It's Not the Monster That Scares Us

One of the scariest moments in a horror movie is when the baby-sitter gets the phone call telling her, “He’s in the house with you!” And “he” of course, is the bad guy or the monster.

On Halloween we have lots of horror stories to entertain us, and one of the great classics is Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley. A best seller in 1818, and rarely out of print since, Frankenstein may be the most beautifully written scary book. A gripping story, the novel is packed with social and philosophical issues that will surprise those who only know the movie version of the story.

What makes Shelley’s novel a relevant work for today are the questions that she raised so eloquently: What does it mean to be human? Where will science lead us? And, “How do we discern morality in technology?”

 These questions are as perplexing now as they were at the dawn of the scientific era. The issue of technology’s intrusion into life --and death --is at the heart of today’s news. We continue to learn about new ways to overcome disability, advance fertility, control disease and delay death, but at what costs and to what limits?

It could help us to closely read Shelley’s novel and take up her questions for today.

When we hear the name, “Frankenstein” most people think of the rivet-headed monster immortalized by Boris Karloff in the old movie. We picture the lumbering creature that was assembled from body parts, and this common misidentification shows just how easily we tend to blame the victim and overlook the bad guy. 

In Shelley’s novel the large, disfigured man is simply named “The Creature”.   Frankenstein was not that sad man, the product of then-modern medicine, but rather his creator, the scientist, Dr. Victor Frankenstein.

Mary Shelley showed us that the tragedy of Frankenstein, and what led to the tragic consequences, was scientific experimentation done in isolation. Her brilliant young scientist had no association with his peers, no interactions outside his laboratory, and no ethical or moral constraints to balance his work.

Does that seem an accusation of our times? Dr. Frankenstein confesses his own dilemma: “In the year I created the Creature I had no intimacy, had not read a book, had a meal with friends, heard a concert or been to church.”

Maybe that seems a heavy admonition against workaholism, but how much do competition, secrecy and speed to market drive this same isolation in science today?

The original story makes the point that scientific experimentation of itself is not wrong; the trouble lies in its separation from social discourse.

Shelley’s point is subtle but important: Dr. Frankenstein is a tragic figure not for experimenting but for neglecting to take responsibility for the impact of his work. The issue is not to prevent creativity but to take responsibility –collectively and individually--for the social and human cost of each new technology.  

   

Frankenstein is the perfect myth for us right now. It’s about scientific inquiry outside of community dialogue. Think about Syria’s poison gas, our drones, fracking, “killer robots” and our detached way of dealing with death.

It’s so easy to point a finger at science but we find ourselves, as consumers and patients, demanding better healthcare and cures for the diseases that killed our ancestors. Every day we read about medical breakthroughs--new technologies for cancer, heart disease, fertility. How do we draw the line?  

Many of us hope we’ll get to benefit from some of those lifesaving advances, and we may even hope that advanced military technology might shorten war by intimidating our enemies.

We don’t want scientific progress to stop. But we, not just scientists, have to ask Shelley’s questions: What is the value of human life? What is the consequence of saving one? Or of making one?  But we have to consider the unintended consequences and ask, “Who’s the monster now?”

Our tendency is to point a finger and say, “It’s them…” and  “It’s their fault…” But our lesson comes from Shelly’s classic story and the scary movies:  He’s in the house with us.

The Amy Winehouse House

This is one of my all time favorite posts. I wrote it at the start of John's cancer tour and it still makes me smile to see the fierceness I found for myself in CancerLand:

The Amy Winehouse House             

A couple of weeks ago we visited a local cancer support center to see what services  might be available. The house is lovely and there are many activities, support groups, yoga, shared meals etc. But about 30 minutes into the orientation I picked up the whiff of overriding condescension that accrues around cancer. Part of it is the pastel and pretty approach to surroundings but it’s also apparent in the tone of voice that is used by staff. It’s a cross between the voice you use when talking to a small child and the voice one uses talking to someone in the midst of a psychotic break. The other hint at condescension is the two-handed handshake: the staff member takes both of your hands in theirs. This is accompanied by the long, deep gaze, which immediately feels like someone told the staff how important it is to make eye contact and that “people with cancer need to be seen.” Well, they are going to make dam sure you know you are seen.

But the greatest tip off to the fact that once you have cancer you’ll never be treated like a competent adult again is revealed in the list of activities offered. At the cancer center, the counselor told me--with that kindergarten teacher lilt in her voice, “We get together on Thursdays and make smoothies!!” Smoothies.  As I told John on the way home, “I have never made a smoothie in my life so why would I make smoothies in someone else’s kitchen with a group of strangers just because you have cancer?”

That smoothie was the turning point for me and it set me to thinking about the kind of cancer support place I’d like to create.  So here is an introduction to my new cancer support organization: The Amy Winehouse House:

The Mission of The Amy Winehouse House is: Fuck Cancer

We believe that cancer and its treatment is fierce and so everything around it should meet that fierceness head on and not back down into pastel prettiness. We don’t coddle and we don’t play word games. We don’t parse “living with” versus “dying from” cancer.

