News from Marnie Andrews(daughter of Fletcher and Joan Andrews)

 

Jeff and I are in Philadelphia.  He is in a clinical trial for treating his cancer.  We are in waiting mode, to see if it works.  We expect to be here a total of two months, but may go home sooner.  We have to be close to the hospital in case the reaction comes, as it can be severe, and is needed in order to succeed.

Last weekend, we got up to New York City for the launch of his new book, "The Last Roll."  It is his third and, to me, his most beautiful book of photographs.  It correlates his taking photographs to remain creative during these years of illness with the end of Kodachrome.  A short multimedia piece on it can be accessed here, http://daylightbooks.org/podcast/march2013

If anyone would like to see excerpts from the book, you can go to www.jeffjacobsonphotography.com.  The launch began with a book signing at the International Center of Photography.  The next day, he was on a panel held at the Museum of Modern Art, at PS1 in Brooklyn.  He has been interviewed by CNN, Time, the NY Times, and numerous other publications and websites.

If it weren't about such hard matters, the time here in Philly would be a lovely one.  We are staying as guests in two locations.  One is in Mt. Airy, a beautiful, elegant part of town north of the city, about 20 minutes from the hospital.  There is a deep wooded park about a block away, and I have dear friends in the neighborhood.  The other is about 5 minutes from the hospital, a townhouse in the middle of Center City, with lots to do close at hand.  

We found this large house through an organization called Hosts for Hospitals.  It matches patients to volunteers willing to house them for the duration of their treatment.  If you ever know anyone who needs to come here for treatment, pass this information to them.  We have our own wing of this lovely home, and the hosts are interesting, vibrant people whose children are grown.  He is a therapist and she is a writer.

The city place is owned by a woman who conducted an opera here for seventeen years and produced the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts last year.  She knew our friends here through a dog agility training club.  She has chamber music rehearsals in her living room a few times a month, such a treat.

We had our dog here for two weeks, but I realized I wouldn't be able to be at the hospital and be sure she was ok, so she is back with our dear friend, a dog whisperer of sorts, who walks her dog charges in the woods twice a day and has a great yard for them to run.  

Anyway, we are here through March and maybe into April.  If anyone wants to reach us, email me at marniejean@aol.com or my cell phone, 917-701-4424.

Thanks for sending these posts, it is great to see them and hear from the family.

Love,

Marnie

(oh, and Jennifer, Harry's daughter, is married to Scott.  Their last names are Andrews-Weckerly.  For those who are keeping up with the family tree.)