It's Gilda, Not Gilda

cancer

  • The Girl

    Everyone knows Gilda, but do they KNOW me? I’m eccentric, they say. I am an extrovert, they think. Confident and bold, they assume. I was thinking of myself as a teenager. I was so wise, beyond my years. I was… Continue reading

  • “Your Cancer is NOT my Problem”

    I know that I am strong and valuable. Valuable in the sense that I have taken care of myself with pride. And by that I mean that I have curated my life with experiences and connections that feel good and… Continue reading

  • I, Gilda

    Is this real?  Did I remember that wrong? Is it me? Did I misunderstand? Am I too sensitive?  Oblivious? Possibly annoying? Did I misinterpret that eye roll?  Did they sigh with frustration, or with relief?  Am I not faceted enough… Continue reading

  • Ode to Bubbies

    When I was a teenager, I envisioned turning 18 to be like a magic portal to not only becoming a bonafide woman, wuhehman, WHOAAAAman, but also to where all my dreams would come true, where I could do whatever the… Continue reading

  • Just Say My Name

    The jarring feeling of being ghosted is unnerving. You pour everything into something and then bam, silence. Imagine that, but by them – the people who hold the power of your future healthcare. And imagine them not remembering your name… Continue reading

  • Dreams of being a Goddess

    Menopause is the ultimate take no-sh*t era, because our boundaries are becoming stronger, our respect is becoming more genuine, and we have stronger values alongside our deeper wisdom. When they forced me into menopause, I initially didn’t realize it was… Continue reading