August 2 Tip: Comedian Tig Notaro Going Live about Having Cancer

Hear Fresh Air Interview with Comedian Tig Notaro on Going Live about Having Cancer

(The August 2 Compassionate Living Tip from Interfaith Paths to Peace)

http://www.npr.org/2013/07/26/205540155/tig-notaro-on-going-live-about-her-life

"Good evening, hello. I have cancer. How are you?"

That's how comedian Tig Notaro began her set at Largo in Los Angeles the day she was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. As she uttered those words to the audience, there was nervous laughter, weeping and total silence in response.

Comedian Louis C.K. was there that evening, and tweeted this about her performance: "In 27 years doing this, I've seen a handful of truly great, masterful standup sets. One was Tig Notaro last night at Largo."

When she spoke with Terry Gross, it had been an eventful four months for Notaro. Before her cancer diagnosis, Tig had pneumonia and contracted a severe intestinal virus, for which she was treated in the hospital. Shortly after being released, her mother died in a freak accident — and then Tig and her girlfriend broke up.