Brisket BlissRiding the waves of smoky ecstasy I like anything that’s easy. Easy meals. Easy hikes. Easy friendships. Easy jobs. And because I’m more than a bit of a show-off, I love easy attention. In an effort to get the story right, let me back up a titch. I don’t...

SWITCHING TRACKSLet the sun shine I have a new favorite thing. Monday luncheon. When energy and schedule allow, I head to Mercer Island for lunch with the ladies. We don’t drink or indulge in recently-legalized treats, but we do abandon reason, step through the...

Dear Jack, My closest friend at work was diagnosed with ovarian cancer on December 23. She’s already had a hysterectomy, as the cancer was spreading to surrounding organs. She is now launching into some intense chemo. She went to her chemo orientation yesterday...

CITIZEN COPE When the going gets bad, the coping keeps you going During chemo recently, I got a-chattin’ with Eli, my oncology nurse. “You must see patients with many styles of coping,” I said to her. “You have no idea,” she replied, eyes lighting up. It was like I’d...