Email from Denise on my birthday, July 9, 2009...
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHICKEN!!!!! That's the important thing. YAY!
You're just about the sexiest, most beautiful 50-year-old around, too.
I love your gifts from Mark and the "pornographic" cake.
THe trip to Chatham was lovely, the weather sublime. We were actually
going to have lunch on Block Island but Alan wasn't feeling well to
negotiate what he terms a "tricky airport while under the weather."
The NYC wedding was yesterday. Again, beautiful weather. Ceremony in
the Conservatory garden in Central Park. I kept hoping for a Bill
Cunningham photo op. Reception was at the Ava Lounge on the rooftop of
the Dream Hotel on West 55th. Super lovely.
Today's chemo was the last of this second line treatment; I get more
but different beginning August 10. Hair falling out rapidly, suddenly.
And guess what? Tonight I was eating and the next thing I knew my back
molar lower right tooth just came out!!! The whole thing. No blood no
pain but came out. I called Bob and he said it's a "spontaneous
exfoliation" my body rejecting the tooth. Causes? Radiation late side
effects. chemo, Prednisone. At least there's no pain. But a whole
tooth? Bizarre. Pray nothing else falls out!
Oh, the MRI showed punctate lesions or "holes of light" in the cortex.
I see brain man on Tuesday, but so far he called me from Chicago to
assure me he's not worried and I should not worry either, but Paul
it's official: I have holes in my head. He he.
I loved turning 50. 50 actually felt good to me. Mary' having a fit
about turning 50 so she's concentrating on my birthday instead this
year so she can deny her 50. But I told her it's very freeing and wise
to be 50. One has some heft and if we're smart the sense of humor to
only take half that heft seriously.
I have more to say too, but like you, I have a sponge brain today,
lost a pair glasses yesterday, almost lost another pair today. Kept
thinking of Refuge of The Roads.
Paul, you are the gift of my life. I am so happy you're in the world
and that I get to share it with you! Have a haapy happy birthday. I
love you deeply.
d xxxxxxxxxxxxxoooooooooooooooooooooooo
12 comments:
She was a beautiful woman with such a brilliant smile.
I love this letter. Holes of light.
She was a friend to everyone in our family. We love and miss her....
Ron Block, Jean, Joe, Thomas
I'm so sorry Paul. She's right, though: you are a gift.
Paul
I read youryour post as the pictures loaded, so I ended up seeing them in reverse order.
When I came to the second-to-first, Denise in a dark top- when I saw those eyes I wept
for you and Mark
for all her friends and family
and for all the lessons of loss we all learn.
Having never met either you or Mark, but nourish and blessed by your respective blogs and work, I can only be grateful that the two of you had so many years with this extraordinary friend.
and she's right Paul, you are a living gift- I'd even suggest a living blessing, but then that might make you squirm.
take care Paul, and thank-you for sharing Denise with us
David@Montreal
Thanks for sharing the beautiful Denise with us.
Paul, I only know what you've shared of Denise, but I am loving these pictures, how her charm seems to become more and more exuberant, maybe, as the photographs close in on the present. My condolences to you, her friends, and family.
That's a dazzling letter. Talk about a gift.
This was wonderful and I especially enjoyed the pictures of Denise through the years. She was an amazing writing professor, and I'm so glad that I knew her. She had such a spirit about her. She will be missed.
I won't be leaving any more comments ~ I get it...
Paul, So pleased to have finally met you and Mark. Again, I love the
photo of Denise with the bread basket. We could make a game of photo albums, " Find Denise. Find
the bread basket." When I first met Denise I adored her. I said, "Why don't we just skip the friendship stuff and go straight to enmeshed?" And so we did.
We will all miss her outfits, "moments", feasts and fabulousness. How blessed we were
to be her " doll babies." Take care
and please keep in touch.
Jean Block
Denise Gess was my creative writing teacher at Rowan in 2008. I had emailed her a few times after I graduated and got no response....I didn't realize she had been sick and then passed away until the following year.
She was smart, witty, sassy... and I wish I had been able to know her more as a person, outside of class.
I am currently co-writing a book, sending out queries... and often I wish could ask her for advice and expertise as a mentor.
She is greatly missed. And from only two semesters back in 2008, she touched my life very deeply.
-L
Post a Comment