Update on Mama

Several of you have learned the news that my Mom was diagnosed with cancer a few weeks ago, and have sent words of sympathy and prayers. I hope you know that your compassion strengthens me greatly in this trial, even though I have not said anything on the topic via this blog. Please forgive the tardy and allow me a brief update of Mom's condition.

She has gone to see a cancer expert practicing traditional Chinese medicine and is now in the first phase of treatment consisting of twenty-one days of frequent daily dosages of two drugs. I wish I were better versed in traditional Chinese medicine to let you in on their contents. Although both my parents worked in medical profession all their lives, neither in traditional field. Most likely, though, they are concoctions of various herbal and animal parts, to be made into an utterly bitter, a dark dark and rather scary looking brew and drunk, while others come in the form of more benevolent-looking capsules. I was told that she takes one nine, the other thirteen times a day. She manages well with the help of a maid.

This past Monday I Skyped with my older sister. She said Mom is in good spirit, and there has been evidence of progress the doctor had prescribed. My niece Mimi, the only other practicing Christian in the family (not counting Mom and Dad who were confirmed Catholic by a priest during my last visit in 2012), has been praying the St. Peregrine Novena, as have I. Thanks to my dear friend Jan, for pointing me to this great Saint. He has been a major nerve calmer in these days of fear and anxiety.

Again, I'm grateful for your prayers more than you will ever know, and that is not an exaggeration.

Mama & me in front of her rose patch, June 2012

Current Diversion

To spring break with love -

This is the fourth day I've worked on the painting, literally a work in progress.

As you can see, the upper part of the painting is in a rough stage. The tripes in the fabric behind the red box are a toss-up - to keep or not to keep, still a question. My present instinct is to keep, as the upper right hand corner of the painting needs something active, something near-vertical, like the stripes.

I'm already conceiving my next painting. As it is, the spring break will be all too short for starting another work.

Indeed I may spend the rest of the break trying to bring this one into fruition. Someone once said, a painting is never finished, it's given up.

I will post the final stage of the painting when it has been "given up."