Report From Sylvia



Hi all,

I spent some time with Leslie once again the  week of Dec. 5 and she is doing real well.  She continues on her 3-week cycles of weekly chemo treatments, is pretty well pounded by the effects for a few days then bounces back to normal. Energy levels are of course quite low and, when  she disappears every once in awhile we know she’s grabbing a catnap.   A few of the things we did together: wrapped some Christmas gifts, watched “Love Actually” (while Bill was at work since that is a 100% chick flick!),  ran some errands, and had a roaring good time on a SKYPE call with Bob Stetson.

Here is a picture of Leslie and the “Healing Hands” bed coverlet which was made for her by friends from St John’s Episcopal Church in Montclair. You can’t quite see it in the picture but each “hand” is personally signed with some words of encouragement.  It’s a cheery sight to behold!

Leslie will have a CT scan in late December to see where things stand since the first one done in the early days of her diagnoses in August.  She is already considered a ‘poster child’ for being a diabetic with pancreatic cancer… maybe there will be some more hopeful news by the New Year.

Merry Christmas to all!

Sylvia

A Note from Leslie...

In October, Leslie sent the letter included here as a two-part Comment to some of the readers of this blog.  We're reprinting it at her suggestion as, a month after she first wrote, it still encapsulates all of her "states" -- physical, emotional and spiritual.  And it especially encapsulates the love she feels for all her friends -- which is returned a hundredfold.

Getting on Leslie's page...

     When you think about our shared history in Piedmont, sooner or later an image or recollection of Leslie Bowman is going to enter that space.  Whether it’s at Camp, Dr. Laird’s French class, or “The Highlander,” Leslie’s presence – then as it is now --  is always memorable! Remember Leslie in a full leg cast resolutely trudging up and down the ramps at PHS getting from class to class? Waving a crutch, laughing, saying ‘hi’ to people, clearing away incoming traffic.  Now there’s a classic “Leslie visual”!

     Her recently diagnosed pancreatic cancer is by no means the only battle she has faced. As a 56-year diabetic, she learned early and well to fight fiercely to live her life with passion, laughter, and purpose.

     Now, in the throes of her fiercest fight, despite pain, fatigue, and the gamut of emotions, she is in a state of  grace, a grace that comes from a very real and personal relationship with her Creator.  She continues to exhort, advocate, minister to, and enrich the lives of everyone lucky enough to be in her world.   We can honor and delight her by ‘getting on her page’ – living our lives with passion, generosity, gratitude, and now, as the bitter specter of pancreatic cancer looms, urgency.

     In July, Leslie and I celebrated our 60^th birthdays together with her parents at their home on Monte Ave.  What did Leslie bring to the party? A ridiculously silly portable bubble machine, which spewed out a barrage of big, juicy bubbles as we laughed our heads off and sang Happy Birthday. Is that so Leslie or what? 
    -Sylvia (Cartwright) Simpson, Sept. 16, 2011

Well wishes from loved ones and friends...

If you scroll further down this page, you will find posts from some of the friends who were involved in the creation of the Team Leslie blog.  But we welcome you to contribute by going to the Comments right here to write a new message of your own...

Woodland Pow Wow

These two  photos were shot by Bill Marcus, Saturday November 19th, on the front steps of "Chez Marcus" in Woodland.  Left to right are:  Reid Dabney, Leslie, Anne Gritzer, and Bob Nelson.  Bob is wearing a French beret in deference to francophilia, and is holding a pair of Daffodil bulbs for spring blooming, a wonderful gift of new life from Leslie and Bill.  Piedmont High School classmates Reid, Anne, and Bob journeyed from the East Bay for a short visit with Leslie, which happily lasted longer than planned!  :-) 

A Partisan Message From Leslie...

Leslie Meets Elephant at Musee d'Orsay Plaza

Team Effort! (Leslie, Ann, Bob, Bob... and Barack!)

This Obama 2012 Photo Essay, originally sent by Bob Stetson to Leslie (tireless Obama campaigner, circa 2008) has been transformed by our other tireless worker, Bob Nelson, into a Video Slideshow, complete with public domain music.  Here is Leslie's original reaction on getting the email from Bob (S), and thanks to Bob (N) it is posted here in its new state with her approval.  Make sure to follow the instructions to enjoy the whole sequence.  -Ann G.


From Leslie:
"Bobo -- this is wonderful -- it made my whole day.  Shelley and I sat and read it together, and once again we are proud that (1) we voted for him, (2) we worked to get him elected, and (3) we'll work like hell to get him elected again.

"Keep sending this out, as the months go by, Bob - lots of people need to be reminded of what a fine President he has been for us!"

 

Note - This video, which was adapted via a pictorial e-mail from "Bobo" (aka Bob Stetson) that Leslie is referring to above, can also be viewed by clicking on the photo of Leslie with the Obama cutout below in the "Breaking The Ice?" blog post...

--PHS 1969, October 23, 2011