Elephants and Tea - December 2021 - 1

LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Conversation
PAGE VIEWS
When launching Elephants and Tea three years ago, part of our business model was to gain as
many page views as possible to prove to potential sponsors we are growing and have something
really great going on here.
For those not in the content marketing business, a page view is an
instance of an internet user visiting a particular page on a website (thank
you Oxford Dictionary). What does that mean? The more page views a
website or webpage has, the more likely you can sell sponsorships to it.
Well, it's 2021 now, and we have something great going on here... but
page views have a completely different meaning to me now.
Let's go back to the summer of 2019. We hadn't been around for a year yet.
The excitement and buzz in creating a new organization was intoxicating.
It was truly fun to be a part of it (and still is). I was emailing with Mitch,
one of our first contributors to Elephants and Tea, about some new
content ideas for his blog and discussing what to do next with Elephants
and Tea. As always, Mitch ended our email exchange by
making fun of me for being a Cleveland Browns fan and if we had a
chance at a winning season this year. It always made me laugh. He
also snuck in a comment about " sorry for the radio silence " recently.
I didn't think much of it. I knew Mitch's cancer had come back but
figured he was just resting and enjoying the family.
That email from Mitch was on July 22nd, 2019.
It was now the first week of September. I was doing my monthly recap
of how the previous months Google Analytics were performing. Remember,
page views are a good thing. The most popular page on our website
in August was Mitch's author page. I was thrilled! I couldn't wait to tell
Mitch about this. I'm sure he would have some kind of joke to tell me on
why it spiked in August. Probably something to do with his bald head
or a way to jab me about being a Browns fan (again).
As I began to type an email to Mitch, it hits me; I hadn't heard from
Mitch since our July email exchange. My excitement immediately
disappeared, and fear struck my stomach like a right hook from Mike
Tyson. I hadn't heard from Mitch in over a month. That's not like Mitch.
I did a Google search using his full name. What popped up in the
Google search in the top position was his Elephants and Tea authors
page... the second position was Mitch's obituary.
Mitch passed away Monday, August 10th, 2019.
My friend Mitch, who I got to know so well in the first
year of Elephants and Tea, was gone. No notice, no
warning, no closure with family or friends. Just some
damn page views in Google Analytics.
Fast forward to the present.
Saturday, September 25th, 2021, was the first date
my wife, Camilla, and I went on since February 8th,
2020. That was three days before our daughter Tessie
was born. This was a fun filled night of kid-free relaxation
and indulging in an adult-beverage or three. We
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DECEMBER 2021
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really know how to have a good time!
Like most couples, we start talking about different things happening
in our lives, one of which was my brother Steve's road trip that he was
currently on visiting new friends we have made this past couple of years
with Elephants and Tea. We had a few laughs at Steve's expense and
ultimately admired him for just going out and doing it.
Then, completely catching me off guard, Camilla asks me, " How are
you handling the grief of losing people that have written for Elephants
and Tea? "
Silence fell on our conversation... No one has asked me this question
before except Camilla. Damn it for her knowing me better than
I know myself.
I just started to tear up at the table.
It was as if a bomb went off in my heart. I couldn't hear anything in
the restaurant but my chest beating. I start into a tailspin of emotions
thinking of the writers, no, the friends we have lost and those that are
currently fighting for their lives. Since we started Elephants and Tea, we
have lost four friends. These are the four we know about. Unfortunately,
I am scared that there are more, and for some, we will never know
when they pass. It's the reality of running an organization within the
cancer community.
It is clear that after that conversation with Camilla I have been bottling
up a lot of emotions and it revolves around the grief of those we
have lost. I need to admit that I don't know how to handle grief and it's
probably time for me to do something about it. I hope you all recognize
that as well and talk with a healthcare professional about it.
I miss Mitch. His humor. His big heart. His willingness to jump in
headfirst with this crazy idea that we call Elephants and Tea. A place
where people can come together and be themselves.
This one's for Esperenza, Melissa, Mitch, Suzie and all of the other
friends that have passed away from cancer. We miss you all and will
never forget the love and joy you have brought us all.
Thank you to all of the contributors in this magazine for
being vulnerable in talking about the topic of grief. l
NICK GIALLOURAKIS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
STEVEN G. CANCER FOUNDATION

http://www.ELEPHANTSANDTEA.COM

Elephants and Tea - December 2021

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