Oxymorons

One of my favorite musical artists is Luna Lee. Luna’s music is the epidemy of an oxymoron, or a seeming contradiction. She uses the ancient Korean musical instrument, the Gayageum, to play classic rock music. The rich emotion wrenching tones of the Gayaguem add a new dimension to American rock giving new life to some of my all-time favorite tunes. For me, this is especially poignant as I grew in the two cultures represented by her music and even studied Gayaguem for a short period of time. My life has been spent bridging cultures.

Breast cancer can be equally full of oxymorons. It has been described as the worst thing to happen in life and the best thing to happen in life, all at the same time. How can that be? Perhaps it goes along with the “punched in the gut” feeling that comes with the diagnosis followed by the appreciation for life that comes from facing the possibility of death. Life takes on a fresh new meaning. The trivial worries fall away. Still, not everything is beautiful. There are physical, cognitive, and emotional changes to deal with.