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Mary Swan-Bell
Mary Swan-Bell

122 Followers

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Apr 29, 2022

More Melanoma Musings and Thoughts on Floundering Faith

I 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 faith, belief in God or some higher power. Perhaps it’s muscle memory from my Catholic childhood, but when facing hardships, my first instinct is…

Cancer

5 min read

More Melanoma Musings and Thoughts on Floundering Faith
More Melanoma Musings and Thoughts on Floundering Faith
Cancer

5 min read


Feb 15, 2022

Embracing 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, middle, and end.” — Gilda Radner I didn’t just want a perfect ending; I wanted a perfect everything. Perfect house and job and vacations. Perfect body…

Grief

4 min read

Embracing Imperfection
Embracing Imperfection
Grief

4 min read


Jan 25, 2022

Don’t Look At Me

I 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. Sometimes he has a reaction that I find very pleasing. So pleasing, in fact, that I chase it. Unlike many other things, it’s as…

Television

3 min read

Don’t Look At Me
Don’t Look At Me
Television

3 min read


Jan 19, 2022

Help…less

Eight years later, my mom is 87. She is 4’11” and weighs 80 pounds. …

Caregivers

4 min read

Help…less
Help…less
Caregivers

4 min read


Dec 31, 2021

22 for 2022

One of our favorite family games is Scattergories. Have you played? The object is to score points by “uniquely naming objects within a set of categories given an initial letter and within a time limit.” Categories might include: A girl’s name, something you find at the zoo, a movie, a…

New Year

4 min read

22 for 2022
22 for 2022
New Year

4 min read


Dec 27, 2021

21 for 21 Wrap-Up

Hello, last week of 2021. While it was happening, especially the last month, this year felt inordinately long. Looking at this list, I’m…

Cancer

5 min read

21 for 21 Wrap-Up
21 for 21 Wrap-Up
Cancer

5 min read


Dec 16, 2021

You’re Not a Misfit; You’re Magical

Do 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 three? Or perhaps it’s an issue somewhere in the wheels resulting in a loud chirping sound that suggests you might be smuggling baby birds…

Christmas

3 min read

You’re Not a Misfit; You’re Magical
You’re Not a Misfit; You’re Magical
Christmas

3 min read


Oct 28, 2021

Tastes Like

Two months post-immunotherapy, I got Covid. When I got the melanoma diagnosis, I never really asked, “Why me?” I thought: Fair. Years of tanning beds and baby oil and sun worshipping. Okay, Karma. But Covid? Nope. Fuck that. I wore my mask. I washed my hands. I stayed home. I…

Writing

5 min read

Tastes Like
Tastes Like
Writing

5 min read


Oct 21, 2021

Cardigans

One 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 cold, into me you’d slip.” The next line is borderline voyeuristic, and the song is about love, not friendship, also the grammar…

Writing

3 min read

Cardigans
Cardigans
Writing

3 min read


Aug 12, 2021

Spoiler 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 one of my friends had come with me, I told her she didn’t have to come back with me. I’m brave. And strong. People…

Cancer

6 min read

Spoiler Alert: You’re The Person You’ve Been Waiting For.
Spoiler Alert: You’re The Person You’ve Been Waiting For.
Cancer

6 min read

Mary Swan-Bell

Mary Swan-Bell

122 Followers

dreamer•mystic•seeker• author, Post-Its and Polaroids•

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