lunchroom... God help us. what other species is blessed with a conscience and soul? and it is our very being to kill ourselves. why?
i am working at the newton montessori school for kids 3 months to12-years-old. what would i do if a child brought in a weapon? who would believe kids are capable of such things...?
i'm sure oxy folk haven't missed the frequent reference to Norris Hall, where the majority of the murders took place. this VT academic building shares a name with a building where many of us lived for part of our time at Occidental. just that little coincidence is enough to drive this massacre home with even more strength. when you hear "norris hall", how can we not imagine a crazed gunman systematically moving from norris yellow to norris blue to norris green to norris orange; how can I not consider myself blessed to still have as lifelong friends the people i lived with there- uma, anna, bess, jamie, marie, jonathan, mike, ted. what grace to have never had such devastation to bear.
The view from her and Derrick's house.
Linda and her beloved pup, Sara.
The golf course that we had all to ourselves one afternoon. Well, almost all to ourselves.
In a totally odd coincidence, I found out while in Canada that some friends of mine from Sascatchewan (that I taught with in Japan) were taking an impromptu roadtrip to Boston. So, I definitely got my dose of canadian chicks who rule recently. Great seeing you, Michelle!
Sorry to be so cruel and thank you to all who anxiously called yesterday. The only part of my previous post that was true was the four-month "oops" on the bc shot. Congrats to the few of you who remembered the date, but to the rest of you-- APRIL FOOLS! There are no tiny Murrays on the way just yet.
As Bess said: planes, trains, and automobiles. After a reunion with one of my best friends from childhood, Ambur Rozok, in San Luis Obispo, I took a bus up to San Jose. Funny how almost everyone I mentioned that to exclaimed their derision for travel by bus. It actually was wonderful; no need to impose on anyone, four hour total, and $28. Can’t beat it. In Mountainview, Bess and I sat at a lovely sidewalk restaurant enjoying cocktails and tapas. How lucky am I to have such a wonderful cousin/friend? Later we picked up Miss Marley (pictured in Bess' side view mirror) and went over to visit Bruiser, Betty, Woody ( pictured, 
lined up at the front door, chez Wang) and Robert, Jill, Gary, and Ben. The beauty of the rolling hills with the slanted sun and her Midas touch left me with my mouth agape out the window like one of those puppy dogs. I really cannot decide which part of California that I visited this week was the prettiest. That’s lucky for me so that when I’m job-hunting after grad school, I have several super job markets to explore.
Mom and I had a full schedule of family visits. Our family is especially fertile these days – I got to see Sean Takeshi Kwok, 5 months (pictured), Jonas Chu Roodman, 4 months, Ethan & Talia Giannini, 5 and 3 years old, and the bulging tummy of six-month-pregnant Kena Fowler. It was a bit weird hanging out at the “kids’ table” at the Giannini’s BBQ because we’re all in our 20s and 30s and John Giannini was giving Joseph Fowler lots of soon-to-be-a-dad advice. He couldn’t fathom that we didn’t know what a “Pack and Play” was (it’s apparently an ill-named portable crib). One interesting thing he passed on to him (and to me, inadvertently) was “the only worthwhile thing [he] learned at pointless lamaze class”: the teacher chalked a circle on the board and described it as a symbol of a life lived to an average age. Then the teacher drew in a tiny pizza slice and announced that that amounted to the amount of time you really have with your kids, when they want to learn from you, when they need your love and attention. Such a small period of time in one’s lifetime. The message was to treasure that time, even when they cry at 2:00 am or when they’re cranky or rebelling. He said that parenthood is harder than you can imagine; it changes your life more than you can imagine; and however wonderful you think it will be- it’s greater. Sigh. I can’t wait. I’d have never thought of myself as one who oohs and aahs over small humans, but I can’t help it. Internal clocks, cultural time lines, increased exposure- I don’t care the reasons; I just can’t wait. =)
(Here are two pictures of two other cuties en mi vida: Ethan, 2, Andres' son; and Alaina, 1, Jamie's niece.) 
Elizabeth Edwards made me cry yesterday. Her breast cancer has returned, spread to a rib and possibly to her hip. She refuses to let her legacy be as a roadblock to “this great man becoming President” and supports her husband’s campaign 100%. She talks about continuing to live her life and even compared her illness to diabetes- something that you can never cure but that you can live with. She said that we’re all going to die; she just happens to know what she will die from. Her strength amazes me because it cannot be confused for a state of denial or for political ambition. She’s had plenty of time to understand what cancer means since this isn’t her first bout with the disease and I have to believe that most people, when faced with life and death, could not prioritize power over health and loved ones. The Edwards for Pres website elegantly included this news but generally steered clear of taking advantage of voters’ sympathy; it remains professional. (It's really impressive how candidates are harnessing the web this time around.) I am a fickle Democrat it seems, since I originally bought Hillary stickers, then I fell in love with Barack, and today I flirted with John. However, despite Elizabeth's amazing shows of strength and the fact that my heart goes out to her and her family, someone is gonna get screwed if Edwards were elected- either the family or the US of A. Thinking about how much damn work I was for Jaci and others when I was under extreme chemo and radiation, Elizabeth’s hubby should not have to choose between meeting with the king of Jordan or making his wife’s treatment appointment or whether to work on universal health care or comfort his children as they deal with their mother’s illness. I admire both of their spirits to fight and find Edwards to be a fine candidate, but I sure hope he doesn’t win.
March 20, 2007
Day six of my California Adventure© finds me in Grover Beach at Leslie’s new casa. She bought her castle two short weeks ago and although I had my concerns about her buying property and committing herself to all that entails, I have to say that it seems she made a fabulous decision. Her house is a three-bedroom, newly renovated, stylishly detailed domicile with fruit trees, a terracotta patio, and room for her dog Sarge to roam out back. It seems like an awesome investment and she seems so happy here. Her roommates, Nicole and Erika, are a lot of fun too (ever played Nintendo Wii?!) .
