Kimmy’s Garden

I took a course on the evolution of culture where we discussed what culture is, how it changes, etc. ETIN 350 at the Campus Saint-Jean with Dr. Roger Parent. Really interesting content. Does the culture have a language, un-written rules, shared norms, technology, a space, what individuals are IN and who is OUT? How is culture destroyed or developed, sub-cultures within cultures.

We did activities like watching people communicate, visiting various cultural areas to observe what goes on, comparing behaviour with the self’s (my own, your own, etc.) idea of understanding … , activity on other cultures’ behaviour that I find hard to accept, and interviews with people from cultures other than my own. Very cool.

Towards the end of the course, we had two main projects - to share and interview with someone of a certain recognizable culture (as defined earlier), and to prepare a pilot project that would benefit without question a certain culture.

For the big interview I interviewed a Edmonton Police Officer - a certain group of people with established norms, language, technology, sub-cultures, etc. The interview was very interesting and revealing. I shared this with my professor and classmate, who I believe were quite impressed at the idea of Police as a culture. I was surprised myself how well it worked out. And we discussed the possibility of doing something with the Police as my pilot project. It was at the time of the “Sting” at the Overtime, and the Police were getting a pretty bad rap - but even now when there are regularly articles in the paper about Police Officers being heavy-handed. Should the Training People not consider this for making changes to the training program to avoid this sort of thing … anyway, I really do support the Police - and for every bad thing the cops are put under the microscope for, there are hundreds of Officers doing good for hundreds of others. But that is boring news … anyway, I digress …

I thought about Seniors in senior residences, it can be a fairly lonely and boring place even when you live together, you don’t necessarily take the time or effort to meet others. But they are a certain group of people, with shared norms, technology, language, etc … I thought of doing my pilot project with Seniors. By the way, here’s a great book on working with groups of Seniors:

Bibliography of Resources on Caring for Seniors

Kim’s #1: Golden Glimpses by Tia M Weaver. Wellness Plus Publishers: Lethbridge, AB. 1994. Summary: On using reminiscence and sensory stimulation as activities with Seniors. Great book. Super relavant activities. She even has included her address so you can send her ideas and comments on the activities.

Then I thought, no, I am going to do the project on women with Breast Cancer.

Why breat cancer? Well, my Grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer before 1996, and she didn’t tell anyone until after the family reunion. And even only then did she ask me to take care of my Grandfather for a couple of days because she had to go into hospital for a couple of days and I asked her why.

At first I was sort of upset that she didn’t tell me sooner, but then I think straight, realizing what a horrible secret she carried around for how long, not being able / not wanting to talk about it . I am not sure whan she told my Grandfather. I noticed later in my Grandfather’s garage the foam left-overs from his attempts at making my Grandmother a decent fake breast out of foam with his different saws. Blue foam, beige foam, styrofoam… (G-d, how sweet is that?)
Anyway, I wanted to do something for the people, especially women, who are diagnosed with breast cancer to be able to have a means by which they can share their secret - encourage them to talk to their loved ones so that they can get the support - emotional support - that they need and deserve.

For my project, I first had to determine if they are a culture? A certain group of people, with sub-groups (young, mid, older groups; male, female); shared language, technology, etc. How could I create something that would benefit this culture? I decided to create an Healing Through Art pilot project, where groups of women, who have just been diagnosed to those who are in remission, those after operation, to those in the beginning, middle, end of their chemo cycles. Whoever! Groups of 8-10 people meeting 1ce per week for 10 weeks creating, sharing, using poetry, painting, drawing, sculpture, big pieces, little pieces, whatever. I really want to do this, like full time, but right now is not a great time in my life for that. So I am putting it on the back burner for now - until the right moment because this project is going to take a lot of energy & commitment to be done right.

I did a lot of research before I decided to approach this as an idea, and I have collected a list of resources that I thought were good reads & informative. here’s my list of Top 10 resources on Breast Cancer:

Bibliography of Resources on Breast Cancer

Kim’s #1: My Left Breast: an unusual film about Breast Cancer [video] written by Gerry Rogers. Produced by Pope Productions: St. John’s, NF. 2000. Summary: If you really want to know what a person diagnosed with breast cancer goes through, do watch this film. It’s a documentary of Gerry’s experience from 2 weeks after her chemo starts. I related, I cried, I laughed, I had hope, I felt hopeless. It was a total rollercoaster of feelings, and she is such an amazing person to have prepared this film of her and her loved ones to share and help with others. You MUST see this film.

Kim’s #2: Thanks for the Mammogram by Laura Jensen Walker. Fleming H. Revell: Grand Rapids, MI. 2000. Summary: A well written book of the journey taken by those diagnosed with breast cancer. Written humourously, and in her dedication it says “Cancer is not funny, but humour is healing.” I really enjoyed reading this book. Full of info, and brings a person back to balance during a difficult time.

Kim’s #3: The First Look by Amelia Davis. Univ of Illinois Press: Chicago, IL. 2000. Summary: This is a book of portraits and biographies of women who have had operations related to breast cancer. Another very powerful resource to answer questions you might feel that you could never ask.

Kim’s #4: Can you come here where I am? Poetry and Prose of 7 Breast Cancer Survivors prepared by the Write-Away Group. EM Press: Manassas, VA. 1998. Summary: Really well arranged. A reminder that poetry is an excellent outlet for getting thoughts out of your head, and feelings sorted out.

Kim’s #5: What you need to know about Breast Cancer: Diagniosis, Treatment and Beyond by Pat Kelly and Mark Levine. Key Porter Books: Toronto, ON. 2002. Summary: For everyone who knows someone who is, especially the person who is, diagnosed with breast cancer. People sharing stories, and communicating.

Kim’s #6: Breat Cancer Treatment Survival Handbook by Margaret Porter. Simon Schuster: New York, NY. 1997. Summary: No nonsense guide to exactly what the title suggests. Remember to journal, document, share. See Bib on Resources for Writing, Aug 8/06.

Kim’s #7: Breast Cancer by Janet Majure. Enslow Publishers Inc.: Berkeley Heights, NJ. 2000. Summary: Just like the title, very short and to the point. Goes through the process of diagnosis, surgery, and treatment.

Kim’s #8: Our Gift of Love: personal stories of Breast Cancer courage gathered by Hugh Hogle. Gibbs Smith Publishers: Salt Lake City, UT. 1996. Summary: Autonomy & independence through education, sharing with your loved ones.

Kim’s #9: Art, Rage, Us: Art and Writing by Women with Breast Cancer prepared by Chronicle Books: San Fransisco, CA. 1998. Summary: Communicating by means other than speaking about things unspeakable.

Kim’s #10: Partners in Hope: a man’s guide to Breast Cancer [video] produced by Bosom Buddies. 2001. 40 min. Summary: How to take care of your loved one diagnosed with breast cancer.

Kim’s #11: The Victoria’s Secret Catalogue Never Stops Coming by Jennie Nash. Scribner: New York, NY. 2001. Summary: Stories written by the author during her experience of breast cancer.