You Should Know … Benjamin Rubenstein
Washington Jewish Week made me its person "You Should Know." This was my third Jew-of-the-week-sorta thing within six months (you can read the one fromNovember 2017 and the other fromFebruary 2018). I'm honored to be such a super Jew, even when I sometimes merely feel Jewish-ish-ish. Thanks to Washington Jewish Week and Hannah Monicken for making me famous-ish for a hot minute.As published inWashington Jewish WeekBenjamin Rubenstein is a cancer-slaying superman. That ’s what he calls himself in his book, “Twice: How I Became a Cancer-Slaying Super Man before I Turned 21.” The 34-year-old Arlington resident sat d...
Source: cancerslayerblog - May 30, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: media Source Type: blogs
A Conversation With My Bone Marrow on Her 15th Birthday
Yesterday marked my fifteenth straight year without cancer. I think about that. I even conversed with my bone marrow about it. And of course I wrote about it.As published onGatherDCMy 15-year-old “daughter” says that since I was born in the period when the sun passed through the constellation Capricornus, I’m—according to her favorite lifestyle magazine Elle—charming, graceful, and a freak in the sheets, lady in the streets. My daughter says this as we sit at our pollen-covered bis tro set on the covered balcony of our ninth-floor apartment overlooking Crystal and Pentagon Cities. Clouds have rolled in and it has...
Source: cancerslayerblog - April 25, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: cancer-free anniversary life lessons Source Type: blogs
Words by ruBENstein Quarterly Newsletter - Spring 2018
I published the second edition of my quarterly email newsletter today. Check outmy latest Words by ruBENstein orsubscribe to it. Every three months I'll share: one or two of my recent stories plus an oldie but goodie; my most popular social media post; and one story and life lesson from one of writing's greats. (Source: cancerslayerblog)
Source: cancerslayerblog - March 23, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: newsletter Source Type: blogs
The Power of March Madness Compels Me
“Don’t talk trash about your University of Virginia men’s basketball team unless they win,” my once-removed first cousin said.My once-removed first cousin is one of my elders and is often right. I ’m usually wrong. Maybe, I’m always wrong. Regardless, this time I rejected his 69 years of wisdom. I said, “I can’t contain myself.” Thepower of March Madness compels me. THE POWER OF MARCH MADNESS COMPELS ME!Watching Virginia clobber Connecticut in football at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville on Sept. 16, 2017, with three of my closest friends from our first-year hall in Humphreys dorm. Photo by...
Source: cancerslayerblog - March 15, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: sports Source Type: blogs
Two Disabled Cousins Slash Friends: Beyond the Tent and Into the Metro
I went on a Jewish retreat two weekends ago at Pearlstone Conference and Retreat Center in Reisterstown, Maryland. Well, not exactly. That sounds too culty. It was more like a retreat for Jews who aren ’t really Jews. Well, I should clarify that. We’re Jews, but some of us just don’t do traditionally Jew-y things.I wrote about that powerful experience, and you can readthat story below.As published in GatherDCKenny and I entered the Metro car at 8:30 on a Wednesday night after happy hour – and then some – at Carving Room in Chinatown. The Yellow-line train heading south was sparse. One woman wearing a pinstripe su...
Source: cancerslayerblog - February 22, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: life lessons religion Source Type: blogs
The Moment I Got My MFA
I hadn ’t expected to care that much about earning my Master of Fine Arts in creative writing degree. Sure, I felt pride for the two years I dedicated myself to the work. But, I didn’t think the three letters “MFA” on my résumé, the validation that I finished what I had started, or the brief cere mony at which I would wear the goofy “hood” would matter to me.When the thirteen of us went backstage at Freeport High School on the night of Saturday, January 13, to dress in our academic regalia, my heart rate began rising. It wasn ’t even related to the Eagles taking the lead over the Falcons. In fact, for proba...
Source: cancerslayerblog - January 23, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: a day in my life life lessons MFA Source Type: blogs
Ben's Obligatory'Thanks and Bye' Email
Every interaction and potential interaction is an opportunity to provide value to others.When I really consider that statement, I get fired up. I think,You mean I can improve the moment for the next person I see in the elevator, walking down the street, or sifting through the different varieties ofhummus, each one grosser-looking than the previous?!That statement applies to written interactions, too. I seized the opportunity last week on my last day in my previous job as a writer and editor at my federal agency. It is common courtesy for departing employees to send a " thanks and bye " email. I wanted to be courteous. But,...
Source: cancerslayerblog - December 30, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: I ' m an ass Source Type: blogs
Ben's Obligatory 'Thanks and Bye' Email
Every interaction and potential interaction is an opportunity to provide value to others.When I really consider that statement, I get fired up. I think,You mean I can improve the moment for the next person I see in the elevator, walking down the street, or sifting through the different varieties ofhummus, each one grosser-looking than the previous?!That statement applies to written interactions, too. I seized the opportunity last week on my last day in my previous job as a writer and editor at my federal agency. It is common courtesy for departing employees to send a "thanks and bye" email. I wanted to be courteous. But, I...
Source: cancerslayerblog - December 30, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: I'm an ass Source Type: blogs
