Dear Life, Yesterday while going through my large picture books, this photo fell out of The Anthology of Tulips. I remembered instantly the year and place it was taken: 2011 post-divorce and post-braces. We were hanging out at a friend’s house shooting pool and playing cards. I grew up with a pool table in the basement and was quite the shark. You can see it in me. How about those teeth and that smile?
Yours Truly, Pamela Rose

Dear Life, Anemia, Lymphoma and the Pandemic found me working in bed until mid-morning for the past couple of years. Truth be told, I’ve never been a person who is up and out of the house early. My creative juices wake up slowly and I enjoy waking up with them through writing, reading, looking words up in the dictionary, finding emotional connections between my dream and waking life. Ah, the comforts of soft cotton bedding, multiple pillows, and piles of books are my bed companions entering the new day.
Gentle, kind and loving.
Yours Truly, Pamela Rose

Dear Life, Today, my sister Arlene and I begin a 100-Day Creative Project with Suleika Jaouad’s online community. Suleika has Leukemia. She’s had Stem Cell Replacement Treatment twice, including this year, and is a creative, bright light with a generous voice bringing along thousands of “friends” into her world, The Isolation Journals. Arlene and I will be writing and reading to one another daily. I will continue posting my Love Letters with artwork and images. Spring brings renewed HOPE and BUNNIES.
Yours Truly, Pamela Rose

Check out Suleika’s site: www.theisolationjournals.com

Dear Life, Regina gave me an excellent haircut. She said, “You have sparkles.” My hair grew back dark with sparkles! I’m laughing because it really looks like my baby hair. Well, I am a new me. Stem Cell Replacement completely changed my cell growth. And now Immunotherapy is changing my immune system. Happy to have eyebrows and eyelashes again. The amazing Life of PRM continues to surprise. Happy Thursday!
Yours Truly, Pamela Rose

Dear Life, I slept long and deep after discussing and deciding I will no longer take chemotherapy medication. I am now officially in the non-chemo group of the Immunotherapy Clinical Trial. Thank you Christus Cancer Center Team, health workers around the world, friends and family. To celebrate, I’m getting my first haircut since it fell out from chemo a year ago. Looks like my hair in this photo. My smile is the same, too!
Yours Truly, Pamela Rose

Dear Life, This morning I discuss with Dr Herbert, my oncologist, blood labs, heart report, and whether I can stop the drug, Cytoxan. In January, I was randomly placed in the “chemo” group of the Clinical Trial and have advocated to be taken out of it because of side effects. Let’s see what the outcome will be. I also have an immunotherapy vaccine treatment. All this takes a kind heart, a fierce mind, and a brave spirit.
Thank you for your support as I walk tall into this day.
Yours Truly, Pamela Rose

Love Letter to Life 03.28.2022 Live With Confidence

Dear Life, Today I have blood labs. Looking closely at those white and red cells, neutrophils, and platelet counts. Up, down, or holding? Then appointment with accountant to sign my taxes. Need to go to storage for art supplies and warm weather clothes. Happily put away some winter gear. Preparing for my trip to NYC and CT to visit family and friends.
It’s a busy Monday kind of day.
Yours Truly, Pamela Rose

Dear Life, Anyone interested in 20th Century Pop Art and Culture, this series on Netflix is a compelling documentary. I lived in the East Village during the 1980’s. Thankfully, I fell into sobriety before the drug and alternative life style of the art world killed me. It hurt many including Warhol, Basquiat, and Haring, as it gave rise to an art movement and AIDS. Grateful to be alive.
Yours Truly, Pamela Rose

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The Andy Warhol Diaries (From Executive Producer Ryan Murphy) | Official Trailer | Netflix

Dear Life, The medical appointments do not stop because it’s the weekend. Oh no. I’ll be at Christus Hospital at 12:30pm for an Echocardiogram. Yesterday I mailed in the heart monitor I wore for two weeks. My heart is beating perfectly as far as I can tell but its getting checked because the oncologist heard “something”. Nothing goes unchecked when you are in a Clinical Trial. At 2:00pm, I look forward to seeing my game group and playing Aggravation. Game On and Heart Ready!
Yours Truly, Pamela Rose