At The Amy Winehouse House we are not nice and not pastel. We don’t believe that having cancer makes you nice or pastel either. If you were an ass before you got cancer now you are an ass with cancer. We don’t ask you to share, process, make crafts or drink smoothies. We offer no bookmarks or anything that has or requires a crocheted cover.

All activities at the Amy Winehouse House are optional and include:

Making martinis

Strip poker night

Learning how to hot wire a car

Our book group is currently reading “Snuff” by Chuck Palahniuk

We have a smoking room

(if you have cancer and are going to die we want you to enjoy a cigarette on us.)

On Saturday nights we have strippers. Yes, for girls too.

And we certainly do have drug education.  We think of this as self-chemo. Our role model, Amy Winehouse, was an expert on self-chemo. Our self-chemo classes explain how to smoke crack and how to play the cancer card to score some medical marijuana. Our movie nights include pornography.  (After all, cancer is pornographic so why get all puppyish and pastel about something that is violent and intrusive.)

In future entries I’ll explain the Board of Directors and our policy for volunteers. (We don’t have tee shirts but you do have to wear eyeliner.) We’ll also talk about why we hate Lance Armstrong (We call him “One Ball” around the House.) We have bracelets too, but ours say, “Fuck Cancer.”

Juggling Work and Caregiving

Last week I attended the conference on The Working Caregiver and posted here some of the great info I received from that conference. I also met Amy Goyer who is the Family Caregiving Expert from AARP.

Her presentation was powerful as she detailed her long career in marketing and communications while caring for both parents thru long, serious illnesses.

Amy shared with us--and I shared with you--the resources for caregivers on the AARP website--and that fun Public Service Announcement with Jeff Foxworthy. But here is more:

Amy has also written a book about being a working (employed) caregiver and all of the challenges that come with having a job out side the home while having a huge caregiving job at home. Her book is called "Juggling Work & Caregiving" and it is FREE! Isn't that great.

But even better it is free and easy--you can download on Amazon a pdf or right to your Kindle.

That's the kind of practicality a busy caregiver needs.

Here is the link below: Click and get your free copy of Amy Goyer's book, and share this with your HR Department too.

http://www.amazon.com/AARPs-Juggling-Work-Caregiving-Goyer-ebook/dp/B00F57MFP6

Are You a Caregiver?

If you read this blog you probably are a caregiver and you probably recognize a caregiver when you see one. But there are many people who do serious caregiving who do not identify with that term. They may think, "Well I'm taking care of my Mom or my wife and that's just what people do."

And while that is true, and sweetly humble, there are serious losses when caregivers don't know they are caregivers.

Caregivers, often men who are caregiving or younger caregivers who don't identify with the term are missing a ton of services and supports that are available to them. They are not getting respite, navigation, or intervention services and they may be by-passing the articles and workshops that would save them time--and their sanity. That has big consequences for them--and for the loved one they are caring for.

Because this has been identified a s a big problem in healthcare AARP has created an advertising campaign to help caregivers to recognize that they are caregivers. I know, I know…you would think…but it's crucial that people know they count.

So here (below) is the link to the first "Are you a Caregiver?" ad that will run in November. It stars Jeff Foxworthy the comedian who is known for his "Are you a redneck?" comedy.

So click below and watch this great fun Youtube ad. And please share it widely so the conversation about caregiving will expand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJUyfrsJDCY

Helping Caregivers in the Workplace

Today NYSCRC--The New York State Caregiving & Respite Coalition is presenting the annual conference in Albany, New York. There are many workshops, talks, panels and resource booths with tons of information for family caregivers. I will be speaking about the working caregiver and honored to be on a panel with Amy Goyer, AARP's National Family & Caregiving Expert. You can stop by--10 am to 4pm today at The Desmond Hotel.

Loving All of It

A friend of mine told me what a wise friend of hers told her when she was contemplating marriage to the man she had been living with.

The friend told her to get very quiet and “make a list of all the things that upset you, annoy you and that you don’t like about him”. Then very carefully look at that list and ask yourself: “Can you accept each item on that list?”

If you can say yes then you should marry him because those are the things that will not change.

Brilliant advice? I think so.

It's not Pink, It's Lung

Somehow we just keep finding ways to ignore this fact: The biggest killers of women are heart disease and lung cancer. But now, in October,  the pink tsunami begins and we are saturated with pink hues and the fear-based marketing of breast cancer awareness.

But please pause for a minute and consider lung cancer. Yeah, the one that (after colon cancer) no one wants to talk about because it's gross and because we still (come on!) think it only kills smokers. (No it doesn't).

Here, in the New York Times article below (click the link) is an important idea about reducing deaths from lung cancer. The authors McKee and Salner are radiation oncologists. This is public health information.

After you read this we'll talk some more about the cancers that aren't pastel and that don't sell lipstick.

http://nyti.ms/XIoKQ2