Saturday, October 07, 2006

Margi's show in downtown LA opens next Saturday evening, October 14, with a reception from 6-9 p.m. at the downtown L2 Kontemporary Gallery, 990 N. Hill Street, #205, Los Angeles, CA 90012-1753, (626) 319-3661.

http://www.artscenecal.com/Announcements/0906/L2kontemporary0906.html

Sunday, September 24, 2006

alternatives to the poison

Hello friends,
It’s been busy for me since I left the “bubble” but I’ve been meaning to get some information to everyone…..

I was able to attend one of the days of the Cancer Control Society Convention over Labor Day weekend. The Society is a resource for alternative therapies to cancer treatments and other debilitating diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, Hepatitis and other immune compromised diseases). It was a fascinating day with lots of speakers and booths and information about options to the standard treatments of chemotherapy, surgery and radiation! There are alternatives that are working!!!!!

I also went on the day tour to some of the Clinics in Tijuana, Mexico that are providing these therapies in a hospital or clinic setting. It was fascinating and some of these clinics have been around for 30 years! Generally, they build the immune system and detoxify the body as well as address the cancer in a way that does’t have the damaging side effects that chemo and radiation have. it was exciting to see these therapies helping people! And one of the clinics was using the same Biofeedback program that i am using! yea!!!!

If anyone would like this information, please feel free to contact me or contact the Cancer Control Society at www.cancercontrolsociety.com or 323-663-7801.

I know that we are all grateful that the path that Margi had to walk has proved successful for her, and I don’t discount the work that the doctors are doing. But if anyone is faced with the decisions that Margi has had to face, then I want everyone to know that there are options out there that are working and worth checking out.

cm

Etiquette Alert

Dear Blogwatchers,

It has come to the attention of our Office that one Margi Scharff, aka Wonwulf, aka The Wild and Woolly (although once temporarily hairless) Traveler of the Western and Eastern World, is about to return to El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de Los Angeles.

Ms. Scharff is projected to be projected into the airport known to various lax personages as LAX on Friday, September 29, 2006. She will immediately be conveyed to the first of various safe houses, from which she will issue proclamations when she is damn well ready, thank you very much.

Ms. Scharff catapulted into Memphis, TN some time in the last week or so (our sources either lack the proper information or are asking too much money for it), allegedly to see her family. How she managed to elude the proper authorities and SNEAK into the United States without notice, we have not been able to ascertain, but our operatives are at this very moment moving stealthily through various communities attempting to collect information concerning this serious breach of rational security.

The surreptitious nature of Ms. Scharff’s return to her natal land no doubt owes A GREAT DEAL to her continuing violation of Cyberspace Rules, although said Rules have been enumerated to her innumerable times; to wit, the Essential Law of Blogs, which is that new data MUST be periodically injected into the permeable plasma of the plausible plutosphere from time to time, or the whole thing stutters and dies, sort of like that sourdough starter we had years and years ago which needed a steady infusion of flour every week or it starved, and it was just too much of a responsibility, wasn’t it, so we eventually threw the whole thing in the trash with only a tiny little whimper of guilt and a much larger sense of relief, now, didn’t we?

But we digress. And then we just stop, flat. Because we’re like that.

Sincerely,

Edna Krog
Director of Cyberspace Etiquette

Monday, July 10, 2006

Margi in the flesh in the clouds

Monsoon clouds in Mcleodganj -- on the rooftop of the Him Queen Annex.

I’m sitting in the middle of a cloud, completely surrounded by opaque air, and the sky beyond is a mystery. The rains fall intermittently. Occasionally the cloud gathers itself in varying degrees of density and brightness — until the mood shifts and the veil becomes completely uniform. A blank slate, soft and fluffy, with no clues of what lies beyond.

Tonight I head back down to Delhi for my blood test and check-up 4 weeks after chemo #6. Brian will accompany me on the train and help me cope with the jitters that come with the hospital visits. Hopefully, it will be a short visit — no more chemo is scheduled and this thrills me to the core. Also, according to the Delhi weather report, the temperature has been hovering just above 100 degrees, with humidity in the high 80s. The monsoon has not yet graced Delhi. So I hope to zip in and back out in just a few days time. As long as my CA-125 level remains low, I won’t need another check-up for another month or so -- when I’ll return for a fresh look inside my body with a CT scan.

Here in Mcleodganj, I have started seeing a Tibetan doctor, Yeshi Dhonden, former doctor of the Dalai Lama, in preparation for the end of chemotherapy — to ward off the return of any cancer demons. He has worked with cancer patients around the world and particularly in San Francisco in affiliation with a Cal State University program that focuses on breast cancer. (You can google him for further info.) He has given me a course of pills that look like polished balls of dirt and also taste like dirt. His translator tells me the pills will keep the cancer from returning. A week’s supply costs 60 rupees. There is no charge for the consultation.

My most immediate concern is to drive away a creeping sinus and lung infection — it would be a shame to succumb to a cold after surviving all that chemo. It’s the same bug, I believe, that hit me in Delhi just before chemo #6 — that Dr. Rajan gave me antibiotics for-- which I had to quit too soon because of the rollercoaster-sledgehammer effects of chemo #6 (just couldn’t keep things down). So now I am coming at it from all angles: back on the antibiotic from Rajan as well as some Tibetan medicine (more dirt pills) from Yeshi Dhonden and some effervescent Airborne tablets from Penelope and Deane and colloidal silver sinus spray from Susan and QX from Carolyn and of course, ginger tea from the Hakeem brothers at Him Queen… That should do the job.

On a more important note -- I read today that the Dalai Lama is currently suffering from fatigue and lung and chest congestion. He was admitted to the Tibetan hospital here 2 days ago, just after his birthday. The doctors have prescribed 10 days of complete rest along with Tibetan herbal medicine (dirt pills) and they have canceled all of his current engagements, which included lectures in Europe. He had just completed 10 days of intense 'teachings' here in McLeodganj. They attribute his fatigue in part to his hectic schedule. No doubt -- there were people from around the world here to attend the 10 days of teachings. I wish him well.

In the meantime, I’m here in the cool monsoon clouds of the Indian Himalaya, alternately working and resting. My monsoon cloud has thinned a bit and I think I can make out some shapes of things I already know are out there. A first-time looker would never know about the expansive valley below or the high mountain peaks above. Time seems suspended in this no-sunrise-sunset and so-very-still atmosphere. For the moment, there is no hurry.

(email from Margi, received by Penelope - she asked me to post it, as she was too tired Sunday night to post it herself)

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Some views of India, explained

Couldn't figure out how to combine words and text, so here's about the pictures below: Margi on the roof of Ashoka Indian Restaurant, Mcleodganj; Margi on the trail to Bhagsu waterfall, leaving me in the dust; Margi and hydrotherapy in the stream that leads to the waterfall (she liked lying on this rock because she had water flowing on both sides, so complete auditory immersion, as well as cold water flowing over hands and feet and stimulating sensation); Margi and Vinod Shanti, who made us great chai and meals at Angus' house in Dharamkot, above Mcleodganj; Margi and Brian, the computer genius and music/film maven, who with his wonderful wife Sonia brought us movies and meals and took us on trips around the countryside; the hat girls. Margi took the last picture, with my camera upside down out at arm's length, on a rectangular rock where we picnicked above Bhagsu waterfall. I was tempted to post it as taken, inverted.

Some views of India, May-June










Tuesday, June 13, 2006

chemo #6 almost

hello,
well, actually, there hasn't been a chemo #6 yet, since Margi's WBC (white blood count) was too low for them to safely give the chemo. so she had an extra night in the hospital and was given some IV solutions to help boost her system and then will have the chemo today, pending results from the lab.

it is surprising that her count was low, since she seems to be doing ok (no fever, no diarrhea). she did have a couple of tougher days this past time in D'sala with some diarrhea and a short-lived fever, but that had seemed to pass without incident, so it leaves us all a bit perplexed. Margi was thinking that the insecticide spray at the hotel might have contributed to her not feeling so well....just too much for her system to handle with chemo and everything else.

they did a chest xray yesterday, but that was clear. she has been feeling more lightheaded these past couple of weeks, but that doesn't seem to be related to the low WBC count, according to the doctors. when i spoke to her this morning, she was feeling better, so the IV has done something good.

