Review of Chemorella by Ken Phillips and Katy Franco

Chemorella, Ken Phillips and Katy Franco’s color-bound, 57 page bilingual journey catapults readers into the world of cancer and the afterward. This story captures the rawness of emotional evolution of someone diagnosed with cancer. In these pages we witness the first injections of devastation, denial, fear, and finally the climax of letting go and choosing life over grief or giving up to the disease. Phillips and Franco address the severity of cancer in a way that is expressive and humorous; and also written in a way that is always accessible to the reader by means of adopting the Cinderella Fairy Tale to Franco’s testimony.

Like Cinderella, Chemorella is a lovely and beautiful woman with a lot of good spirit to share. However, Chemorella becomes stricken with a tragedy that many people don’t come back from, that is far more serious than anything Cinderella had faced. Though with nudges of negativity from her three “famously awful roommates,” and guidance from her super cool upstairs neighbor, the parallel made to the Cinderella story is nearly transparent. Where Chemorella progresses are by the means of Franco’s tough lessons learned which she applies to the story. The realism of “hair or life?,” after being diagnosed with cancer, makes this book extremely powerful. The statement compels all readers to reflect on its truth when we ask ourselves, “Is external beauty what makes our lives livable?”; definitely not.

Chemorella was one of the most reluctant, at first, to accept this truth. Throughout her journey we’re able to see it’s the intangible; our friendships, and creativity that can pull us through the darkest of times. Phillips and Franco shows us that this is where we can turn to find our happy ending, our dreams, our prince and princess “charming”; and leads us to a beautiful conclusion, “Everyone who knows you, loves you!” Not only did that phrase bring me to tears, but it alone serves as one of the largest motivators for those who fight and have fought cancer.

That statement is a happy ever after for everyone. Franco’s humility and generosity in sharing her story is tremendous! Not only is it attainable to fighters and those that support those with cancer, but by the way the book was written along with all the beautiful accompanied illustrations by Scott Sackett, this book is ageless, and due to its bilingual nature, will reach and impact even more readers to tears.

*Katy Franco is a survivor of cancer and continues to push through as an advocate and supporter of those who continue the fight! She is also a Comedienne and personality which continues to shine on. More on Katy Franco: www.katyfranco.com To purchase Chemorella, please visit: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0982897006/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

In Honor of Mother Earth

Happy Earth Month! Right now, we see the blossoms opening, the vines ripening -- the sweet smell of Spring is here! Congratulations to everyone for making it out of the darkness, in this frigid air... the dew of the damp Earth has sprouted many blessings. Rake up the gentle soil and bring her into your circle. Let the abundance flow into your circle; enjoy the fragrance of your harvest. I wanted to offer up this powerful song; Madre Tierra , by Maya Jupiter. Her message is steady and daring to be spoken into the ears of all who dwell on and know Mother Earth. Speak righteously, and take care. ~ Jessica ~

When everyone was quarantined, I felt like

"When everyone was quarantined, I felt like..." I was caged, my cord cut, the outside was in, and I wasn’t ready for that. I felt like I was out of time – no way to re-plan my life, no way to be by anyone’s side. I like mapping the scene, feel heat amongst a crowd, and now, to stay away from them, I have to hide. Close myself off my nature, to enjoy parties dancing, all the things feel more alive… When that door shut, a hurricane hit. JMWC 9/22/20 from class, Panorama High School, 2020

In Loving Memory of Anthony St. Jude Greene

My best friend died Sunday, July 24, 2011. Best and oldest friend...a brother and someone connected to my soul throughout life. It's not entirely real to me...we'd always talk, plan trips to see each other. This is going to be hard. He struggled a lot throughout his life; his weight problem, respiratory issues, sensitivity in general as he got older and heavier. It's a damn shame. He was a very strong man. Very strong! He'd fight off death for years. :) He'd joke about it a lot...saying that death is gonna have to fight harder because he's not giving up. His heart gave out, his body had enough trauma. He just had to let go, we have to acknowledge that he lived hard, fought well, died nobly. We'd joke about our heritage...we had much of the same mix of mutt in us, which was quite unique. He was also the son of many many vikings! Norsemen were tough, full of valor and grit, arghhhhhhh! Those medieval times men had nothing on Anthony Greene. :) Noth...

The mind, a dormant stone

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