But let me rewind. Past L.A. and all the way back to Boston. I got a job. Well, it’s technically an internship, but since it’s paid, I’ll call it real employment. I am working for the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee on a campaign they launched in January called DRUMBEAT FOR DARFUR. Instead of whining and complaining about the genocide in Sudan or making ya’ll sign my petitions, etc, I feel like I’m using my extra time to do something. Besides bugging politicians and informing people, one of the main tactics of our campaign is “divestment”. This is the concept of pulling money away from countries and companies that invest in Sudan and effectively prop up a government that arms the perpetrators of staggering violence and displacement. One of the headline companies that we’re encouraging people to divest from is Fidelity (who invest heavily in PetroChina, an oil company that is deeply entrenched in Sudan). If you want to learn more about these things and what you can do, check out http://www.sudandivestment.org/home.asp and www.uusc.org/drumbeatfordarfur.
So, yeah, I work 10.5 hours per week at DRUMBEAT and, so far, find my experience there very fulfilling- both for the cause and for me to be productive. Coincidentally, Jaci and I both had our first days of work a couple weeks ago. However, she’s decided to look for greener pastures and paychecks. For those of you to whom I have not yet boasted, Jackson has heard from all of the grad schools to which she applied and has decided to attend Columbia University’s School of Social Work in New York City in the fall.
Before Spring Break, Fletcher held its annual “Faculty Waits on You Dinner”, where our esteemed profs don aprons, refill our water glasses, and schlep plates to and from the kitchen. It was special to me because last year’s event’s auction’s proceeds went to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in my honor. Jaci attended but I was still in the hospital. It was amazing to be there with fresh tufts of hair and strength in my limbs one year hence. So many elements of Fletcher have been so supportive over this past year, so I took the opportunity to thank the dinner’s attendees.
Midterms have come and gone; I think I overstressed when I didn’t really need to. My International Trade and Finance exam went really well and my research paper was in on time, though I certainly cannot say I would submit it to any Global Health journals. Does anyone consult graduate school GPAs when all is said and done? Why do I worry; is it even possible to fail a class?
Anyway, after flying back to California, my friend Peter and I went and had what he alleged and I then condoned are “the best pancakes in the world.” Then we went and saw Uma, who was sitting up in a wheelchair! Of course, John was there and Erik arrived not too long after. I have to say, and I just told John this, that the way he writes his updates makes my heart flutter and my stomach clench- he is such a captivating and amazing writer. And, more important than that, I cannot express how joyful I am at the milestones he so artfully describes (like how she kissed him yesterday) and how knowing that Uma has him honestly makes me feel like there is a divine force of GOOD in the world.
Later we met Jamie and Michelle- finally I’ve met the famous Michelle- for Caribbean food in Santa Monica. The next day I spent at Michelle’s finishing up my paper for school and then stopped by the Alumni House at Occidental. Barb had made a banner saying “Welcome Back ERICA” almost causing me to burst into tears at arrival. So sweet. I realized that it has been almost two years since I’d been in L.A. flashing around my engagement ring and my big plans for a Caribbean life… sigh. Life is so funny, isn’t it.
Jamie and I took roost at the Ritz Carlton in Pasadena; the girl has got to be the sweetest most generous person I have ever known. She gets a wicked discount at that hotel but still would not accept a penny from me to contribute.
The commitment ceremony between Eddie and Jason was beautiful in every way. We gathered on Branca Patio at Oxy and just let the tears of happiness and emotion pour down our cheeks. The vows that they had written couldn’t have been sweeter; Jason promising to love and cherish Eddie in this life and beyond en espanol and Eddie thanking Jason for all that he is and joking that “everyone should have a Jason—just not his”. Then we all dined and danced the night away. I realized that I have only been to a handful of weddings in my life (Adrian & Megan, Robby & Emi, Kevin & Elena, Bess & Ben, Uma & Erik) and they have ALL been incredibly fun and touching. I look 
forward to this chapter of life that supposedly will be ripe with nuptials.
Speaking of weddings! Today is Wednesday- Anna’s wedding day. Yes, you read that correctly. She is getting hitched at the courthouse to the lucky Robert, her boyfriend she met at kung fu and is completely head over heels for. They hope to have a “real wedding” in the future, but have decided to get married immediately before some rules for non-citizens marrying citizens get tighter. Love you sweetie and wish I could be there. Mazal tov!
So that’s about it for now. I went to my first yoga class (since struck by cancer) this morning and need to leave this coffee shop and head back to Leslie’s for a shower. By the way, this was the first trip I’ve taken out of a wheelchair in a year as well. Thank you, Dr. Sirulnik and Adriana, for making it possible for me to take my Wednesday intravenous chemo in pill form instead of going into a hospital out here (although I have to take twenty-three pills today!). I am really enjoying the 
natural beauty of California on this trip and have to say that I cannot wait to move back to this state after grad school and treatment are over. I did not go with a biased attitude to Boston but have decided, through reason and experience, that it doesn’t even hold a candle to San Fran, L.A., or San Diego. In a life where things seem so unclear and my future relatively uncertain, it feels great to have a sense of “home” here in Cali and a place where I can really nestle in with my friends and family for a lifetime.
(this last pic is just a random roadside vista in San Luis Obispo. i made Ambur stop so i could take pictures.)
Uma, as she looked yesterday at County USC Hospital, after her re-shunt procedure
Uma, on the plane that took her from New York to Los Angeles
The team's backbone: John and Erik
Uma, in her new room, Thursday
Marie visiting Uma