Margi is entertaining herself at the hospital while i am running around trying to do the last minute things before i leave. thank goodness Deane is coming so that Margi will have someone to be with her when i leave! their train tickets have been changed to Sunday night to accomodate the chemo schedule. it will be a hot couple of days for Deane, but there is AC to retreat so i'm sure she'll be entertained with all that is around here.

i've contacted her friends here in Delhi, so they know that she might need some support in the next few days before she leaves for D'sala. and Brian has been alerted as well. so all support is in line!!!! hurray.

it is hard for me to leave at such a point. i was really intending to see her through the last and final chemo and make sure all things were good before leaving. but the wheels are in motion, and i have to get going. i'm glad that i know she is in good hands though, so it will be ok. the Hotel is a wonderful place for her, we have been so lucky.

i will be stateside by the end of June. yikes. i've been in the "Margi bubble" for awhile now, the US will be another shock again.

so now i will be one of the blog watchers waiting for updates and info!
until then,
cm

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Leaving the mountains

Tomorrow Margi and I will leave Dharamsala for Delhi - me to prepare to fly back to California on Friday, Margi to get ready for chemo #6, scheduled for Monday. Carolyn will join us in Delhi, and will be with Margi through chemo #6 and just after; another California friend, Deane, will join Margi the night of June 14, then train back to Dharamsala with her on June 15, the same night Carolyn flies back to the U.S. It was serendipitous (and very kind) of Deane to reschedule her arrival from June 19 to June 14, to connect with Margi in time to travel with her back to the mountains.

It's been a lovely and rich time for me here. I will think about these three weeks for a long time. Here's a poem written in the first few days of being at Pema Thang Guesthouse. It's based on a partial fallacy (if you look really, really hard, you can see that the blue prayerflags on the horizon actually do still have some words on them, albeit very faded), but I stand by my false premise.

PEMA THANG

All the words have drained
from blue prayerflags
encircling the guesthouse.

Faded by wind and rain,
they move beyond description.
Line ends tethered to the roof peak

suspend pink yellow green
sheets still wearing pleas,
but on horizon line

turquoise pages float
blank and eloquent
before pines, misty valley.

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Weather Report

Yesterday was sunny and a little hot (Dharamsala hot, not Delhi hot), and Margi was feeling good in early afternoon, so we went to Bhagsu and did the walk up to the waterfall. Margi wants everybody who's done the walk with her before to know that the pool at the bottom of the waterfall was really full, deep enough that it was shoulder height on a (short) Korean man who alternately stood posing for photographs and swimming about.

We spent some quiet time on her favorite rectangular rock slab above the cascades, listening to the water, then visited her friend Aju at his chai shop nearby for a cup of delicious extra-ginger chai.

Today began sunny, then turned to early afternoon rain, lightning and thunder. I've just been out walking around the temple grounds, now that the rain has stopped, after a morning of writing in my room.

It's beautiful here, and we're having a good time, and Margi obviously thrives in this environment. She still has some days of weakness and illness, with the aftereffects of the chemotherapy and general bodily depletion, but she also has many very good days, like yesterday.

Saturday, May 27, 2006

At Pema Thang

We're settled into rooms at one of Margi's favorite guesthouses, Pema Thang. We transfered there from Angus's house yesterday afternoon.

After walking around the temple grounds on the hill below and opposite the guesthouse yesterday afternoon, and having dinner at a restaurant not far from Pema Thang, we separated with the idea that we'll meet up for dinner tonight.

Those of you who have been here know that if Margi is walking all the way to the temple grounds, and up and down the steep hills without trouble, she's doing just fine. She's eager to get back to making collages, and in fact may have started that today.

I now refer to where we are as "Dorlindia." Margi and I became friends at Dorland Mountain Arts Colony 13 years ago. We've agreed we'll have plenty of separate private time in which to do our work. We also made a ground rule, though, that if she needs something at times we aren't planning to be together, she'll call me.

She looks great, she's eating well, she seems completely recovered from the bug that bit her just before we left Delhi.

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

In McLeod Ganj

Just a quick note to let you know we arrived safely in McLeod Ganj. Margi had a hard time on the train this time because she was seriously depleted and feeling unwell - she blames it on the insecticide sprayed in the hotel corridor the day before we left the Prince Polonia, on top of chemo #5. I didn't realize how weak she was feeling until after my first India post. She has given me permission to tell you about her swan dive backwards in the middle of the night - the most graceful faint imaginable, crumpling backward so that her head landed gently on the Salman Rushdie novel conveniently placed about five feet inside the door. Neither of us slept a great deal on the overnight train, her from indigestion, achy body and general debilitation, me from concern that she might tumble down again.

However, now we are safely enconsced at Angus's beautiful house above the town, and after resting all day yesterday her appetite has perked up, she's looking much better, and we've even gone for two short walks together.

Day after tomorrow we'll move to the Pema Thang guesthouse in town, but for now we have an idyllic spot up the mountain, a good place to rest, rejuvenate, and read (the three rs).

Monday, May 22, 2006

leaving Delhi

hello hello,
well, i have just said goodbye to Margi and Penelope and will miss all the adventures that they will be having! it was nice to hear Penelope's reactions to India since i'm so used to the oddities (like becoming an attraction just because you're a foreigner)and the auto rickshaw wild rides.

i'm sure that Penelope will love Dharamsala as much as Margi does and will appreciate having the quiet time to write and relax after the few hot and busy days in Delhi.

i leave tomorrow morning for another town in the foothills of the Himalayas called Shimla. well, actually i am going to Dolanji, which is south of Shimla. it is the where the Menri Monastery is located. The Menri Monastery is the home of the Tibetan Bon (the indigenous Tibetan religion)and there is also an orphanage and school for the children. www.bonchildrenshome.com if you want to get more information.

i became involved with this group through my volunteer work at Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena. Latri Nyima Dakpa Rinpoche, the administrator of BCH, has given a couple of talks at Pacific Asia Museum on the Bon tradition. so, i figured, while i was in the neighborhood (so to speak), i would visit them! i'm looking forward to seeing the town and their organization.

i am also hoping to visit Shimla and some of the towns in the area, but am leaving my plans open to see how it goes. Shimla was the summer capital of the British Raj and is supposed to be nice.

i will come back to Delhi when Margi and Penelope return and will be here for Chemo #6 and then will be flying back to LA.

but for now i'm back on the road. i'll be missing my traveling companions but am looking forward to getting out of the heat and congestion again and seeing something new!
cm

In Delhi

I was delighted to see how well Margi seems. The morning of my arrival she had just had chemo #5 (she promises to post to the blog about this soon), which went smoothly. She was bright-eyed and luminous, just as she has always been. And not even skinny! She's been eating well, and is normal weight.

In Delhi she stays in her room to rest and recuperate, and it's obviously good for her to do that here. It's true what I've been told: Delhi is hot, dusty and crowded. But I've had kind guides (Jennifer and Carolyn) to take me places the last two days. Jennifer flew home night before last. I was very happy to meet her.

This evening Margi and I depart on the night train to the town at the foot of the Himalayas where the train ends. When we get there tomorrow morning, there will be a taxi (already arranged) to take us up to Dharamsala. For the first few days we'll stay at the home of her friend Angus, then transfer to a guesthouse in the town. I'm looking forward to pine forest inhabited by monkeys, cooler weather, and natural beauty at Angus's. Carolyn leaves Delhi in a couple of days to visit friends at a monastery. We'll see her again around June 8, when we return to Delhi.

I've actually enjoyed - in a hot, sweaty kind of way - seeing some of Delhi, experiencing several autorickshaw rides (the drivers truly do believe they're immortal, and it's best for the passengers to adopt the same attitude), visiting the Red Fort and the Rajgat, being viewed myself as a tourist attraction (Indians kept sidling up at the Rajgat and asking to take pictures of themselves with me - something about my height, gray hair and fierce face, I guess), and having some wonderful Indian food. Most of all, it's great to see how far Margi has come since the diagnosis.

Monday, May 01, 2006

Flying out this Thursday

Looking forward to my flight to New Delhi on Thursday, May 18. Well, okay, I'm not looking forward to the actual FLIGHT so much. But I'm excited about seeing Margi and Carolyn, and meeting Jennifer, and experiencing India for the first time. I'll be there until June 9. I'll try to post some news before long.

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Margi DVD available now



Copies of the film I made about margi's work in Kathmandu in 2003 are now available. The DVD includes slide shows of her time in Nepal and her work and music from the film, available nowhere else. Price: $20 plus $5 for postage and handling. Proceeds to Margi.
e mail danielglak@gmail.com for more details.

