HAPPY FATHER'S DAY !!!

Hi all,

Happy Fathers Day to all the fathers out there - Especially Big Bad Brucey! On Saturday Bruce, Carmen and I took a little trip up to So.Pasadena to visit his dad who after 4 weeks is still in the hospital! I have a bit of a cold and even though I wanted to go in I thought it was best not to expose him. So I waited in the car while the others went in to see him. After a nice visit we all pilled back into the car for the short car ride to Bruce's sister Sue's house for a celebration to honor our nieces Nicole and Camille's high school graduations and 18th birthdays! It was a long day for us but lots of laughter, pictures and great food made it all worth the drive.

Anyway to get to the point of this post: Carmen told us that many of you have asked what is the total amounts collected at the fund raiser. After some figuring of costs and expenditures we have come up with the astonishing amount of ...$14,000!!!!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! This grand and awesome total is helping us keep our heads above water while Bruce goes through the next five months of treatments. We could not have done it without you all, the village that has been created around us is amazingly caring and generous. This not only includes the monetary donations but also the many, many other kind ways we have been supported.

Keep loving and supporting each other; its what keeps the world going around and makes it all worth while.

Love to you all,

Amy

The Pannikin in Leucadia was a lovely venue

Well, the day of the fundraiser finally arrived! With much excitement and maybe a little trepidation, Amy and I arrived at the Pannikin in Leucadia for the event organized by my daughter Carmen and my friend and yoga student Elena. It was an amazing experience to see so many people from all parts of my life coming together in one place. I had began calling this event "The Gathering of the Tribes". You see, I consider myself part of many different tribes: the surfing tribe, the yoga tribe, the poet's tribe, (and by extension, artists and musicians), the small business owner's tribe, the foodies tribe...you get the idea. Many of these folks I hadn't seen since my diagnosis, so it was especially poignant to see them. After a couple of rough days of chemo effects, I was running on love energy all night! I think I hugged everyone in a 3 block radius! I just felt so humbled and honored to be part of such a vibrant community of caring, creative people.

Speaking of tribes, some members of my family were there to kick off the festivities, namely David and Taylor Plenn, my Bro-in-law and nephew, who come from the musical side of the family! David on guitar and Taylor tearing up the sax. Beautiful. Doing their take on some jazz standards and putting up with me for a little spoken word goofiness.

Dave Plenn and son Taylor making me glad we are related

But let's not forget Austin Burns, who filled in the gap between the jazz and the reggae! Austin is a fantastic guitarist; wise beyond his years, who wowed the crowd with my favorite Hendrix song "Little Wing". Austin is playing at the Belly Up next Wednesday, June 15th, which is in fact his 18th Birthday. I'm hoping to be there. In fact, the whole Burns family rocks and donated an O'Neill wetsuit for the silent auction. Many thanks.

But let's talk about the food! This part was spearheaded by the inimitable Dave Murphey, aka "Murph", one of the most generous, positive and energetic individuals I have had the pleasure of knowing. Many thanks to all the restaurants that donated (can you hear me, Hunzi?) and also thanks to the Erik Pfeiffer and Cat Light for their help (and others, I am sure) My yoga tribe rocks!!

The Girls of Solo on Cedros brought their smiles

Charlie and Mary Moore, dear friends and newest residents of Pacific Station

Roseanne and Ron Hoffman were a joy to see

My daughter Carmen had reminded me the day before that we were there to celebrate life, not cancer, and after raffling off some prizes, it was time for some reggae music!! And celebrate we did to Simple Green, a precociously talented group of musicians that got the dance fever going with mostly original tunes. These young men are GOOD! Upbeat, positive vibes with tight grooves. I've been dancing to reggae music outdoors in funky Leucadia town for about 35 years or more, so I felt right at home. I warned them that the geezers are going to start showing up at their gigs! Many thanks to these excellent young musicians for bringing their skills and vibes to the evenings festivities. Sorry I don't have more pics, but I was busy dancing! If anyone has any, send them over and I will post.

We be jammin'

It was a wonderful night in so many ways. Truly magical for me. I must thank Michael Brown, Mr. Everything, for his help and for manning the beer tent, also Ashely and Evan and Shelton for helping Carmen so much. And my son Myles has such amazingly sincere and soulful friends that are always so good to see. They were right there pitching in. Muchas Gracias, dudes! Betsy Sieble and Andy Oesterle diligently managed the raffle table and generally made themselves available all night. Many thanks. Jim Babwe added perspective both with pixels and with wisdom (and gets credit for the wide angle first image in this post) My daughter Carmen is just amazing, and we are so proud of her.

