We were enjoying our comfortable semi-retirement in the Age of Covidia, in the Sleepiest National Capital in the Entire World, kittens, as a kept blogger supported by the World’s Hottest Prime Minister, when all of a sudden something happened to jar us suddenly, and most unpleasantly, awake. And into action.

Longtime readers, poetry buffs, and befuddled sysadmins alike will recall our regular versical news commentary column Numbers, written by the lovely and talented Curt Hopkins of Oregon and San Francisco.

Numbers is a weekly news commentary column in poetical form by Curt Hopkins. “Numbers” is an historic term for poetry, and also alludes to the numbers in programming.

Curt, it seems, needs our help. And because we are firmly #TeamCurt around these parts (I mean, how could you not be; the man’s a tie knot nerd and a gifted poet!) we are asking you to join us in donating, sharing, and supporting the Curt v Cancer fundraiser.

Well, I came down with a case of the cancers. Mercifully, it’s the type of cancer that does not metastasize, or at least hasn’t for me. It’s a tumor. It’s been treated with radiation which did what it was supposed to do and shrank the tumor. On on September 30 they’ll commit surgery on it.

All-in-all, the chances of successful recovery are very good.

So, as scary as all this is, the problem is not with the treatment. The problem is with the American medical system. I have insurance and a good job. And already my savings have been drained and there’s a huge bill waiting to be paid that I can’t afford to knock off. So, unfortunately, I need to solicit for help in this fashion.

If you can afford to help out, please do. I’d like to make it through this both alive and without having to shake a tin cup at Civic Center. The only thank you I can give you, aside from saying “thank you” is in sharing with you my long poem called “Disease days.” I’ll send it to each of you who contribute.

Curt vs Cancer fundraiser

Since then, kittens, things have gotten fraught. Curt underwent surgery recently and unfortunately his stitches did not hold, turning his living room into “something from the movie Carrie”. So, if you can help us get it to the $7,500 goal or maybe a little over the top for good luck, that would be amazing.

We need our poets, people.

Categories: Fundraiser, Journalists, Media, Numbers, Ops