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

FUNraising pictures!

Thanks everyone who joined in the festivities Sunday night. It was really good to get to get together.










Monday, April 24, 2006

Back in Delhi

Just a brief note to let you know that we are back in Delhi and headed for the hospital tomorrow for the ct scan, followed by chemo #4. We will be celebtrating Carolyn's birthday in the hospital.

For those of you that made it to the FUNdraiser, we hope you had a lovely time. I can't wait to see the pictures and hear the stories.

Saturday, April 22, 2006

Old news for some



March 23

We went to McCleod Ganj today and circumambulated the Dalai Lama’s temple. I believe tomorrow is the last day of his teachings, but as we came close to the temple, we could hear him talking and chanting. So many Tibetan monks are here now with their burgundy robes on. Everyone who does not understand Tibetan is wearing head phones in order to hear the radio broadcasts in different languages. We went to visit an old friend of Margi’s who works at a beauty parlor and got Margi’s head shaved so that the remaining scraggles of hair are gone and then, we got MY head shaved so that she is not alone. My ears stick out a bit, but we are two of a kind. It was a fun experience and Margi is really really happy about it. She appreciates it exactly the way I thought that she would, which of course makes it worth all the odd growing out phases to come. Unfortunately, I can feel the cold more thoroughly at night without hair. I can’t stop touching my head. How bizarre that it is me. I almost feel as if I will wake up tomorrow morning and have the same hair that I woke up with this morning. We are keeping it a secret for the time being. We all think that it will be well worth the shock value and the look on Dad’s face when he comes in a couple weeks. Margi and I are having a race to see whose hair will grow back more quickly. I am afraid that I have a bit of an advantage over her… Brrr… I wish I had flannel sheets… Haven’t longed for those in a while! Another benefit to me having shaved my head is the fact that now Margi is associating the tingling and prickling on her head with the fact that she is bald and not the chemicals coursing through her body. Because, of course, I am having a similar experience.




I wrote this a month ago, but chose not to share it until now as we thought it would be fun to have a surprise waiting for Dad (Jackie) when he came to visit. It is warmer at night now and my head has become a big fuzzball. I am debating whether to go ahead and face the awkwardness to come or to delay it another month by shaving my head again. Either way, I am clearly winning the grow-out race. I wish that our hair would grow together, but I am confident that it is only a matter of time before she catches up. It is interesting to look back at the pictures. In some, all you can see is Rosie’s brown hand against the white skin of a freshly shaven head. With no face in the photo, the only way you can tell us apart is by the color of our own skin. Where she is golden, I am rosy. She has gotten a henna tattoo covering the whole of her head. It really is beautiful. Too bad it has been so rainy this past week. She hides the design beneath a scarf.

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

a quick stop in Delhi

hello!
i am back in Delhi after a quick trip to Nepal to visit friends in the town that i was a Peace Corps Volunteer. it was nice to see that everyone was doing fine despite the political difficulties.

i met Jack at the train station early on the morning of the 18th. it was easy to recognise him since he was the only western face there!

we spent the morning visiting the Red Fort in Old Delhi. an impressive complex built in the mid 1600s by the Mughal King, Shah Jahan, the same King who built the Taj Mahal.

Jack wanted to do some gift shopping, so we braved the crowded, hot streets of Old Delhi and found everything that he needed.

a siesta was in order after all our shopping was done, so a cool airconditioned room was a welcome haven! yea Hotel Prince Polonia!

Jack's flight was later in the evening and after a whirlwind week in India, he was on his way home to familiar sights, sounds and foods!

i will head for the cooler hills again tonight and spend a few days in Rishikesh, the place made famous by the Beatles in the 70s. then i will be back in Delhi in time for Chemo #4 and join forces again with Margi and Jennifer.

so, until then.....
cm

Saturday, April 15, 2006

FUNdraiser for Margi

Hi all -
So everything's underway for the party - thanks to Jeanie Lytle for stepping up with some needed assistance.
If anyone is interested in donating some refreshments please contact me (Susan) sebarnet02@hotmail.com, or Elizabeta (elizabeta@overtones.org)
I think it's gonna be a lot of fun and I know that's exactly what margi wants!
Susan

Friday, April 14, 2006

joy and a little business

First of all, on behalf of the entire Margi Scharff community, for that it what it is, can I express joy and thanks to all upon and above this terra firma who/that have helped our friend along. Much more friendship to come Margi, many many years of it.

Secondly, I am finally completing to a high polish the film that I did with Margi in 2004, "Rangi Changi, the color of art". This -- I hope -- shows Margi at her best and just how she accomplishes those amazing works of her's. My hope is to have the film read on DVD to show at the FUNdraiser later this month.

I welcome suggestions now. Since it it is also a FUNDraiser, I propose to make copies of the DVD and sell them with proceeds to whatever Margi and her blessed caregivers deem worthwhile. If all goes according to plan, the DVD will have a 15 minute film, a slide show of images of Margi's work from Nepal and some music files of stray tunes from the film.

Do people think this is a good idea? Margi? If so, what price? $20 per DVD? $15? It's all for the cause. I'll ship a collection of DVDs to the gallery and have them available with me as well for the price plus shipping. All willing that is...

Daniel Lak
danielglak@gmail.com

Sunday, April 09, 2006

One foot in front of the other

So, chemo day has come and gone. The day itself went really smoothly. The doctors and nurses love her! We took some fun (yes, fun in the hospital!) photos that we will share soon. Margi is feeling a bit weak today, but yesterday, she had a great day. I think that makes today a little bit harder for her, but I am just glad that the good days so strongly outnumber the bad. In fact, we heard some really encouraging news from the doctors. HOWEVER, I am going to make you wait to hear it from Margi. ;) Don't be mad--I promise it's worth the wait.

Oh, Margi wanted me to make sure you all knew that the fundraiser better be a FUNdraiser! We are all looking forward to hearing about it. In fact, April 26 is the next hospital appt so it will give us something exciting to focus on. Wish I could be there....

Carolyn is taking off for Nepal this evening to give us "family time". I think she's just scared to be more outnumbered by Scharffs than she already is! She is actually going back to visit her old Peace Corps village, just over the border and I am insanely jealous. One day...

Saturday, April 08, 2006

Fundraiser for Margi (click here)

Just a heads up to all - Elizabeta Betinski of Overtones Gallery will be hosting a fundraising event for Margi on Sunday April 23rd from 7 - 11 pm. Overtones gallery is at 11306 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90066 t: 310.915.0346. There will be many of Margi's road collages available- including some from her recent journey. 100% of the proceeds will go directly to Margi to help defray some of the cost of her medical biils. ALSO - there will be special images and video directly from Margi herself in India.
I hope you all can make it!
Susan

Thursday, April 06, 2006

Countdown to chemo #3

Just wanted to let everyone know that we are back to the original phone number that Susan posted. (+91 9899508455) It's local for Delhi, so it's more convenient for us
to have while we are here.

Margi received a really nice letter this morning from a fellow artist and ovarian cancer (stage iv) survivor. She uses trash for her art as well, so it was a nice connection to make and very uplifting as she told how she underwent 10 chemo doses (same as Margi) and has now been cancer-free for 9 years.

Think of Margi in the next few days as she feels the effects of chemo #3.

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

back to Delhi

we arrived early on the morning of the 5th after a pleasant but uneventful (in comparison to the jeep ride to Dharamsala)overnite train ride.

we celebrated Jennifer's birthday with a song, chocolate birthday cake and presents. the other passenger in our car, a Indian man from the army, enjoyed the festivities as well. it was an unusual trip in that the car that we were in was nearly empty! unheard of in India!

but we are back to the Hotel Prince Polonia and it was like coming 'home' to familiar, friendly faces and the 'hood'. the heat and pollution is still unpleasant, almost unbearable, but at least we feel welcome here.

