Mary Swan-BellMore Melanoma Musings and Thoughts on Floundering FaithI have been struggling lately with several things. Grief, cancer, chronic pain to name a few, but the one that keeps circling in my head is…Apr 29, 2022Apr 29, 2022
Mary Swan-BellEmbracing Imperfection“I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned the hard way that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning…Feb 15, 20222Feb 15, 20222
Mary Swan-BellDon’t Look At MeI am an introvert. I prefer to blend in and avoid eye contact and small talk. That said: I am occasionally needy of my husband’s attention…Jan 25, 2022Jan 25, 2022
Mary Swan-BellHelp…lessEight years later, my mom is 87. She is 4’11” and weighs 80 pounds. My world sometimes feels paradoxical as I edit a memoir in which my mom…Jan 19, 20223Jan 19, 20223
Mary Swan-Bell22 for 2022One of our favorite family games is Scattergories. Have you played? The object is to score points by “uniquely naming objects within a set…Dec 31, 2021Dec 31, 2021
Mary Swan-Bell21 for 21 Wrap-UpHello, last week of 2021. While it was happening, especially the last month, this year felt inordinately long. Looking at this list, I’m…Dec 27, 2021Dec 27, 2021
Mary Swan-BellYou’re Not a Misfit; You’re MagicalDo you ever feel like your cart always has a wonky wheel? You know, the one that spins sideways instead of going forward like the other…Dec 16, 20211Dec 16, 20211
Mary Swan-BellTastes LikeTwo months post-immunotherapy, I got Covid. When I got the melanoma diagnosis, I never really asked, “Why me?” I thought: Fair. Years of…Oct 28, 20213Oct 28, 20213
Mary Swan-BellCardigansOne of my favorite Avett Brothers songs has a line that I love: “I wish I was a sweater, wrapped around your hips. And when it got too…Oct 21, 2021Oct 21, 2021
Mary Swan-BellSpoiler Alert: You’re The Person You’ve Been Waiting For.Last week I had my last immunotherapy treatment. At my first treatment, I was scared and alone. My husband was out of town and even though…Aug 12, 2021Aug 12, 2021