When it comes to writing I have been a procrastinator my whole life. From the Western Civilizations paper in high school to the take home final for an arts in education class a few years ago, I can’t churn the work out. It’s not that I don’t enjoy writing, in fact I’m really quite fond of it, but when I set out on assignment, I am always waiting for that elusive divine spark of inspiration… that flash of brilliance that will make the essay poignant, memorable, and worth the reader’s…

One of the most rewarding aspects of being a hospice volunteer is the commitment that VNSNY makes to our continuing education. We all want to improve our skills and be better practitioners, even if we are just practicing. We want to be ready, when the time comes, for anything.

For three consecutive Tuesdays I am participating in vigil training, which means I am learning how to be present when someone is actively dying. Hospice has a philosophy that no one should die alone, and when patients come to us who don’t…

What I question is my ability to provide support to my husband, John, as he struggles with father’s illness from 1,000 miles away. I would know what to do if I were with his father, Bob. I don’t…

Prior to the June 22 episode of “Deadliest Catch,” I had, if you’ll pardon the pun, never caught an episode. When I heard in February that the captain of one of the crab boats had a stroke and subsequently died a couple of weeks later, I wondered how and if it would be handled on the show. I was drawn to the episode, the first in a four-episode-arc that promises to show the struggles of Captain Harris’ family, for one simple reason — as Clark Bunting, the president and general…

This past weekend my husband and I attended the Johnson County Iowa Relay for Life, a fundraiser for the local chapter of the American Cancer Society. We have gone to five of the past six (2008 was postponed because of the terrible flooding in that part of Iowa). The first two years John’s parents ran the food booth, and we handed out pork burgers, brownies, Gatorade, and pizza to the walkers from 6 p.m. until midnight. (I am pretty sure that this menu was not given the American Cancer Society seal…

We had a wellness fair at my office today. Folks sat at small tables in a classroom eager to tell us about the wonders of podiatry, the joy of chiropractic care, the importance of good dental hygiene, and the significance of good nutrition. I appreciate tips on good nutrition and can always use suggestions for how to incorporate more greens and more protein into my meals, especially if these are meals I am intending to cook after getting home from the office at 8 p.m.

I was particularly impressed by the…

Since April is National Poetry Month, I have been trying to determine all month long which poems relating to death and dying would be ripe for blogging. Fortunately, the poems worthy of discussion presented themselves to me when I went to an exhibition recently at the Rubin Museum of Art in Chelsea. They appeared in the concluding gallery of the exhibition called Remember That You Will Die: Death Across Cultures, which for one second seemed like the right title for this blog, but then I thought better of it.

The exhibition itself…

Photo by Deirdre Nolan

I have often remarked that when a volunteer and a patient get together for the first time it can best be summed up as a cross between a blind date and a job interview. Imagine introducing another volunteer to this scenario – a four-legged furry one that possesses only non-verbal communication skills, the most important of which is a happily wagging tail.

I recently met a volunteer who has gone through VNSNY hospice training and training conducted by the Good Dog Foundation whose mission is to provide animal…

After the snowiest February on record and a weekend of rain that seemed to reach biblical proportions, this week of warmth and sunshine was not just welcome, it was transforming … it was the difference between a wind chill and a gentle breeze.

I noticed tiny green stalks (crocuses maybe?) peeking above the soil in Battery Park City. My husband was able to bike home from his office without needing to turn on his helmet lights. I was able to walk home before sunset, instead of working at my desk long after…

Just as Paula shared her family’s situation with us in her post Jan. 27, I wanted to share some news. My father-in-law, Bob, was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer seven months ago. Now, this is pretty devastating news, not just because of the diagnosis, but because he has had cancer four, count ‘em, four previous times, and survived. After bouts three and four we pronounced him too tough to die.

Bob and Dorothy, thankfully, have a terrific support system, and have been active in their local American Cancer Society chapter and…