Margi will be going to the hospital tomorrow evening and will stay overnite rather than go as an outpatient. this way she will have the same nurses that she felt comfortable with the first time and the labs can be done in the morning before the chemo treatments. it will reduce some of the anxiety in an already anxious situation. both Jennifer and I will be there for the 'chemo party' and she has also invited her Delhi friends to come and help take her mind off the fact that she is doing this. she'd rather be laughing than thinking about what she is doing, or more acurately, what the chemo is doing.

we'll have a couple of days post chemo to recuperate and then Margi's brother is flying in. i'm sure we will have more adventure stories when he comes. but for right now, it's lay low, stay out of the heat and do the chemo thing!

cm

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Jack going to India

I have been asked to announce that if anyone would like to send anything to Margi, you can do so through her brother, Jack, who is leaving on April 10 to come to India.
Make it small and light as her bags are bursting at the seams. The exception to this is Noni juice or OPC (available through coach@coachaurelie.org) to help boost her immune system. She finds that these make her feel better, but warning: they are not cheap. Merci d'avance!

Sunday, March 26, 2006

Susan and Margi circumambulating

Ahhh...Fresh air

We have a new phone number that is local to Dharamsala: +91 9816559564


So, we are in Dharamkat, which is just up the mountain from McCleod Ganj, where the Dhali Lama stays. It is absolutely gorgeous here. A friend of Margi’s (We love you, Angus!) has a house here and it’s just gorgeous. We are in the mountains with the most magnificent view. The mountain which slopes in from the right is covered with layers and layers of pine trees. The contrast is incredible against the lighter green of the deciduous trees coming in from the left. And then are the bald spots, which Margi says are shale, although I have never seen shale which shines like this. Margi calls it desert varnish. On the top of the ridge, there is snow. If you walk down the hill towards the tea house, there is a majestic Himalayan snow-capped peak. The whiteness of it is blinding. Our porch is exposed to the morning sun and morning is the most peaceful time. I don’t know how, but I am awake for it and I love that cozy warmth of the sun which is not hot, but envelops you and gives you the right amount of heat all the way to your core. It’s like putting on clothes straight from the dryer. I much prefer it to the winter wind which travels through your bones.

Margi has had so much more energy here than in Delhi. It is quite obvious that her heart and soul are at peace here. She is a different person. Her appetite is healthy. Chatty and involved and making plans. She is dreaming and has motivation to begin working again, neither of which has she really experienced since her diagnosis. It is so wonderful to be spending time with her and learning more about her and about the family. I do wish that I had taken this opportunity earlier in life. There is a lot about us that is the same, which I suppose may score nature some points in the battle of nature vs nurture. Generally I tend to side with nurture, but nature has won this one. Some of the similarities I would chalk up to nurture. Those are some of the personality things which I see in myself, though also Daddy and Granddaddy. But there are also things that cannot be explained that way. Like the fact that we both gag in the morning if we brush our teeth too soon or the fact that our signatures might be indistinguishable to some- the last name anyhow. It’s fascinating.

We are all very happy here- and at peace, though it was quite the journey from Delhi. It is a long trip, maybe 11 hours from Delhi. We weren’t able to leave so early in the morning, so we did the last bit of the journey--the steep curvy narrow mud-slide ridden (actually rocks and gravel, but I didn’t know that at the time) road--in the dark. We keep going up and up until we can go no more because the road is blocked (must be around midnight) and it turns out that we had actually passed the house. It was quite the night. Of course the story is more complicated than just that, but it is a very long story and I will let someone else give their version of it. There are oh so many.... Five, to be exact (driver included).

I have more stories to tell, but I will save them for another day.
Susan, we miss you already...

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Dharamsala

we have arrived and it is beautiful. the air is fresh and Margi can get out to walk amongst the pine trees. her spirits are refreshed and renewed. it really will be a healing place for her.

all four of us are at the home of her friend, Angus McDonald. it is a lovely spot with a fantastic view of the valley. meals are prepared for us, days are easy and Margi feels that she will be able to get back to her artwork!

the road trip to Dharamsala was full of adventures. stay tuned for stories about 'the adjustor', driving tractors, and dark mountain roads!

cm

Sunday, March 19, 2006

Phone number for Margi

Hello, Hello,
Margi is rushing me off the computer - we are leaving Delhi and heading to Dahramsala .
We have a cell phone number !!!
FeomUS call 0091-9899508455

Friday, March 17, 2006

All of us in Delhi

Hello hello everyone,

Susan here with Margi and Carolyn in Delhi. And Margi's niece Jennifer has just arrived as well. So here we all are, Margi and her crew, yo!

I'm updating as Margi has spent most of her energy the past 2 days with the young women she's been teaching creative writing to here at the hotel. Today was the last class, and they read their stories to us. I am fortunate enough to have gotten to tape them and not only are they absolutely beautiful, but to watch their relationship with Margi as she works with them is so lovely.
I believe stories from the girls and their images will be posted here later by Margi.

The last chemo treatment Margi had earlier in the week was a difficult one. It took twice as long as expected and there were some tests that had to be repeated before hand. Needless to say it's taken her a few days to recover but this morning was better than the few before. And tonight some of her local friends will be joing all of us for a rooftaop dinner.

It's starting to warm up here but Margi's room has a good cross breeze. She really doesn't go out of the hotel much and is well liked by everyone here (understandibly!)
I brough a slew of stuff from all of you which was a gas to give her. I felt like santa clause in March. Jeanie, she's loving the lotion, we decided the smell reminded us of Jean Nate, making it all the more precious. Gerda and Luis she immediately donned the shawl and wore it throughou the morning. And I removed the Virgin of Guadalupe from my neck and placed it around hers. Oh and she was thrilled, thrilled thrilled to get the discs, sketchbook and previous stories. Aside from loading her up with stuff, a fact she immediately bemoaned, she was giddy with all the goodies.

And Deane, she immediately wanted to begin responding on the oppostite pages of all your student's work to send back to them in response!

The struggles continue and sending all your warmth, and love and prayers mean the world to Margi.

S

Friday, March 10, 2006

Margi Scharff on 'Weekend Edition' - Sunday (click here to see)

NPR now plans to air Philip Reeves' piece on Margi Scharff this Sunday, on the
morning 'Weekend Edition' show. Here is the link to the Web piece we'll post
Saturday night:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5237565

Prince Polonia while I still have hair rooftop dinner

Hello everyone-- I am now staying at the Hotel
Prince Polonia in Pahar Ganj. The phone numbers are:
23581930, 31, 32, 33 & 23561445, FAX 23587026

I'm in #202 a spacious corner room with balconies and high arched windows on
2 sides. The walls are a gentle light cream color and rise to a high
ceiling of white with a mustard yellow trim that for some reason makes me
happy every time I look up. I have a small fridge, a sofa and a large coffee
table to work on. My shower curtain has hand painted bright yellow daisies.

The hotel owner is fully aware of my condition (bothhealth-wise and financial) and he has made every effort to make my stay as comfortable as possible.

This is an unusual business man. On the first day I approached him regarding
a possible discount for a long stay-- explaining that I normally stay in a
$5/day hotel (this one is $20) but that I currently needed the extra
comfort. He responded by saying that he could not change the price of the
room on the books becuase the employees get talking-- but that he could help
me in 'this way' as he handed me 6-- 500 rupee notes-- then threw in an
extra note for good measure-- as an advance to the bill. As I tried to thank
him for this consideration he cut me off saying "No--please, I probably owe
you from another life."

Interesting man indeed-- having started out as a motor-scooter driver and
city guide, then a travel agent, then a hotel owner and now he runs several
community outreach programs right out of the hotel. In all my travels I've
never seen anything quite like this place. One of the programs is a computer
learning class for young women and I am currently doing afternoon
english-language writing workshops with them. The young women are 16 to 24
years old and they are a lively group--full of good humor. I wanted to take their photos yesterday but they resisted saying they were not ready. Today they showed up ready-- all in their best sarees!

I'm toying with the idea of a small dinner party here at the roof top
restaurant some time next week before I leave for Dharamsala. I've
collected several friends here with so much in common other than their
connection with me and I think you would all enjoy meeting one another. You are
all journalists/writers, photographers, artists etc. My next chemo is on
the 14th so it would most likely be on the 17th-- a friday I believe. Earlyish like 6pm and come as you are or can kind of thing. Would be fun but I can't promise I'll still have hair-- as it's already starting to leave... Also depends on whether or not the chemo does a number on me-- will keep you all posted.

More soon-- Margi.