The alleged perpetrators of this extravaganza:

Elena Burgeno Berman and Carmen Stephens

The fundraiser was a success on so many levels. It will help us with our debt to the hospital and/or keep the wolf from our door during chemo. Really, I want to thank the people of north coastal San Diego county, the artists, small business people, teachers, caregivers. The restaurants that have been so generous... these are the people that make a community. I have always loved my community, and it turns out, apparently, that my community loves me. Friends, family, the arts and the ocean... it is all a man could want. I am truly grateful.

I'll leave you with these words...

Every Breath a Victory

I submitted to the scalpel

I suckled the milk of human kindness

Every breath a victory

Each day a gift

I have been inside tubes

And had tubes inside me

I have rushed down the highway

I have sat so still, I watched leaves unfurl

Every breath a victory

Each day a gift

I have kept poisons out

And let poison in

I lost some muscle

But gained some fortitude

I abandoned some ego

And rediscovered some lost love

I have found the depth of human connection

And it made me weep

I lost my bearings

But I found my way

Every breath a victory

Each day a gift.

- Bruce Stephens, June 2011

It's another techemo Monday...

Life rolls on. It doesn’t slow down for the particulars of your situation. There are drains that clog, light switches that cease to work. Forms to fill out, thank you notes to write. Birthdays to celebrate and newborns to bless and coo over. Gardens to water, weeds to pull, laundry to fold, airport runs, graduations, weddings, visits to the hospital. The river of life cannot be dammed.

Add to this chemo therapy and appointments with the radiation oncologist. Today, I found out that I am not supposed to be taking anti-oxidants during chemo and/or radiation, a big part of my personal health regimen. The thinking is that the chemo works by oxidative stress on the cells, so if one takes anti-oxidants, you might be “protecting” the cancer cells along with you regular cells. Perhaps that is why my symptoms were so mild for the first two treatments. Today, a beautiful Monday in so cal after a little light rain overnight, I had an early appointment at Scripps Green La Jolla, where the radiation oncologist wrote out a flow chart of sorts describing my prognosis and treatment on the paper that covers the exam table, as well as taking us into his office to look at the cat scan. I have to admit it was kinda cool looking at my innards appear and disappear as he scrolled his mouse. But I am still undecided about radiation therapy.

Then up the freeway to Scripps Encinitas for my 3^rd chemo. Because of the holiday last Monday, there were only 6 days since my last chemo. And without my anti-oxidants, this session really kicked my arse. I felt like I’d been playing in the NFL without pads. Joint pain and chills mostly, but plenty of other unpleasant sensations. Amy’s folks brought me a sticker, from a neighbor, that says “Blame it on Chemo” I think I will paste it to my forehead. I now feel good enough to get off the couch and write this. Not much, but a start. Coconut water is my new addiction.

I hope to see you all at the Fundraiser on Thursday. I am rather referring to it as The Gathering of the Tribes. My dear daughter Carmen and my dear friend Elena have worked so hard and I am sure it will be a magical night. Also, keep my father Robert Bruce Stephens in your prayers, as he is in the Hospital struggling mightily to regain his health.

Until Thursday,

Swami bruce

The fun is less then a week away!

Hello Everyone!

Just a little update to remind everyone that the Bruce Stephens Fundraiser is less then a week away!

Come out next Thursday, June 9th for a fun night of great local food, raffle, Stone beer, wine, local poets, art, reggae and more! All proceeds will benefit the Bruce Stephens' Foundation.

Admission is free so bring your friends, kids and dogs!

Parking will be limited, so get there EARLY!

Here's some more details....

Thursday, June 9th 2011
7pm - 9:30pm

Pannikin Coffee & Tea
http://pannikincoffeeandtea.com/

Music By:
SIMPLE GREEN
http://www.reverbnation.com/simplegreen

Opening set by:
Dave Plenn
https://www.facebook.com/david.plenn?sk=wall
Taylor Plenn
http://www.taylorplenn.com/Taylor_Plenn/Welcome.html

Last minute items we need are easels for art and gift certificate donations! Please call or email me at:

carmen.a.stephens@gmail.com
(760) 815-2708

To stay up to date with Bruce's health please check back here!

If you want to point anyone to the facebook event please send them here: http://on.fb.me/BruceStephens


Thank you so much. With your help and community support we can get Bruce through this!

Much Love,

Carmen