“But I’m a weird, introverted writer and would rather announce to 164 Substack subscribers about Shrödinger’s Polyp than have a 1:1 conversation while the kids are being dismissed to children’s church.” Yup. Know how you feel entirely. Keep writing. I’m listening.
Thanks for your strength & courage & time in sending this update. It sounds so surreal and painfully real -- I'd feel so impatient -- I appreciate the dark humor -- it kinda inspires me too. Thinking of you, praying for you, eager to read whatever you're writing...please keep sending updates as you can/want to-- and taking good care of yourselves!
Oh, Jen, I'm so sorry to read this update. It's a scary, weird place when your spouse gets cancer. (Been there, done that 10 years ago when my husband had thyroid cancer.) As others have said, keep writing. We'll be reading and supporting you both.
There's something uniquely intimate about supportive online communities of "strangers." So I get the impulse/preference to share here versus with friends you've known for decades. I do the same and am always amazed at how I get far more responses to my personal life admissions in my posts from new Substack community friends than the readers who know me in the flesh.
I experienced genuine online community in the late 2000s during the early days of blogging, and this substack community is the first time I've felt that way about online communities since then. It's been fun, and now that we're entering this scary, unknown season, it's turning out to be a gift.
Here as a reader for whatever you need to write. Having plans (for awesome events!) is an act of hope. You can deal with them one at a time, like the days ahead.
I agree about plans being an act of hope. In fact, the sentence had originally said "measuring hope," but at the last minute before publishing I changed it to "measuring time." Why did I make that choice? *shrug emoji* Something more to unpack in my journalling.
Also, I am personally connected to the story of your husband's journey because my wife has been having gastro-intestinal issues for about 4 months and because of the lovely health insurance she doesn't have an appointment with a gastro doc for another 6 weeks. She's done the poop tests twice (nothing out of the ordinary) and tried elimination diets with no change. She's 100x more laid back (aka: non-proactive) about it than I am. It sounds like your husband is the sort to deal with the hard and beurocratic things.
I'm sorry to hear that about your wife. The bureaucracy and waiting has been the hardest part so far. Hope you get answers soon. So far Bryan's been handling it, as a UX program manager he has many opinions about how his "user experience" has been so far!!
#27 (or whatever # I was when I subscribed) is here for it. All of it. And get the damned colonoscopy because you can better monetize TWO colon stories if it turns out you’re having concurrent colon cancers.
The monetizing TWO colons comment made bryan laugh out loud last night, and he's still talking about it this morning. So thanks for that! LOL
Also, you are #16 subscriber, and you hold the honor of being my FIRST subscriber outside of friends and family!! I probably let out a big WHOOP when you subscribed. :)
I'm new here- like since Thursday, so I don't know either of you but I'm sorry to hear of this diagnosis. I have close (but no my own) personal experience of both sides of this diagnosis and am wishing the very best of outcomes for your family. I'm going to check out of the additional newsletter as I'm not in a fit mental state to invite what has the potential to be very triggering directly to my inbox, but I'll be holding you in my heart.
I completely understand why you'd bow out, and I appreciate you taking the time to comment and let me know. I vacillated on whether or not to include explicit opt-out instructions, so this makes me glad I included it. Peace to you in all the things you're holding.
Thanks for subscribing, and I look forward to seeing you over on my main Wednesday newsletter!
In addition to appreciating your writing, I’m glad to have found out about the Subjects feature--starting a Ted Lasso rewatch and will be writing about season 3 in a special designated spot! Thank you!
But more importantly, my heart goes out to you all.
Jen, you won't necessarily have to have a colonoscopy--typically a colon cancer screening involves the doctor giving you a little kit in which you collect some feces and mail it back to the lab.
if there are any questions about the results, THEN you have the unmitigated joy of a colonoscopy!
“But I’m a weird, introverted writer and would rather announce to 164 Substack subscribers about Shrödinger’s Polyp than have a 1:1 conversation while the kids are being dismissed to children’s church.” Yup. Know how you feel entirely. Keep writing. I’m listening.
Thanks, Beth.
I'm very sorry to hear this. Definitely will be sending good thoughts your way.
Thanks for your strength & courage & time in sending this update. It sounds so surreal and painfully real -- I'd feel so impatient -- I appreciate the dark humor -- it kinda inspires me too. Thinking of you, praying for you, eager to read whatever you're writing...please keep sending updates as you can/want to-- and taking good care of yourselves!