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Delhi 3/7

hello all,
well, the hospital visit went well. Margi had her blood drawn to see how her blood count was and it was good. her WBC level is acceptable as well as the RBC. so it doesn't look as if she'll have to do extra treatments to 'boost' the blood.

the doctors were very nice and the process was efficient. they are very accomodating and give her clear answers to all her questions. one of the original doctors has been inspired to now collect trash and do some collages!!!!!!!

so. the plan is to have Chemo #2 on March 14th. she will be having more labs before the chemo in order to adjust the doseage correctly.

her spirits are still good and her physical discomfort is reduced. she is eating well and and seems to have more energy every day. the numbness in her hands is still there, but less so. she is getting meds to help deal with that.

we're looking forward to Jennifer and Susan's visit and are planning on getting up to Dharamsala around the 17th. but we will take it one step at a time.

we have had tremendous support here from old friends and new. it is really heart warming to see how hospitable her new Indian friends have been. i am so grateful!

so. will keep you posted of any changes.
cm

Monday, March 06, 2006

gratitude

This is the letter I sent to O.P. Jain of Sanskriti Foundation where I did my artist residency in 2002. I'm ambivalent about BLOGGING it because I wrote it to him personally. However, I feel so grateful to him for his part in the chain of people who helped on this end-- and I'm eager for you all to know his role. The letter also reveals some background regarding my experience with the big C through my mother's illness in the early 1980's and this is something that most of my long time friends may know but my newer friend do not. Anyway-- I'll let Susan decide-- whether or not it is rude to post a personal letter-- sorry Susan for passing the buck.

I have many more letters of this sort to write-- will keep you posted. Love, M.


Dear O.P. Jain,

I will never be able to fully express my sincere gratitude to you for your immediate, compassionate and concrete help in a time of serious need. That day on the phone when I explained to you (and so bluntly as I had no energy to spare) who I was and my condition-- You wasted no time and said you would make some calls and and find the best place for me. This you did and the next morning I was admitted to the Dharamshila Cancer Hospital and Research Center under the capable care of Dr. Pawan Gupta.

I want you to know that the care I received was, not only the highest quality medical care possible, but also that the doctors understood the importance of communication and understanding. One might think that in a life and death situation the fact that the person is an artist would be trivial. But it is not so-- and my biggest fear was that I would be putting my body into the hands of doctors who would not see or understand or care about my artist spirit. I have never been capable of making a separation in my being between artist and person-- as it is one whole thing.

The medical staff at Dharamshila (from Dr. Gupta and across the board) immediately responded to my need to know everything they knew in order to make the decisions, regarding choice of treatment (or not), in a manner true to my spirit. They addressed my individual needs and fears while simultaneously tending to my body. In fact, the very first thing they did was to relieve my immediate discomfort by draining the 'free floating' (it sounds so cheerful) fluid-- and it took some time-- while I kept insisting that they look at my portfolio which included photos of the art as well as a few photos of me crossing a stream or trekking in the Himalayas etc. In retrospect it must have been quite a comical scene-- a lady in the bed of the emergency room with tubes coming in and out of her body-- one tube with golden liquid flowing out and the other tube with nutrition flowing in-- and I'm insisting the doctors look at my book of road collage! Comical or not it was as important to me as the medical records from Aashlock Hospital and they not only looked but I could see that they were moved and then I knew I could safely leave my body in their care.

And so I turned myself over to the care of the medical staff at Dharamshila and for the next 4 days was cared for and analysed and tested... and together with the doctors came to the decision to try the chemo therapy treatment. At this point I must tell you that this is a thing I promised myself I would never do. My mother died at age 55 from cancer. I was 25 and I cared for her on and off during a 2 year period where she underwent various chemo therapies along with radiation therapy and surgery and I have seen all too closely the 'medical machine' version of life and death. I vowed to live my life as fully and true to my spirit as was possible-- knowing that, in terms of calendar years, my life span might possibly be shorter than some. I promised myself that if my mother's cancer genes ever caught up with me that I would accept and face early death rather than die in the way my mother died. Now I find myself saying I'm not ready to go and-- with the help of Dr. Pawan Gupta especially -- I came to the decision to try the chemotherapy which he assures is far more advanced than in my mother's time. I am committing to each treatment (which entails one 4 hour IV drip every 3 weeks) one step at a time-- keeping open my option to discontinue treatment at any time.

My plans are to live in the mountains I so love in the Dharamsala/McCloud Ganj area where I lived for 3 months in 2002-- and to commute down to Delhi for the chemo treatments. To my surprise there seems to be a network of people (artists friends and family) who are trying to round up funds to help me pay for the treatments. And a Los Angeles gallery is possibly arranging some kind of fundraising event. So I feel lucky that they sprang out of nowhere-- or so it seemed to me.

Back to my gratefulness to you for your part in this amazing-- life affirming-- chain of people and events. I feel lucky in a way that this terrible thing happened to hit me while I was here in Delhi where quality medical care was immediately available. This is also the point at which you have saved my life (and I apologize for sounding so dramatic-- but it is so). I will try to find some way to thank you for your immediate compassion and response to my dire situation. But whatever I come up with-- I know it will never seem adequate from my point of view. Thank-you again and always.

Sincerely,
Margi Scharff

Sunday, March 05, 2006

Stories from the Prince Polonia (New Delhi 2006AC)

And so we meet again

When I was a little girl I played my games in the forest. Pretending to be a wild animal, I crouched down on all fours, and lapped the water from a stream. I heard a soft sound-- just a light crackle of leaves. My animal eyes looked up, and greeted without fear, the little girl who was watching.

Saturday, March 04, 2006

Stories from the Prince Polonia (New Delhi, India 2006AC*)

Swimming Lessons

Oh how it always seems to come back to trust. Trust over fear. Throw
yourself into the water and trust that your body will know how to swim.
Trust over fear. And doesn't the fear really push you into the direction of
trust? At least intitially-- before the too analytical mind steps in with
all kinds of doubts and what-ifs?

But the lesson of trust is one that I seem to have to learn over and over--
each time unique as if I'd never known the lesson at all. I throw myself
into the water and trust that my body will swim, or at least know how to
surface for air. But the water in the lake, where I first learned to swim,
is different than the river's swirling currents or the rolling swells and
crashes of the ocean's salty waves. Each liquid requires a different kind
of swimming, a different set of body motions.

I have been lucky-- having learned to swim in many manners of water. I was
only a little girl when I first learned to take the leap of faith from the
top of the 'Big Falls' into the cove off the Tennessee River. I'd watched
(with envy) my brothers do it with grace and humour in the form of swan
dives and multiple flips. The best I could do was a clumsy jump-- arms
flailing and legs kicking outwards in order to clear the projecting edges of
the waterfall's unforgiving stone. Eventually I took the leap and survived
the stinging slap of the water against my awkward arrangement of body parts.
I sank fast and hard-- deeper into the cove than I 'd expected-- the water
colder and darker with each inch of descent. But my little girl's body did
know how to surface and my mouth opened wide to take in that crucial breath
only after I pierced the line where water meets air.

As an adult, I walked alone in the Himalayas-- through rains so heavy the
land was sliding down. Even then, with my eyes forced almost closed by wet
winds, I trusted my legs to brace and balance against the overland currents
of a monsoon flashflood. I trusted a butterfly who lead me through
knee-deep mud back to a walkable path. And somehow, slowly, I made it
safely to my destination.

So now I face the ellusive waters of a sinister cloud. And I wonder. If I
throw myself into this questionable form of water, this puffed-up cumulous
mass, dark and heavy with lightning bolts and the roaring thunder of a
child's worst nightmares-- Can I still trust? Trust over fear. But can I
trust that if I throw myself into the cloud that my body will know how to
swim across the sky?

As usual, the answer does not come in advance. "Trust over fear" I tell
myself. "Trust over fear" I repeat in disbelief. Trust over fear. Trust
over fear. Trust. Trust. Trust...



*AC: after cancer

Delhi 3/5

hello all,
we have moved out of Gaye's home and are now in a small hotel called Hotel Prince Polonia. we are in an area of Delhi called the Pahar Ganj- affectionately called 'the ganj'. it is an area that is popular with the budget travelers and both Margi and I have memories of days spent here. it is crowded and overflowing with all things India; tricycle rickshaws, auto rickshaws (ADA tuktuks), bicycles, cars, sacred cows, street vendors, pedestrians and beggars. it is not a neat and tidy part of India by anyone's definition, but colorful (sometimes too noisy though) and we find comfort in the familiarity.

