I read my post Every Little Thing out yesterday at the BlogHer 2011 Voices of the Year. Have not even gone to bed yet, but I need Vee to see this.
Before I left Sydney last week, I drove back down to Nepean Hospital to see if the artwork was still there. My son came with me, and just as we were walking in he said Mum - what if it's not there?
I had never even thought that. We walked in and I told him to act casual, like we were visiting someone. Detectives. We walked in, and the first canvass wasn't there. And the second canvass wasn't there. Inching over to the room we put one, in I glanced in.
To find the last one was still there.
It sucked going there - like all the other times. I hated it and was lucky enough to grab my son and run for the hills. There is never a good day to visit a cancer ward.
Alex's art has been on sale at Red Bubble for many years now. It still is. You can have a look at the rest of his stuff here. I love how Vee has kept it open. There's an option to buy just a greeting card for $3.
::
BlogHer is blowing my goddamn mind again. So many things have happened. The branding of blogs is getting huge now ... I hope the storytelling always remains. I am completely honoured that this post was the one that got chosen. America thank you for being totally fine with the fact that an Aussie was up there. You people rock.
I rapped Lose Yourself to Mrs Woog at Sparklecorn tonight, to celebrate.
There are a maelstrom of posts in my head, swirling. They'll keep, but this one couldn't. Thank you Vee, for allowing me to share your story. People were really touched by what we did. They told me.
::
My husband emailed me to say his brand new motorbike is sitting on the living room floor. Of course it is. When he tells everybody about it, they always ask him, What will Eden think!
He tells them that I was the one who talked him into it - and I did.
Live your goddamn life.
Love this, you rocked it!! Am completely unsurprised.
ReplyDeleteAlso live your goddamn life. Thanks, I needed reminding after stressing about inconsequential bullshit most of the day.
I think you are amazing. That is all.
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ReplyDeleteI'm first! Eden, honey, what a time you are experiencing and telling here. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteBugger bugger and bugger that there was only ONE canvas left. I "hope" it was because a person liked it enough to keep.
Love that you were chosen to read "that post" and to Vee.... Thank you for your courage too.
Am off to see the on-line shop..... Love you, Eden!
Keep on keeping on.
Denyse xx
PS Dave... Is the lounge room "the place" for the bike?
"of course, it is." Where else?
Fucking love you. You didn't say wanker though so I've just lost a bet with Woogsy.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't there to hear it but I was watching on twitter and my heart swelled for you and I cried.
You did it. Again. You're amazing.
Totally love your work babe...
ReplyDeleteDenyse, Kate and Glow - THANK YOU.
ReplyDeleteThanks to all for the love in the tweets and comments we have been getting. It's a real gift ... you are spurring me on.
Have not slept. Want to go to Woogsies room and draw a fake moustache on her.
In tears listening to you. We were with you in spirit via Twitter this morning. Love you, Eden. You rock x
ReplyDeleteI don't often cry over things that I read on the internet but I cried when I first read this post and I cried watching this video now.
ReplyDeleteYou, Vee & Alexandria are amazing and inspiring women. I am so happy that you were able to share your story with the American blogging community. This story needs to be shared everywhere.
xxx
and again you make my heart burst and make my hands involuntarily make "rock on" symbols and yell "yeaaaahhhhh"!! xxxx
ReplyDeleteYou did awesome Eden. Reading your post when you first published, and now listening to you read it, had me in tears. Thank yo to you and Vee, for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteIt sucks that two of the canvases were gone, but I'm going to be optimistic and hope that they are still on display, just in another part of the hospital.
Amazing stuff lady. Love that post. So glad you got to read it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great experience and honour for you! It was brilliant. This was one of the first posts I read of yours and I mentioned it recently when thanking you for the Buzzy Bees book you sent. It was a beautiful one and how wonderful you got to share it in America at BlogHer! Hope you are celebrating!
ReplyDeleteI just want to say that you nailed your talk, that you rock, that you should be proud of all you do everyday. Love your guts xx
ReplyDeleteOMFG!!! you rock da house babe:-) x
ReplyDeleteAs i was watching this i had a few tears in my eyes and could not bring myself to wipe them away . Put all those painting back how dare they take them down (they wouldn't now what fucken art was) if it bit them up the arse!!!!! fuckwits i say
Thanks again for sharing and you as well Vee :-) <3 <3 <3 xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
you totally rocked it Eden! I had tear listening to it, as I did when I first read your blog post!
ReplyDeleteHope your having a great time over there!
You effing rule, a one in a million. Your ability to stare convention in the face and flip it the bird makes others look up and pay attention. That is why we love you. Thank you so much for sharing xxx
ReplyDeleteI've only recently been introduced to the wonders of Edenland, thanks to a bunch of lovely gals on twitter.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your talk, I think it is an honour for THEM to have you there!
I went back to your first blog (having been one of those "not real IFers" myself) and found this from May 2007:
"I am worried that people may not think I belong to this blogging genre, and want me to fuck off."
Yep, you wrote that!
I think its safe to say you belong to blogging.
I'm hoping that the patients loved the art so much that they took it home with them on recovery. Congratulations on reading at Blogher. Would love to have been there to hear in person. Off to see the video now. Woot! Go the Aussies!
