A Poem by Steve Hansen Prostate cancer is at my door. I think I’ve seen this guy before. Weren’t you a Jehovah’s Witness just yesterday?And last week selling aphid spray? Sir, if I could just have just a bit of your time.You’ll not find this on Amazon Prime. I can see that you’re old but…
Category: Uncategorized
Suck it up Buttercup!
As part of my therapy for prostate cancer through UCLA Health I am fortunate to have the benefit of both a psychotherapist and a psychiatrist provided through the UCLA Simms-Mann Center for Integrative Oncology. In addition, I currently participate in two excellent cancer support groups also offered through Simms-Mann Center. All of these psychosocial and…
The War on Cancer, a Soldier’s Journal
Both my father and my brother served in the U.S. armed forces, my brother during peacetime, my father during WW2 in the Pacific Theater on the Island of Guam. My dad was an officer in the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers building air bases for the new B-29 bombers heralding the upcoming final assault on…
My Environmental Misfortune?
I have never thought of myself as an environmentalist or had much sympathy with people who have such heightened fears and trepidations about what seems to me to be just ordinary stuff. The environment is, it seems to me, full of all kinds of strange and toxic material, much of it airborne, no doubt coming…
Cancer Reflections – a Conversation with Mother Nature
On Sept 30, 2021, just over a year ago, I received the following diagnosis from my doctor at UCLA, “Prostate cancer metastatic to multiple sites, Primary hypertension, and Bone metastases.” While I found that diagnosis rather troubling, to say the least, it came as no particular surprise to me since I had known for several…
Aging, Cancer and Disability ‘Tune for Maximum Smoke’ Part 2
I’m happy to report that my plan to visit Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park is proceeding apace. I have assembled an elite, highly trained and motivated commando team comprising six people besides myself, my wife Karen, Val, Penny, Barbara, Dinah and Nancy. L-R Val, Penny, Barbara Dinah Nancy All of these lovely ladies above…
Aging, Cancer and Disability ‘Tune for Maximum Smoke’
Back in the mid-late 1950’s I was very into ham radio and electronics. I obtained my Amateur Extra Class ham license in 1961. I still have all my log books and QSL cards from the contacts I made from all 50 states and all over the world in 6 continents. I mastered international morse code…
My Virtual Life
Since I retired in 2009 I’ve tried to remain active as a volunteer for various organizations, among which is our local VITA/TCE income tax assistance program in Thousand Oaks. When COVID-19 hit so badly during 2020, our program had to shut down and disband mid-season. The following year our program pioneered, with IRS’ blessing, doing…
The Problem with Zen
One of the biggest problems with Zen and why it could never serve as a worldwide religion is it leaves undefined the word ‘right,’ meaning correct. The Noble Eightfold Path directs us to employ ‘rightness’ or ‘correctness’ in all the things we do and think on an everyday basis, yet leaves these terms open to…
Zen and Prostate Cancer
an essay by Steve Hansen
New writing prompt: You are 80 years old. Life has been good up until now. You have just been diagnosed with inoperable stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer. How do you feel? What do you do? You have 90 minutes. Good luck! Ok, first of all. Fuck you! You’ve obviously been reading my UCLA Health chart!…