Margi's room has lots of light and is very comfortable. she has enough room to do her work and relax when she needs to. the hotel has a restaurant, internet cafe and friendly and helpful saff. the restaurant is on the rooftop, giving us views of downtown Delhi and the neighborhood. the other evening we enjoyed fireworkss that were probably provided for Bush's entertainment.

the day that i was looking for hotels was the day Bush was in the city. streets were blocked off for security and to allow a place for protestors. i happened to pass by the Communist Party's protest and it all seemed very organized and under control by security forces. no violence, no flag burning, no second glances at me. ironically, i was also passing by one of the McDonalds here and slipped in to have a Sprite. as i sat and sipped my Sprite i watched the McDonalds' doorman shoo away a beggar woman while beyond her on the streets a group of Muslim protestors strode by. sometimes our worlds collide in the most unexpected places.

Margi will be going to the hosptal next Tuesday to do lab work. then we hope to have a better idea of what her chemo schedule will be. our plans for going to Dharamsala will revolve around that. we are in limbo until then.

the neurotoxicity in her extremities does not seem to be getting any worse at this time that is a relief. she is sleeping better and able to get some of her writing done. being on the internet wears her out though, so she is only doing limited emails at this time. yesterday she was busy with the NPR reproter and getting the interview all finalized. we haven't heard the final, final word of the braodcast time, but will let you know ASAP.

her friends here have been tremendously supportive and helpful. whether here in Delhi or Dharamsala, i always know that we will be taken care of.

so....until we know more from the hospital.
namaste!
cm

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

passing along words from Margi

in an email from Wdenesday 3/1 Margie wrote:

I'm working on a chemo update for THE BLOG -- sounds like very bad weather or a giant slug. You guys are hilarious-- I've been rolling with laughter at the little bits Gaye has conveyed to me-- my favorite being "Who's Harish and why is he sleeping behind the couch?" I do have to say it's been a bit strange having my feelings described using adjectives I would never use-- Like she's worried about such and such as I'm not a worrier but would certainly be concerned about something in a matter of fact way... or we're having a wonderful time when my stomach is billowing out and my face is getting skinny and there is a beast inhabiting my body! But it's also been kind of hilarious to let the fiction take on it's own life as I have been struggling to maintain some semblance of balance between 2 worlds.

Oh and please do tell everyone not to get too excited about this NPR thing as Phillip told me he's having to cut it down to 5 minutes-- (we talked for at least 40-60 minutes I believe!) I would not want that job and there' no telling which segments of our all over the place (hilarious to grim) he'll be using! And do tell me-- is an artist facing cancer and impending death a more interesting story than an artist full of life? The extremes we artists have to go to to get media attention!

Delhi Wed 3/1

hello all,
i'm sorry for not 'bloggin' sooner
Margi and i have been staying at the home of Gaye and Tim Facer while they were out of town. it has been a great place for both of us to have some quiet time together to sort through some of the details and for me adjust to being in India all of a sudden.

Margi is weak and takes naps regularly, but her humor is there and she seems to be free of pain. there is discomfort, but not pain. she is sleeping ok and eating ok. her appetite is still there but she can't eat a lot because of the free fluid still in her gut. we've been REALLY blessed to have had Gaye's housekeeper,Veena, come in and cook some wonderful meals for us. it has been such a relief to have that help.

we are moving to a guest house tomorrow in the Tibetan section of town. i will be scouting out places and will find something that will be central to food, transportation and email contact. i'm hoping to find a nice place that we can just unpack and hang for a week or more. i'm sure it will be easy now that the Tibetan New Year celebrations are finished.

Margi has an appointment next week with the Oncologist to check her White and Red Cell (WBC and RBC) count. she has been having the tingling sensations at the ends of her fingers indicating some neurotoxicity from the chemo. that concerns her, since the Drs say that it is cummulative and it could affect her ability to do her art.

the plans to go to Dharamsala are still in the works. we just don't have a date. a lot depends on the Dr's visit and how she feels. we are looking forward to Susan coming, so we may wait here for her. but, again. i'll keep you posted.

i am pleased that she has as much energy as she does. we went for a short walk around the block yesterday and that felt good to her.

she's planning on adding to the blog and is slowly working her way towards that, don't worry, i'll crack the whip and get her moving on it. she says that she may be replacing the weather reports with the 'chemo' reports......maybe. the weather in Delhi is smoggy and getting hotter....

all for now.
cm

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Margi on NPR

Hello all -
I've just recieved an email from Elizabeta Betinski at Overtones, the gallery in Culver City where Margi's exhibit was held last spring. Elizabeta recieved an email from the NPR producer that has done the story on Margi.
"The piece is slated to air as early as Wednesday afternoon, on All Things Considered."

There will be a web page on Margi on the NPR web site that will also link to the Overtones website, and link on the Overtones "Latest News" section that will link to NPR's Margi story.

http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=2
http://www.overtones.org/

IN ADDITION
Elizabeta will be hosting a fundraising event for Margi on the 23rd of April. More news about this event will follow after I return from seeing Margi.
x
Susan

Monday, February 27, 2006

arrived in Delhi

Namaste everyone!
after the 12 hour flight from Chicago, i arrived late Sunday night and stayed at a hotel since it was too late to be finding Margi.

i had tremendous help from Kartik (Sandy and Penelope's connection) and found her the next day at the home of Gaye. Gaye and her husband are away for a few days and her daughter is with friends, so we have the place to ourselves. we will be moving to another location after that. i'll keep you posted.

she is in good spirits and is bright eyed. she has lost weight and looks a little too skinny and is rather frail looking, but she is still laughing and smiling, so it's easy to be optimistic and know that she will get over this. she doesn't have any illusions about the severity of the situation though and is able to talk about all options open to her.

she has been pleased with the doctors that are taking care of her and that has helped in her decision to carry on with the chemo. one of her main concerns is the neurotoxicity that could be affecting her ability to keep doing her artwork. her fingers have the 'pins and needles' sensation but so far it is manageable.

as of this moment, the plans are to stay in Delhi to be close to the hospital. they will be monitoring the effects of the chemo.

she still plans to get to Dharamsala as soon as possible, but it won't be immediately at this point. the city will be good for taking care of things, but it will be more restful for her in the mountains.

she says that she has a bit more energy and is starting to get back to the computer in order to connect with those who have sent their support and love.

thank you all who have helped me to get this far. it is a relief to be here and i'll be on the blog when there is news.

for now, your prayers are what we need.
cm

ps. if anyone can contact Olivia, that would be great, i'm not sure if she has been in touch with anyone about this yet.

Friday, February 24, 2006

Carolyn leaving Sat

hello all,
well my bags are packed and i'm ready to go....i think. i leave Sat am 2/25 and arrive late Sunday evening and will try and get to an internet cafe on Monday so i can let everyone know how Margi is doing and what her/our plans will be.

if there is anything that you want to send to Margi, please talk to Susan (323-493-2920). she may be loaded down with lots of things, so please talk to her before your shop or send.

for those of you who don't know who i am and how i know Margi...
i was in Nepal from 2000-2002 as a Peace Corps Volunteer and met Margi when she was passing through from Delhi to Kathmandu and stopped in my town. it was a chance meeting because 'my' town got so few tourists. i currently live in Los Angeles, so when Margi came home, we reconnected. i spent a few dusty days with Margi when she was cleaning out Mac's Studio, so i may have met some of you along the way.
i am able to pick up and go because i have no kids, husband, pets or mortgage and my job as an xray technologist is easy for me to come back to when i need to. i don't have deep pockets, but i can manage a few months without work and i know that Margi and i can live as cheaply as one over there. i'm very happy that i can do this for Margi, since it would be just too hard for me to sit here and not be able to help. i also work with a computer program that reads the body's frequencies in a similar fashion to the biofeedback machines, but this is in the quantum age with computer technology. it is helpful in reducing stress on the body that can cause disease and i will be using that machine on Margi. i am hopeful that the combination of Chemo, Auyervedic, Tibetan, prayers and the EPFX/Scio machine will pull her out of this hole that she has found herself in. your prayers are a vital part as well as her attitude.

i am sure that there is something that i am forgetting, so i will get back to packing and last minute details.

thank you to all for your support.
cm

PUSH Posted by Picasa

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Margi's new relatives

In a telephone conversation this evening, Maya told me her family has really taken to Margi, and that Margi is in good spirits and surprisingly lucid and lively after her first chemotherapy treatment. Also that Margi very much wants to stay in India at the present time, and that she's very focused on being alive NOW. She and Karthik were apparently swapping jokes, Margi giving as good as she got. They also swapped stories about Nepal, which Karthik (a travel agent) knows well. It seems that Margi really does have a new Indian family, one that is very interested in helping her get well and in assisting anyone who goes to visit her - if assistance is needed in figuring out things like what hotels to stay in.

