L-O-V-3

Today is Valentine’s Day, a holiday derived from a Roman festival celebrating the coming of spring and made all the more romantic by the writing of both Chaucer and Shakespeare. 

This year, I’m feeling gobsmacked. That’s British English for astounded and utterly astonished. Yup, I’m gobsmacked and grateful. 

Upon learning that I’d been diagnosed with Stage Two HPV-related Tonsil Cancer, some of my Feldenkrais® friends and close colleagues reached out to ask how they could help. When they found out that the timing, length, and intensity of what was coming down — surgery, recovery, surgery, recovery, grueling radiation and chemotherapy, and a much longer, more demanding recovery — would challenge my financial resources to the breaking point, they spontaneously offered to do something about it. 

• When Paris Kern and Aliza Stewart offered to start a Gofundme site, I demurred. I’m not a shy person, but this path seemed too public about something so personal. After some reflection and discussion, Paris came up with another approach, one that I was comfortable with: she posted a message on Facebook in the main Feldenkrais teacher group and emailed her appeal to colleagues as well.
  
  
• Sonja Sutherland, one of the two regional representatives for the Northern California and Northern Nevada region of the Feldenkrais Guild® of North America, rallied the folks in the area and put together a sold-out fundraising event in Berkeley.
  
  
• Kwan Wong, the organizer and facilitator of the international online An AY a day study group for Feldenkrais teachers and trainees, turned last Saturday’s morning meeting into a first-ever mini-workshop and fundraiser.

Other folks started spreading the word through the geographically dispersed community of fellow explorers, compatriots, co-conspirators, teachers, former students and trainees, and others that I’ve met, worked with, learned from, and connected with over the years. 

The response has blown me away. 

I’ve spent most of my life working with and helping other folks. I’ve never been that comfortable being on the receiving end and I don’t much like asking for help, so this has been one heck of an educational experience. I certainly didn’t expect the outpouring of support from friends and frenemies, folks I know well and others I never met, from around the corner and around the globe. I’ve received phone calls, emails, text messages, greeting cards, socks, a pair of the most cozy slippers ever, dark chocolate, and financial contributions, small and large. All of which has been so wonderful.

Just the other day, when I picked up up the mail from the PO Box, I opened an envelope to find a check and the following note: