The Joy of Teaching

Yesterday I co-led another session of "Shaping and Taping," a workshop on writing essays and vignettes for radio. The four-hour workshop seemed to fly by, my co-presenter Leslie and I worked smoothly together, and everyone got a copy of their recordings--thanks to Robert Smyth--our audio expert. Doing these workshops reminds me of how much I get from teaching, and from connecting with other writers who are also "doing the work." Sometimes, when I put out a lot of energy doing something I love, I find that I'm less tired/more invigorated, even though I've generally felt depleted lately.

For me, teaching and writing, and being around other creative people, speeds/encourages my healing. Now, if only my hearing would return to normal, so that I could ditch this damn hearing aid!

I'm dancing as fast as I can

or so it seems. After literally dancing upon turning '50,' I "crashed." During the last few weeks I've been dragging along, my energy low, my ability to concentrate at work almost nil. It took awhile, but I finally realized that carrying around the tumor behind my kidney is draining my energy--not because the tumor is causing obvious symptoms--but because of the uncertainty of now knowing what comes next.

Soon I'll find out what, if anything, needs to happen. I may need surgery, I may not. I'll know soon enough.......