Penelope

Carolyn's news

Hi all - Carolyn will now be leaving Saturday arriving Delhi Sunday night.
So, if there are things you'd like to get to Margi you can send them to me,
Susan Barnet, sebarnet02@hotmail.com. As of now I am planning to leave on March 15th but may move it up to March 13th.
Thanks,
Susan for Carolyn

Out of hospital

Margi has been discharged from the hospital and is in tremendously good spirits -- seen off by her new Indian family -- Karthik and co -- Maya's relatives -- somehow related to Penelope's boyfriend but I have lost the plot so P please explain. They took care of her when I got delayed at school and then in the inevitable negotiations over the hospital bill...and she adopted them. Karthik pretended to be a dr and cut through red tape that would have taken another hour....She had a great interview with NPR. Listen out. She's worried her dad will hate the political bits. But she figures she has a good excuse.She was happy to be left alone in her guesthouse in Defense Colony, quiet, pleasant and spacious. Harish is now looking after her. He warned her that he sleeps behind the sitting room sofa in case she is wandering around at night -- doesnt want to startle her. Anya and Joel will be with her Friday. Jennifer and Carolyn are on their way. All feels well.x gaye

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

From Connie

Hi everyone, I am a friend of Margi's from waaaay back in high school. I just talked to her and she has survived the first round of Chemo with flying colors. She says she feels good and woke up with an appetite for the first time in a while. Her voice was strong and had life in it! Thought I would pass it along to everyone.

9:52 PM

Carolyn going to India

hello all,
i wanted to let you know that i will be going to India next Wed March 1st. i should have my visa by Sat (thank you Susan) and will be in Delhi on Thurs 3/2.

if anyone wants to send something to Margi (think light, small and easy to pack) then you are welcome to send it to me and i will bring them to Margi. i was thinking that pictures or hand written notes would be nice to put up around her room, where ever she is. smiling, friendly faces will be most welcome!!!!

my address is:
2532 Rockdell Street
La Crescenta, CA 91214
818-359-9230

if you can't get it to me, then send it to Susan Barnet, who will be flying out on March 15th.
Susan's address is:
3232 Ettrick Street
Los Angeles, CA 90027

thanks to everyone and a special thanks to Jack Scharff and Susan Barnet for your support. i am very grateful.

cm

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Recent Update from Susan Barnet

Hello community of Margi's friends and family.
I want to let you all know what i know at this point.
I spoke to Margi at around 3 in the afternoon her time
Tuesday the 21st. She sounded good but tired. She took
her advance injection by 10 or 11 pm that night,
then Wednesday morning she will have her first dose of chemo.
(that's about 7pm Tuesday LA time)
Gaye is with her as is Manju and Carolyn McBride will be
heading over there tuesday or wednesday of next week, feb 28th
or March 1st.
Caroline is a good friend of Margi's and a medical practitioner.
Margi has been asking for her, so I think this is a good thing.
Carolyn's plans are to quit her job and stay for 6 months -
she also knows India as she and Margi met there. She will be able to
help Margi negotiate that time she has to stay in the bigger city of
Delhi where the hospital is.
Then she can help get them set up in Dharamsala up north nearer to
Tibet and the mountains Margi loves. Then once a month they can hire
a car and driver to take them into Delhi for Margi's chemo.
I beleive it is important that they have the funds to do things
like hire a car rather than take the overnight train.
It is extremely easy to put funds into Margi's account.
Only you cannot do it over the internet or telephone but must go to
the bank in person. I also have an account with Bank of America so
I just ask them to transfer from my account into Margi's.
Has anyone done this with funds from a different bank?
I emailed Margi's bank account number which has been added
to one of the posts as a comment but I am wondering if this is safe
to do via internet. Does anyone have an opinion on this?
If you all think it's ok I can add it to this blog in a way that's more
easily accesable.
Finally, I will be going to see Margi myself on march 17th
for about ten days. I will bring her laptp with me then -
I think it is easier for me than Jennifer or Carolyn as I'll have less stuff.
But I can also bring other things then as well.
If anyone has any additional info or corrections on any of this please let me know.
And if i can do anyhting for anyone wanting to help out also please let me know.
Susan Barnet
mobile 323.493.290
home 323.665.1705

Travel Plans

This is Jennifer, Margi's niece. I will be going to India as soon as possible. I am waiting on my visa and I have a few things to take care of here regarding school and work, but I expect to be able to leave by early next week. I am willing to take whatever with me to her. If you have letters or anything else that you would like to send her way, feel free to send it through me.

I will be taking my laptop, as I will be continuing coursework there, but it may be best for her to have her own.

I would like to thank you all on behalf of the family. The outpouring of support and love for Margi has been amazing. I always knew that she had a wonderful circle of friends that she considers to be family and I just hope that I will be as lucky as I continue my path. I honestly don't know what else to say right now. Please just know that I am preparing for the journey and I am grateful to all of you. I will keep you posted about my plans.



Thank you all,
Jennifer

Breaking News

Margi has given her consent to begin chemo tomorrow/Wednesday Feb 22.

Margi and the view from her room - Feb 21/06



Monday, February 20, 2006

Margi and chemo

Latest from a visitor to Margi on Sunday Feb. 19th

she's looking frail, but good. for those who know her, the frailty
comes through. others are amazed by her vivacity: but that is her
usual state.

her mood is alright. her mind is very resilient, she's going over all
the options clearly and often with good, if dark, humor. she is
understandably nervous and jittery, but she is also able to compose
herself from time to time. that said, i'd say she's overall quite
fragile emotionally.

the doctor strongly suggested not waiting for more than one or two
days before starting the first round of chemo. there are two medicines
they will administer, if margi gives the go-ahead: carboplatin and
paclitaxel. they recommend taking three doses (one every three weeks)
and then getting tested to find out what the effects have been. there
are side effects, some potentially serious, to chemo. but the
alternative of going straight to surgery is unadvisable, as margi's
lungs and intestines have fluids and it would be impossible to rid
them of all the cancerous cells. the other alternative is, of course,
to refuse treatment.

margi is swaying on this issue. occassionally she feels she should
give in to the cancer. but she also feels too weak to get to a place
where she would want to die--up in the mountains, as she says. then
she also feels more optimistic, and feels that she can overcome this.
she is scared by the question of the quality of life she will have
under treatment, and would rather shorten the quantity of her life if
she could ensure better quality, or if the quality is assured to be
poor. when i left her, at the end of the doctor's consultation, she
was leaning towards taking the first dose of chemo, and considering
her decision as she goes. she is fiesty, and brave, and she kept
telling the doctor she wanted to reserve the right to refuse
treatment. he was impressed, i could tell, with her fearlessness. but
he was also firm about preferring that she take the chemo, and he was
even and optimistic, saying there is a 40 to 50 percent chance of
recovery.

the kinds of things that would be most useful to margi right now are
money in her bank account and an administrative system in delhi
(i.e. someone to pay the bills, ensure that her daily needs
are being met).

the company of known friends would also be helpful. margi isn't a
phone person, but it may be helpful if some people she knows and
trusts call to talk her through the decision about chemo. she is frail
in the mornings, so it's best to call her after 10 am delhi time. in
the case that she decides, tonight, to go ahead with chemo, she will
be taking her first dose tomorrow around 11. so that is something to
keep in mind. also, the balance between her need to be alone and her
need for company is a tricky one. the decision to go ahead with chemo
or not is something she will need to feel out. in my opinion it would
be best if she could do so in the company of people she knows well (at
least over the phone). or maybe it would just be good for people to
let her know that they will support her no matter what.

Margi Scharff

Margi Scharff- Hi All - Not sure who would like to post new content so I will add anybody that would like to. Anybody can add a comment to an existing thread but if you want to start a new discussion or post any new individual information you have to be a contributor and be added. I could add everybody on my current distribution list but that's over 40+ so please do contact me if you would like to be able to post new information and I will add you. Thanks and Margi must be feeling all the love and thoughts going out to her......Anne

Margie in Nepal - 2002 Posted by Picasa

Margi Scharff

Margi Scharff

From: <rclark@covad.net>
To: "'Anne Green'" <astro_green@yahoo.com>
Subject: RE: Blog set up for Margie infoDate:
Mon, 20 Feb 2006 13:03:28 -0800

Anne,

This blog is a great idea. Thanks so much for setting this up. I am going to try to call Margie tonight. From the messages you’ve forwarded, it sounds like she would be beginning chemo around the time I am calling so I am not sure I will be able to reach her, but I am going to try nonetheless. I also contacted a friend of mine who is in India through Feb 27 to see if he is going to be in Delhi these next few days. I am going to stand by and wait to hear more. If possible, I would like to fly out and see her.

