We hope you enjoyed the September 2022 issue of This Awful Awesome Life.

Many thanks to Lilly Kauffman, Orlando Bartro, and Linda Cahill for their contributions to each issue.

October is breast cancer awareness month, and we have some important information for you about your risk of getting breast cancer, prevention, and treatments.

If you’re new to This Awful Awesome Life you might not know that I am a breast cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with HER2+ invasive breast cancer fourteen years ago. I underwent neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, treatment with a monoclonal antibody that I was mildly allergic to, surgery, and radiation. Because of my allergy, this medication had to be given weekly in smaller doses with a plethora of premeds for a full year, so 52 visits to the infusion center for me. The effects of radiation continued to damage my skin for several years after treatment leaving me with permanent scarring and discomfort. This doesn’t happen to everyone, but it played a part in the surgeries I had last year and this year. I’m happy to report that I am still cancer-free, and a different type of reconstruction has addressed the problems I had following radiation treatment. I spent many years being upset because of the damage to my skin, but those radiation treatments might have played a part in the reason I’m here thirteen years later enjoying a grandson I might never have met and working on my next novel.

Lilly Kauffman remembers the neighborhood grocery store. Ask her if she still has any grapefruit when you see her. Orlando Bartro has a fascinating article about J.D. Salinger. Did you ever wonder why Salinger wasn’t more prolific? Orlando explains why our bookshelves are sorely lacking.

This month I reviewed a memoir from a woman who was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. Angela M. Thomas is an inspiring woman and her no-nonsense approach to treatment and recovery is filled with helpful hints and a healthy dose of humor.

Halloween is coming and we have streaming recommendations for you.

“Dare to Believe,” is proud to feature two breast cancer survivors who helped

destigmatize breast cancer, Richard Roundtree, and the incomparable Betty Ford.

We have a collection of words appropriated from Indigenous North American languages in honor of Indigenous People’s Day.

Our vegetable of the month is spinach. I have two easy and delicious recipes for you.

Linda Cahill shares some delicious recipes for football Sundays and Halloween courtesy of Pampered Chef. Don’t miss our Halloween reading recommendations for kids and adults and our October Quiz covering fun fall facts you should know. Also, check out our Author page and our preview of the November issue.

We’re sending positive healing thoughts to the people and animals in Puerto Rico, Florida, and other areas along the East Coast of the United States who have been impacted by Hurricane Ian. Thank you to all the first responders, The Coast Guard, the states who are sending food, supplies, National guardsmen, and lineman to help restore power to these areas. We are lucky to have an administration that has responded quickly to the needs of these areas.

Next month will be one of the most important elections for our democracy. Please take this opportunity to vet the candidates before you go to the polls. Know where they stand on all the issues and if their voting records reflect their stance on important issues. Please show up and vote. We will never tell you who to vote for, but we will keep telling you to vote and do your homework! Vote for the candidates who are the most qualified and who will safeguard our democracy.

Samantha Sayers has been missing since she disappeared on August 1, 2018, after a day of solo hiking at Vesper Peak near Seattle, Washington. Sam grew up in the Erie, Pennsylvania area where her parents Ron and Lisa still live. Her family is exploring all avenues of inquiry to find and bring her home. In the face of such an enormous challenge, they have chosen hope. Please keep sending positive thoughts to Sam and her family. As promised, we will be displaying a yellow ribbon for Sam on the opening page of each issue of This Awful Awesome Life until she is home.

If you are a person of faith, please pray for her safe return to her family. Because we are an online publication, we can update this article with any news. We will also post information on our Facebook page. Thank you!

Please share our link, www.thisawfulawesomelife.com with your friends and family.

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Happy Reading,

Fran