You've heard of Guest Hosts? Well, here's a Guest Post!

During our last trip to Rochester, Karen told Mom, Dad and me how truly powerful it has been to learn of all the people who are pulling for her in so many varied ways. Every pebble and stone dropped in the water creates a wave and its impact is being felt! We thank each one of you for the encouragement and love you have shown to date and for helping to maintain the positive momentum and energy in the months of this journey that remain.

Karen's friend, Mark Neukom, added this comment a couple days ago. I thought it warranted a spot as a "Guest Post."

I would like to take a moment to encourage everyone who reads this Blog to add comments to it. A few people have already added comments, and they have been quite wonderful. Don't stop! They mean so much to Karen. And I don't think that they have to be deep and meaningful — isn't there some guy who writes strange wise-cracks all the time? It is his way of telling her that she is not alone; she is being heard. This Blog is not a one-way communication tool; it works in two directions. Not only can Karen talk to you, telling you the things — important and mundane — that are happening in this moment of her life, but you can talk back to her as well. You can both talk with each other, in a public forum.


There are several reasons that this two-way communication is very important to Karen. The first reason that your comments are important to Karen is that she will know that you are there listening to what she is saying. In Blogging there can be a very unfortunate and empty feeling that there is no one there. You can let Karen know you are out there, listening, by leaving comments in her Blog Entries. And again, if you are unsure of how to do this, please see Janis' wonderful tutorial below about Lurkers (August 16th).

The other reason that your comments are so important is that this is Karen's record of what is happening in her life. This is her history being written before her — and our — very eyes. And when she has kicked this thing's ass, she is going to be able to come back and see all of this; to have a physical, living memory of these dark days when she held her head high and refused to be beaten down, and to be able to hold in her arms the words of those who love and support her in this battle.

That having been said, my intent is not to lecture you on how to support Karen's fight. I understand that we all support Karen in the ways that we can. And many of us, being Midwesterners of Scandihoovian decent, have a tendency to stoically go about our lives, not wanting to draw attention to ourselves. But I do believe that this is an incredible way for us to interact with Karen with frequency, even when we cannot be with her, or speak with her. And the fact that she can have this as her own personal history is very important as well: Karen can open her Blog and see the words any time of the day our night, and find in them the solace and strength that we offer.

So, please take a moment to write a comment to Karen . . . it means more than I think you or I can imagine.

Mark


Thanks Mark for showing your support by taking such an active role in the blog and sharing your thoughts on the impact of comments!

If you would like to "Guest Post" a blog entry, just let me or Karen know.