I am giddy with excitement for this new upcoming project, but shh, let's keep it a Secret.
Leia Mais…
I am giddy with excitement for this new upcoming project, but shh, let's keep it a Secret.
Benjamin Rubenstein is the author of the Cancer-Slaying Super Man books. You can subscribe to his quarterly newsletter Words by ruBENstein and cancerslayerblog.
at 8:45 AM 0 comments
My memory failed me on Christmas when JD asked what movie we saw the Christmas before. Normally providing more details than JD wants, and able to relive most episodic memories, I couldn't recall and still can't now six weeks later.
Many people who have read my book have asked what I used to detail my cancer journeys. For the first, my parents kept a three-ring notebook with test results, health research and correspondence. For the second, I emailed my friends Bubble and Hamburgers daily. Bubble saved my emails and printed them for me years later. I used those materials to write my book, but I had nothing else besides lightning-bright memories. I never kept a diary.
There is nothing wrong with me and my brain—after all, JD would say that he can't remember what he ate for dinner the other day. Maybe my failure is due to my aggregate memories piling up; starving my brain of energy, a necessary byproduct of staying super lean; or our 2012 Christmas movie sucking. No matter, my ability to recall autobiographical memories is one of my favorite attributes, and not being able to irked me.
My friends from my first rock-climbing trip have been sharing their favorite thoughts about one of our group members, Sunny. These thoughts are often specific, like Sunny teaching how to "creepy hug" someone. I’ve been trying to remember detailed memories of Sunny, but I can only think of her generally: hilarious, glowing, courageous-as-all-fucking-hell. Without specifics then it is the latter term that stands out, even though I bet Sunny would prefer we remember her by the first two. My memory has failed again, and this time it saddens me.
Rereading my previous blogs about Sunny here, here, here and here have helped. Her voice and smile are returning. I can see her in our van en route to the next climbing wall, providing too much information on whatever we were discussing. I see her frolicking with the enviable inhibition of a child, so full of life.
Seven years going this month, my blog has become a snapshot into my past and a way for me to re-fire synapses. Now I can always remember Sunny even though she passed away yesterday due to cervical cancer.
Benjamin Rubenstein is the author of the Cancer-Slaying Super Man books. You can subscribe to his quarterly newsletter Words by ruBENstein and cancerslayerblog.
at 7:10 PM 4 comments
Newsweek — "Blogs like cancerslayerblog are just one way younger patients are addressing the absurdity of life with cancer with humor, rather than pink-ribboned, glassy-eyed earnestness."
"Read "My Cancer Story":
SECRETS, the pre-YA BOOK
TWICE, the MEMOIR
"An inspiring and fascinating personal account of a long and often painful journey.” — Library Journal
"Benjamin shared his amazing story with me and my oncology massage students and brought a new perspective to our class discussion. His story is not like others any of us had heard. His humor, self-awareness and total openness inspired a real and valuable discussion about what it means to discover who you are through cancer treatment…and then about how you can go on to more than live your life after. — Lauren Cates, President, Society for Oncology Massage
“Listening to Benjamin Rubenstein. I think he might be superman. But funnier.” — Rebecca Nellis, Chief Mission Officer at Cancer and Careers
To discuss booking me, contact Jonathan
Special thanks: N.C., Lindsey White for editing some of these stories; Mike Reda for blog design