ReplyDeleteAmazing you rocked and that post makes me cry even more the second time around
ReplyDeleteEden you killed it! You were awesome. Thanks so much for sharing with us. I mean, I know that's what you do, but still.
ReplyDeleteYou did it! You are amazing! You should be one proud Aussie chick. Thank you for never allowing Alex to be forgotten, to share your story and his artwork across the world. He would be just blown away. You keep rock'n girl.
ReplyDeleteThank you to all your readers and bloggers for your support. Much love to you all x
Alex was here.
That sucks the canvases were gone. Maybe someone just loved them so much they... borrowed them? If so then they're with someone who needs them.
ReplyDeleteWas waiting for wanker too...! Love that word.
Husband's motorbike lived in the living room for months. When our first baby was born and the maternal health nurse came over I think she thought we were odd. But why wouldn't you keep it inside? Much more secure...
I have tears...so beautiful and so well done. I'm so very proud of you xx
ReplyDeleteWow.just wow. Love you Eden and congratulations. Remember how great you are xx
ReplyDeleteLove you. That is all.
ReplyDeleteLive your goddamn life - even when you are crying like a fool over a video of your mate Eden.
ReplyDeleteYou can come home now.
Wow!! Awesome stuff. So glad you got to do that and so with you on the 'Live Your Goddamn Life'. We're all just little puffs of wind in the big picture - and you've now made your puff count.
ReplyDeleteps - if my over half brought his bike in to the lounge room - I'd kill him!! (but he's a BM man - so it'not gunna happen!!)
ReplyDeleteYou rock. And I am honoured to be your friend.xxx
ReplyDeleteI think 'inspiring' is a word that is truly overused sort of like un-Australian - whatever that means.
ReplyDeleteBut Eden, your words on that blog, your voice at that lectern, that heart in your chest, that tatt on your neck ;-) it is all so inspiring to me.
I lay in bed last night running Alex and Vee's story, Alexandra's project and your words over and over in my mind. Looking into the dark. Looking into my soul. Thinking of what I can do to help when the sun comes up.
Give Mrs Woog a hug for me (and snap her bra strap for me - trust me, she loves it).
So.freaking.proud.of.you. I want the FULL run down when you get home. I just want to hug you right now. So.tight. xxx
ReplyDeleteTears. Blubbering ugly tears.
ReplyDeleteThe thing that I love most is that this isn't something you just did once. Random irrational unthinkable thoughtful kindness. You continue to do it today.
You are love. I love you.
Totally enjoying riding on your coat-tails this week. You have a gift mate xx
ReplyDeleteHere I am crying again, after hearing you read easily my favourite post of the year. You are fast overtaking Oprah as the most inspirational person I know. Off to live my goddamn life just like we should all be doing - thanks for the timely reminder xx
ReplyDeleteWhen you get back I'm gonna hug you and squeeze you and call you George.
ReplyDeletewhat everyone else said.
ReplyDeleteBut with more feeling.
I fucking love you biatch.
Hello Eden -- I was one of the myriad women who fell in love with your heart and art last night in the audience at BlogHer. I will be following and admiring you hence. xo
ReplyDeleteYou are awesome. that is all. xxx
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ReplyDeleteI sat last night talking about you to a mate. I said that every single day, I am so glad that you are HERE! Fucken love you DeeDee Riley, the big sister pride has risen up inside of me times a million today and is now spilling all over the floor. Serious! I'm slipping all over it xxxxx
ReplyDeleteEden Riley you f*cking rock!
ReplyDeletePS hope you took a photo of Woogsworld with the fake mo!
you = hero
ReplyDeletex
You got great points there, that's why I always visit your site, it seems that you are an expert in this field. keep up the fantastic work, My friend recommends your blog.
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Wow, congrats! What an amazing moment in your life!
ReplyDeleteLove your work!!
x
"There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living."
ReplyDeleteNelson Mandela
you are true to this Eden.
I love it. Great speech. I'm so glad one of the pictures is still there.
ReplyDeleteBea
You? Rapping Lose Yourself? No way. I'd love to hear what that sounds like ;)
ReplyDeleteYou fucking rockstar you.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI found you via Mel @ Stirrup Queens. I've just read your 'Every Little Thing' post, and this one...and I have to say two things. What a wordsmith you are, and what a fighter Alex was. You've done him proud by telling his story.
Thanks for letting us in,
Casey
Unselfish.
ReplyDeleteI've been struggling to find the word that best describes what I love about your writing style and why I keep coming back for more.
I love the way you share your life. It's absolutely unselfish.
Congrats on attending the blog conference. If ever I see Ribena on the shelves in Canada, I'll be sure to pick one up.
Susan
You inspire. Alexandra inspires. Vee inspires. Dave inspires. Alex continues to inspire even now. I just bought 16 of his prints on postcards. I plan on framing them and hanging them where I can see them every day. And underneath it will read "Live Your Goddamn LIfe".
ReplyDeleteThat was fantastic Eden well done! You made me cry and you made me want to do better things in life. xx
ReplyDeleteYou fucking rock, Eden. Love you long time.
ReplyDeleteYou are so real and raw. And you feel everything. All that emotion. So overwhelming. So glad I'm here to watch it. To read it.
ReplyDeleteWow! You are incredible! Tears rolling down my face right now... xx
ReplyDeleteI'm so proud of you, my genius friend. xoxoxo
ReplyDelete