I had the privilege of interviewing Karen Anderson three years ago, a strong woman doing battle with melanoma. At the time, I was midway through radiation treatments myself for breast cancer and found her both remarkable and pragmatic. Her notion that she could trust herself and her life, resonated with me. At the time of the interview she was tumor free. But these days, she is back in the thick of the battle.

Her blog about it, Life with Melanoma, is a treasure for its blunt truth and humor, whether she’s writing about hospital visits or the joys of lawn mowing in bare feet.

I highly recommend it, and I salute her for being so completely present in every aspect of her life.