Rachel------------------------
Hi All: To be forwarded Monday noon:

I just had a long talk on the phone with Margi's father . He spoke to her for over an hour this morning. He seemed to be right on. He listened to her, she spoke. She has decided to go ahead with the chemo tomorrow and then take it from there. He is fine with her staying in India, as it is what Margi wants to do. Hospital costs $100 per day and treatment costs $400 every 3 weeks . He thinks her expenses will be $1500 per month. I asked point blank if he was going to pay. He said he "was fine covering this phase of it - but he is not as well heeled and some would think." He is confident she is getting good care. Margi's birthday was February 11. First sign of a problem was after that - she had a "jelly belly." She sacked the first doctor, when he would not talk to her about options. Her neice Jennifer (30 year old getting master's in public health, knows India) is going over ASAP, probably with her brother in Japan and her father. Jennifer and Margi get along great - she seems to be the perfect one. I spoke to her Aunt Jane and Uncle Matt . They will do whatever is required of them. They are calling Gerda regarding getting the banking information going. People should start making contributions. Luis or Aida - can you set up a blog? Aida...sorry to pulll you into this unannounced - but you're the only one I know who has ever set up a blog! As you can see, our friend Margi, whose travel journal entries I have forward to PA, is in India, in the hospital, with advanced ovarian cancer. I think someone should also get Margi a laptop. Who has a used one?
RB

daniel lak <danielglak@gmail.com> wrote:
Robin, . In terms of contacting Margi, I am trying to arrange a cellphone for her that she can switch on and off according to how shefeels, and of course she can make calls out. That could be in placetomorrow of Wednesday.
I think it's crucial at this point to get her health stabilized beforeany serious contemplation takes place of quantity vs. quality, andthat friends and loved ones be by her side to support her through bothof those stages. so for the time being, it's probably best toconcentrate on the practical aspects, money, company, contacts,information and comfort for Margi. Philosophy can wait.
Perhaps if you were to set up a website or blog, or get someone youknow to do it, that would be most useful then we could jsut upload thelatest info having checked that it's not there already.
I am in Canada. Gaye is in Delhi and very very overwhelmed by beingsole provider of care so far. I'm hoping that some Americans in Delhimight rally round, even on a rota system, to help Margi through thediscomfort and potential distress of the first chemo, until loved onesget there. I'm sure once the community in Delhi -- American, artist,fellow travellers -- hears about this, they'll help out.
It's so distressing all of this, I;ve hardly had time to think aboutit, which is probably good.BestDaniel

Margi Scharff

Margi Scharff

Sunday, February 20, 2006

Margi wants you to know that she is feeling much better today. She had arough night and was admitted to he Dharamasala Cancer Hospital, VasundraEnclave, Nr Mayur Vihar (on Rd to Noida just past Nizamudding bridge). Sheis in room 227. The tel is (011 91 11) 2261 777123She'll be there for most of the week while they determine treatment that is in keeping with her spiritual wishes. The cancer seems too advanced forimmediate surgery, so they are talking of 6 months of chemo first....She's in less pain as they drained her abdomen of 3 liters of "golden fluidthat smells like nectar and looks like that kind of beer we used to love."She had a hard time at first convincing them she was really ill, as apartfrom the ascites her skin and eyes are still glowing with health. And shekeeps cracking jokes.She's been writing many notes to pass on --Please fwd to other friends you may know of. Does anyone have contact forBrian in Dharamasala or Daniel H. Merrit? -- or Scott Grieger? Jack Scharff,Judy Wilson, Gordon greene, Penelope Moffat, Anne Greene, Mac McClain, SusanBarnet, Janet Fitch, Laurel Paley, Eli Pulsinelli, Elizabeth betinsky, GerdaGovine, Luis Ituarte, Deane Swick, Michelle I, Julie Olivia -- [I'll try tofind these in her email]. She doesnt want to leave anyone out, but the lackof sleep is impeding her memory a bit.Please someone tell her dad, but tell him not to worry.She likes her new doctor and the nurses are charmed by her. The oncologist,Dr Gupta, turns out to have an appreciation for collage. The ER had tulipson the curtains. She has a room of her own, with a window -- and even thebathroom has a big window -- for those of you who know her working habits.There's also a spare bed for visitors.Mostly she wants to say "I love you all...I have lived a full life...I amloving this time of the journey. I reserve the right to die in peace as afull person...true to my spirit."She is talking a lot of getting out of hospital and heading to Dharamasala.It may not surprise you to know that she is unsure of her own bank details-- but we're looking into it.Thanks for keeping the energy coming. She seemed to feel it -- she was highon something today.x gaye

GAYE FACER
Flat 19, Bulgarian Embassy Residence16/17
Chandragupta Marg,
ChanakyapuriNew Delhi 110021
Tel 98 1861 2599

Margi Scharff

Margi Scharff

Sunday, February 19, 2006 _
Dear Friends of Margi,I am Margi's friend who made the film about her in Kathmandu. While inNew Delhi, India, she has been diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancerand is probably going to undergo a round of therapy within a day orso. She's in some discomfort although resting with a teacher from theAmerican school named Gaye Facer, a compassionate and caring personwho knew Margi only through my film, Rangi Changi, the color of art.Gaye and her daughter Emma have taken Margi in and are runningthemselves ragged handling her needs and taking her to doctors. Ifthere's anyone, anyone among you, who might be able to go to India tohelp out, that would be wonderful. If anyone, such as Jurgen orNicola, know someone in Delhi who can help out or make suggestions ofsame, that would be great too.India has a very good medical system and costs are much lower than inthe USA. She is in good hands there for her immediate treatmentneeds. but she will need some money put into her US account becausetreatment is paid for in cash. She'd also like to talk to some ofher friends. When I spoke to her, she said she really needed this.Gaye's cell phone number is 011 91 98 1861 2599. Remember that Indiais 10 and a half hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, 13 and a halfahead of Pacific Standard. Margi isn't looking at e mail much assitting up is uncomfortable. People can call me. I'min Vancouver orif they call margi or Gaye, please keep in mind the time difference.I found that calling around 630 pm PST was good, that's 8 in themorning their time. But so is midnight PST or no later than 9 amPST...about 1030 pm their time. Just so you all know.I hope this finds all well and able to pray or do whatever isapprporate for our friend Margi Scharff.--Daniel Lak432 Bartlett Ave. NToronto, ONM6H 3G7CELL: 416 822 8044TEL/FAX: 416 530 9741

Monday, Feb. 20- Robin's email

Hi All: To be forwarded

Monday, February 20, 2006, 12pm PT: I just had a long talk on the phone with Margi's father.

He spoke to her for over an hour this morning. He seemed to be right on. He listened to her, she spoke. She has decided to go ahead with the chemo tomorrow and then take it from there.

He is fine with her staying in India, as it is what Margi wants to do.

Hospital costs $100 per day and treatment costs $400 every 3 weeks .
He thinks her expenses will be $1500 per month.

I asked point blank if he was going to pay. He said he "was fine covering this phase of it - but he is not as well heeled and some would think."

He is confident she is getting good care.

Margi's birthday was February 11. First sign of a problem was after that - she had a "jelly belly." She sacked the first doctor, when he would not talk to her about options.

Her neice Jennifer (30 year old getting master's in public health, knows India) is going over ASAP, probably with her brother in Japan and her father. Jennifer and Margi get along great - she seems to be the perfect one.

I spoke to her Aunt Jane and Uncle Matt . They will do whatever is required of them. They are calling Gerda regarding getting the banking information going. People should start making contributions.

Luis or Aida - can you set up a blog? Aida...sorry to pulll you into this unannounced - but you're the only one I know who has ever set up a blog! As you can see, our friend Margi, whose travel journal entries I have forward to PA, is in India, in the hospital, with advanced ovarian cancer.

I think someone should also get Margi a laptop. Who has a used one?

RB