November 1, 2004

• MONDAY BOOK

  Grace and Grit (cont.)
  by Ken Wilber

  It’s been awhile since I returned to this story so quick recap:
  Treya and Ken Wilber meet in 8/63. Treya discovers lump in right breast in October. They marry in November and right after get diagnosis of malignant tumor poorly differentiated invasive stage 2 grade 4. December Treya has segmental mastectomy/removal of half of lymph nodes, 6 weeks radiation. Summer 1984 Treya must abort pregnancy because tumor was estrogen positive. Does meditation retreat. November she finds 2 small lumps under R breast – rare recurrence within irradiated area (cancer cells got caught on end of drainage tube when pulled out, caught in skin and left behind). December right simple mastectomy, left breast reduction – no chemo/radiation because docs feel cancer localized. Treya and Ken develop a holistic protocol. January 1985 follow-up visits reveal docs feel there had been a chest wall recurrence and cancer was metastatic, grade 4 stage 4. Decision to do adriamycin (strongest chemo with terrible side effects) in window of opportunity to act quickly – at MD Anderson in Houston. Protocol involves catheter in chest with portable pump to carry 4 days a month for up to a year. Chemo followed by Reglan for antinausea and Benadryl to counteract anxiety caused by Reglan. Treya asks Ken to read to her during chemo from his book No Boundary, a summary of ways world’s great mystics move beyond mind and body.
  To explain again, I’m reading this story because I want to know more about breast cancer, a disease that affects so many families today and because I want to know more about how people with spiritual depth face such challenges. Ken and Treya Wilber were both in this field before they even met, so it’s fascinating to see how they handle the situation. Ken reads to Treya: Instead of fighting a distress, then, we simply assume the innocence of a detached impartiality toward it. The mystics and sages are fond of likening this state of witnessing to a mirror. We simpy reflect any sensations or thoughts that arise without clinging to them or pushing them away, just as a mirror perfectly and impartialy reflects whatever passes in front of it. To the extent that you actually realize that you are not, for example, your anxieties, then your anxieties no longer threaten you. Even if anxiety is present, it no longer overwhelms you because you are no longer exclusively tied to it. You have nothing to lose, nothing to gain, by its presence or absence, for you are simply watching it pass by, as you might watch clouds pass by in the sky. (more next week)
  

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  Deep Thought: “I think a good movie would be about a guy who’s a brain scientist, but he gets hit on the head and it damages the part of the brain that makes you want to study the brain. “
  Today I am grateful for: Big honkin’ socks to wear when the floor gets cold
  Guess the Movie: “We are not groupies. Groupies sleep with Rock Stars because they want to be near someone famous. We’re here because of the music. We are band aids. ” Answer: Almost Famous, 2000. Winner: chicksdigbooks.
  Polls Today: Kerry 298/Bush 231 EVP: “We have another bumper crop of polls today, 50 in all. Since Sept. 1, the total number of polls in the Polling data file is 937. Toss in another 252 polls from May 24 to Aug. 31 and we have the most studied election in the history of the world. And what’s the conclusion? Nobody knows. If we just look at the most recent poll in every state, John Kerry will be elected the 44th President of the United States tomorrow with 298 votes in the electoral college vs. 231 for George Bush, with New Mexico and New Hampshire exact ties. However, even in Bush carries both of these states, Kerry still wins 298 to 240. But again, a caution is in order, Kerry’s margin is razor thin in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Ohio. Pennsylvania will probably go to Kerry. Ohio is more iffy. Bush won it in 2000 and stands a decent chance of winning it in 2004 although he trails by 2% using the average of the Zogby and Gallup polls taken Oct. 28-31. Thus after 4 years of campaigning, more money spent on attack ads than the gross national product of small countries, and an exhausted electorate, what do we have? In the immortal words of Yogi Berra: “It’s deja vu all over again.” The whole thing comes down to Florida. where Kerry currently holds a tenuous 48% to 47% lead according to the most recent poll, from Zogby. The reality is that everything depends on turnout, how many voting machines fail, and how much monkey business happens. Oh, yeah. And there are those 10,000 lawyers ready to do what lawyers are trained to do–file lawsuits.

  If Bush picks up Florida and the two states that are tied (NH and NV), then Kerry wins 271 to 267, the same margin Gore should have lost by last time. Actually, he lost 271 to 266 because one Gore elector from D.C., Barbara Lett-Simmons cast a blank ballot in protest of D.C.’s not having representation in Congress. It could be to be a long night, especially if Bush picks up either Florida or Ohio and a couple of small Kerry states in the East or Midwest, so everything depends on New Mexico.

  As I have discussed repeatedly, normally people with a cell phone but no landline are not polled. Most of these are in the 18-29 year old group. Up until now, no one has known how their absence from the polling data might affect the results. Zogby has now conducted a very large (N = 6039) poll exclusively on cell phones using SMS messaging to get a feeling of how they will vote. The results are that they go strongly for Kerry, 55% to 40%, with a margin of error of only 1.2%. If they all vote tomorrow, the pollsters are going to spend the rest of the week wiping egg from their faces. But historically, younger voters have a miserable turnout record, so the pollsters need not yet stock up on paper towels.

  Here are some things to remember about voting. Read carefully. Your vote could decide this election.

  1. Find out today where your polling place is by calling your county clerk or checking www.mypollingplace.com
  2. Alternatively, call 1-866-MYVOTE1 to find your polling place.
  3. Check the hours the polls are open with your city or county clerk.
  4. Print the League of Women Voters’ card in English or Spanish and put it in your wallet or purse.
  5. Bring a government-issued picture ID like a driver’s license or passport when you vote. Some states require it but if there are problems, you will certainly need it. If you have a cell phone, take it to call for help if need be.
  6. As you enter the polls, note if there is an Election Protection person outside the polling place.
  7. If you are not on listed as a registered voter, try to register on the spot. Some states allow that. Otherwise, talk to the Election Protection person if there is one or call 1-866-OUR-VOTE for instructions. If neither of these helps, ask for a provisional ballot, but you will need a picture ID to get one.

  Your vote counts. Don’t let anyone take it away from you.
  End of Day: 9:08 pm
  + = By tomorrow the real fun begins.
  - = Caught a cold today so have hideous sore throat and swollen glands plus blinding stabbing pains in my left jaw from having to chew only on that side because of healing dental surgery on the other side. My head thinks it can kill me and go on living.
  

  • 7:47 am
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