Category Archives: Work

mister mean genes (or, expect the unexpected)

Posted on June 23, 2010 by Emily

Today I have had the surprising experience of someone else’s good news making me feel like shit. Are we in middle school again? I recall, quite starkly, a “profound thought” from my high school notes of the same name, which … Continue reading →

Posted in cancer, Life After Cancer, Work | Tagged biking, breast cancer, bungling criminals, cancer family, fate, genetic mutation, guilt, high school, jealousy, middle school, Moab, recurrence, running, unspoken truth | Leave a comment

love train

Posted on February 21, 2010 by Emily

Did my last post come across as, well, homicidal? I didn’t mean for it to. I’m peace-loving, really. To clarify, the only machine gun I would ever wield is one loaded with words; language is my best defense, my greatest … Continue reading →

Posted in First Descents, Life After Cancer, Philadelphia, Work | Tagged First Descents, funk music, gardening, homicidal, Iva, kayaking, love, machine gun, negativity, rock-climbing, Sudoku, Washington, whiplash, Woody Guthrie | Leave a comment

on the clock, out of my mind

Posted on February 17, 2010 by Emily

Another day, another installment of cosmic absurdity. A favorite expression of incredulity among some of my colleagues lately is to say, simply, with a little cock of the head, “REALLY?” That about sums up how I am feeling today. Tomorrow, … Continue reading →

Posted in Infertility, Life After Cancer, Work | Tagged baby shower, barren, child welfare, Larry Bowa, machine gun, pregnant co-workers | 1 Comment

all in a day’s work

Posted on January 26, 2010 by Emily

Today, the somewhat complicated relationship I have always had with my job got that much trickier. Know, first of all, that I work in an office populated almost entirely with women – mostly young women of child-bearing age – and … Continue reading →

Posted in adoption, Life After Cancer, Work | Tagged abuse, adoption, aggravated assault, barren, fertility, neglect, pregnant co-workers, reproductive organs | 2 Comments

the wanting comes in waves

Posted on December 29, 2009 by Emily

In a post a few weeks back, I was thinking about the injustice of a world in which people who are unable or unwilling to raise children continue to produce babies at an often-alarming rate, while people like me get totally fucked out … Continue reading →

Posted in cancer, Family, Life After Cancer, Work | Tagged adoption, baby shower, balancing act, cancer, children, communication, evil, fate, friends, injustice, irony, North Philly, Peru, rage | 2 Comments

finally one of the cool kids (and all it took was a little bit of cancer)

Posted on November 14, 2009 by Emily

This past week I found myself feeling, well, off. My last post explains pretty plainly why this now-rare storm could of ill feelings settled over me. During the nine years that I have worked in child welfare, I have – … Continue reading →

Posted in cancer, Life After Cancer, Work | Tagged black boots, booty-shaking, child welfare, Courtroom K, Dan Barry, diagnosis-versary, Double-Oh-Seven, First Descents, Fridge, Hottie Bucks, magic, survivors, winter | Leave a comment

there’s something wrong with this picture

Posted on November 10, 2009 by Emily

Panic – mild and fleeting, but noticeable nonetheless – paid me an unexpected visit early this afternoon. This seemingly unshakable feeling of optimism and positivity has cloaked me for months now. I have felt invincible, buoyant. It’s been amazing. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Life After Cancer, Work | Tagged cancer, child abuse, child welfare, children, cornflakes, injustice, panic, time, Work | Leave a comment