First time ever I’ve ever seen anything from Jacob about his cancer. Here is a piece he wrote for school, grade 4. Personal Narrative: Cancer It was three years ago and I was five years old and from all I know it was just a normal weekend. Until I had a doctor’s appointment! So I …
Author Archives: abbybrody
I only wish joy for him
I wrote my bar mitzvah speech for Benno years ago. It came so clearly to me one evening what my wish for the man he is becoming would be. I just reread it and it still holds true. While many speeches of becoming a man focus on responsibility and this rite of passage to adulthood …
Groceries
I got to check off a bucket list item. I helped an old lady with her groceries. Legit that happened. It was just like the movies. You help an old lady carry her groceries/ get home and in return she will give you some sage advice that changes your life. In NYC this is not …
Last Minute Camp
Steve and I were looking for a place to set up camp. We had decided to go to burning man this year without friends or a camp to call home. We were riding solo. So the plan was No Plan. We would just show up and find a place to park the RV we rented, which …
College Essay of ALL College Essays
I read a lot of college essays for friend’s and friends of friends’ children. So I know my way around a college essay or two. And this is the best one I’ve seen hands down. This kid is ADMITTED to life (see below) **PERSONAL STATEMENT:** In a world driven by human stories, I was born …
Nightwing Update Fall 2023
I’ve been quiet, but please know that NIGHTWING is very much alive. If you recall, Steve and I have dedicated our lives to being part of the cure of cancer inspired by how you came to our support during Jacob’s. You all are the reason we do this work. We have spent most of our …
The Temple
Now to the burning of the soul. Your soul will burn like your skin. Story below On night two, I was at a camp dancing with 100’s of people jumping and smiling to the most incredible DJ after a sunset like no other, when all of a sudden I felt this intense wave of sorrow. …
Burning man: Can you take me?
Getting that text a lot. So answering you all at once:) Burning man is not a festival. This is not Coachella, and this is not a vacation. It is a commitment and only calls those who are ready to travel for 2 days, to live off the grid in a desert, eating ramen for breakfast, …
Returning to close a chapter
Today we leave for the burn. This marks my second time. The first time I was called to this place for the art. A lover of installation art, I was drawn to this event to see the largest installation art exhibit in the world. I had not known of others who went and went with …
Oh Summer!
Oh summer. You have taught me so much. It started strange. A good strange. It was the first with no health crisis to attend to. Not even a pressing agenda for work. No big presentation to be prepared for. Not even a bout of the June PTSDs. Just a plan to live. That was new. …