Mailbag - July 2016

Music has always played an important part in Southgate-area resident Claire Frazier’s life, especially while being treated for breast cancer. (Photo: lawellphoto.com)

Cancer survivor identified with story

I was very inspired by the article about Claire Frazier’s cancer experience in the [May 2016] West U Buzz. I played piano for Claire’s music scholarship audition at SFASU and always admired the beautiful voice that God gave her. I recently had my 3-year CT scan (always frightening) and had a good result – no sign of the big C. In 2013, I was diagnosed with tongue cancer, which spread to the right side of my neck. Had to have part of the tongue removed and rebuilt with a flap from my left wrist. I was told that I may not be able to play piano again, but through God’s grace, I was back on the bench in a few months at my church where I’ve been the past 33 years. Later that year the cancer spread to the left side of my neck – another surgery and radiation. The nerve that controls my left vocal cord finally succumbed to the radiation. They tell me I’ll never sing again. I leave that up to God and Claire’s verse, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (This will be known to me henceforth as Claire’s verse!) I identified with so many things Claire said and wanted her to know that she helped another cancer survivor.

Michael Ammons

Editor’s note: Thank you for your letter, Michael. Claire inspired us too. We wish you health and happiness. Each of the four Buzz cover magazines in May featured a different cancer survivor, so if you haven’t read the other ones, you can find them here, here and here.

Cleburne article had heart

I read your article about Cleburne Cafeteria in The Buzz over the weekend [Cleburne Community: Before and after the fire, by Andria Frankfort, June 2016].  It was absolutely fabulous. In just one page, you were able to capture the history of the place, the strong relationships with customers and employees, and the generous response of other small business owners in the wake of the fire. Most of all, the story had such heart. I was actually crying. Well done!

Nora Brooks

Dining columnist Dai Huynh is a treasure

Dai Huynh’s Eating out at a grocery store [This Month in Dining, June 2016]) prompted me to finally tell Buzz Magazines editors (who already know it) and its readers (who may not!) how fortunate we are to have a former restaurant writer for the Houston Chronicle as a staff writer for The Buzz. Dai’s guide is always on trend and filled with tasty ideas; grocerant is a new word to me, and now I can’t wait to check out restaurants at the H-E-B on San Felipe. She had me with “lemon-pesto grilled tuna with kale and Marconi almonds” at Table 57. Even closer to home, now that Dai said we can get pho soup and salt toasted shrimp at 99 Ranch Market + stir-fry veggies, I’ll cook less and use its quick-service meals more (and maybe even stop missing the Blalock Fiesta.) We are lucky ducks to have some terrific-thorough-creative food writers in Houston (including, of course, my daughter Robin Barr Sussman. Just sayin’…)

Shirley Barr

Editor's note: It's hard to edit Dai's stories without heading out immediately to try new dishes at new-to-us places. We especially have been inspired by her new Chef's Corner column, in which she interviews local chefs about their favorite places to eat. Dai is taking August off and will be back in The Buzz in September.

She read the whole issue

The magazine [June 2016] arrived this afternoon and for all the years I have received it, today is the first and only time I have sat down and read the entire magazine page by page from beginning to end without skipping a single item. I don’t know anyone in the magazine, but in spite of that today’s magazine was absolutely spellbinding. Well organized and well written. Congratulations.

Natalie Waggoner

Send letters to [email protected]. Please include your name, address, phone number and email address for verification purposes. Letters are subject to editing for clarity and space. Views expressed in letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Buzz Magazines, and The Buzz takes no responsibility for the content and opinions expressed in them.