Illness is Not for the Faint of Heart
by Ralph Frank

Table of Contents

Before Words

Part One:  Over the Cliff

1. I Wish I Was a Wanderer
2. Leaving Home

Part Two:  An Awakening Heart

3. A Surreal Landscape
4. Boot Camp for the Lame and Infirm
5. An Interrupted Dream
6. Babbling in Paradise
7. City of Angels
8. Where Elephants Used to Roam

Part Three: Despair and Hope

9. I Want My Life Back
10. Journal
11. Multi-Patient
12. Looking Ahead

Part Four: Pearls of Wisdom

13. On With the Show
14. The Road to Gainful Employment
15. Serenading Where Warlords Ruled
16. Thrilled with the Job
17. Twilight
18. The Rule of Right Away
19. A Fine Gaggle of Children
20. Water, Water Everywhere
21. Talking Up a Storm
22. My Old Companion Returns
23. Are We Having Fun Yet?
24. Preparing for the Workforce
25. Overcoming Panic
26. Buddhist Assertiveness Training
27. Lessons in the Strangest Places
28. The Wisdom of Compassion
29. Monsoons are Upon Us
30. A Western Date
31. The Good, the Bad & an Electric Buddha
32. Living a Dream
33. Believing in Magic
34. Breaking Hearts
35. Notice, Notice, Notice

Part Five: Tears of Joy

36. Poco a Poco
37. In God’s Country
38. Setting In
39. A Cure at Last
40. Dying with a Smile
41. A time for Healing Again
42. Spring in the Mountains

Part Six: Transformations

43. The Continuing Story
44. Becoming a Gentle Audience for Myself
45. The Real Practice Begins After the Practice
46. A Gift Worth Receiving

After Words

Resources

Gratitude