Thanks, Julie. Writing and being seen is therapeutic and helps me process, so I appreciate your encouragement in this.
Oh, Jen, I'm so sorry to read this update. It's a scary, weird place when your spouse gets cancer. (Been there, done that 10 years ago when my husband had thyroid cancer.) As others have said, keep writing. We'll be reading and supporting you both.
Thank you so much!
There's something uniquely intimate about supportive online communities of "strangers." So I get the impulse/preference to share here versus with friends you've known for decades. I do the same and am always amazed at how I get far more responses to my personal life admissions in my posts from new Substack community friends than the readers who know me in the flesh.
I experienced genuine online community in the late 2000s during the early days of blogging, and this substack community is the first time I've felt that way about online communities since then. It's been fun, and now that we're entering this scary, unknown season, it's turning out to be a gift.
Here as a reader for whatever you need to write. Having plans (for awesome events!) is an act of hope. You can deal with them one at a time, like the days ahead.
I agree about plans being an act of hope. In fact, the sentence had originally said "measuring hope," but at the last minute before publishing I changed it to "measuring time." Why did I make that choice? *shrug emoji* Something more to unpack in my journalling.
Also, I am personally connected to the story of your husband's journey because my wife has been having gastro-intestinal issues for about 4 months and because of the lovely health insurance she doesn't have an appointment with a gastro doc for another 6 weeks. She's done the poop tests twice (nothing out of the ordinary) and tried elimination diets with no change. She's 100x more laid back (aka: non-proactive) about it than I am. It sounds like your husband is the sort to deal with the hard and beurocratic things.
I'm sorry to hear that about your wife. The bureaucracy and waiting has been the hardest part so far. Hope you get answers soon. So far Bryan's been handling it, as a UX program manager he has many opinions about how his "user experience" has been so far!!
Thank you for sharing. Being brave with substack subscribers is not nothing, either. We're here ❤️
Woah. Thank you for your vulnerability in sharing. This sucks and our family will be praying for yours. Thank you for writing now and in the past.
Sending strength, Jen and Bryan - thank you for sharing this. Your treatment of The Dark Humor Phase is magnificent. 🙂
haha thank you!
#27 (or whatever # I was when I subscribed) is here for it. All of it. And get the damned colonoscopy because you can better monetize TWO colon stories if it turns out you’re having concurrent colon cancers.
Also, is it weird if I tell you guys I love you? It feels a little weird, but I’m saying it anyway. I love you, Zugs!
Not weird! We accept ALL the loves!
The monetizing TWO colons comment made bryan laugh out loud last night, and he's still talking about it this morning. So thanks for that! LOL
Also, you are #16 subscriber, and you hold the honor of being my FIRST subscriber outside of friends and family!! I probably let out a big WHOOP when you subscribed. :)
Woohooo! #16 is here to stay!
I'm new here- like since Thursday, so I don't know either of you but I'm sorry to hear of this diagnosis. I have close (but no my own) personal experience of both sides of this diagnosis and am wishing the very best of outcomes for your family. I'm going to check out of the additional newsletter as I'm not in a fit mental state to invite what has the potential to be very triggering directly to my inbox, but I'll be holding you in my heart.
I completely understand why you'd bow out, and I appreciate you taking the time to comment and let me know. I vacillated on whether or not to include explicit opt-out instructions, so this makes me glad I included it. Peace to you in all the things you're holding.
Thanks for subscribing, and I look forward to seeing you over on my main Wednesday newsletter!
I actually couldn't figure out how to unsubscribe- the manage subscription option only invited me to upgrade. Don't worry- I'll figure it out.x
In addition to appreciating your writing, I’m glad to have found out about the Subjects feature--starting a Ted Lasso rewatch and will be writing about season 3 in a special designated spot! Thank you!
But more importantly, my heart goes out to you all.
It’s not in my nature, but you’re winning me over to the help of dark humor. My natural inclination: I am so glad you two have one another. ♥️
Jen, you won't necessarily have to have a colonoscopy--typically a colon cancer screening involves the doctor giving you a little kit in which you collect some feces and mail it back to the lab.
if there are any questions about the results, THEN you have the unmitigated joy of a colonoscopy!
Wow thank you for sharing - wishing you both the best. Also I did a spit take of my wine seeing your BC and AD labeling.