I am very glad to see you back here, Mickey! Sorry that you've had such a horrible time with the medical establishment, though.

A dear Mudcatter sent me a book of art photographs of older women, done by Joyce Tenneson, called Wise Women. These women have become my role models in many ways. You can see the prints on this page.

The specific ones I thought of when reading your message, were the following, with the women's words which are printed in the book opposite of their photos:

2nd photo from left, top row: Krista Gottlieb, 70 When I look at my body I see a survivor. I am one breasted - but I am more. I am more compassionate and open than I was before.

And, oh darn it, she doesn't have a print of the other one, so I'll describe it. The subject is Maezie Murphy, 83. She has soft white hair gathered on top of her head. Her big, beautiful eyes stare directly at the camera, full of intelligence, irony, humour, and love, as well as determination...she has a towel draped around her, with her arms across her chest, hands resting one on top of the other between where her breasts were. She says, I had a radical mastectomy years ago and I like to tell people, "Yes, I had cancer and no, I didn't die." If you have faith in God, you always have someone you can count on."

And, one more for which she doesn't have a print online, sorry, but since it's folk, I thought I'd include it. It is of Odetta, eyes closed, guitar held vertically close to her body. She has a close-fitting cap of curls or knitted material (it's sort of etherial so it's hard to tell) with sparkles and a few beads hang down in a thin line on her forehead. I don't do these photos justice. Anyway, here is what Odetta said at 69: The beads on my forehead are symbols of my third eye - the eye of vision. All of my schooling has been through music. It was through folk music that my spine was straightened. I cut my hair and let it be natural - nappy. I let my own personality out. Thinking for yourself is something we must bring to education. We women need to pass that belief on to younger generations!

Seems to be you've just done that with your sharing with us, today, Mickey. Thank you!

Bat Goddess, I had insurance and the doc in WY didn't give me any choices, at 26 yrs old. Later, when we went to New England, I had to have the scar tissue cauterised (lot of fun that!) and the docs told me I could have had a much less radical treatment. Oh well...*sigh*

Good health to you, Mickey, from here on out.

luvyakat