And then came Ohio.
The Second Lance Armstrong Foundation Summit was held at Columbus, Ohio and I was privileged to not only be a return delegate but a member of the Steering Committee. Among the many highlights:
· Hearing Dr. Richard Carmona, 17th Surgeon General of the United States and currently of the Canyon Ranch Institute announce the National Call to Action on Cancer prevention and Survivorship. (http://www.nctacancer.org/)
· Dr. Harold Freeman of the Ralph Lauren Cancer Center in Harlem gave the keynote speech.
· Stephanie Spielman, cancer survivor and spouse of football’s Chris Spielman who put his career on hold to care for Stephanie when she was diagnosed with breast cancer told of their cancer journey and their “Caregiver Award and Celebration”.
And the thousand delegates, all committed to fighting cancer at the grassroots and national levels, underwent many hours of training on the skills needed to build an effective movement for making the fight against cancer a national priority.
For a wonderful summary and lots of great pictures of the Summit visit the LiveStrong Blog at http://www.livestrongblog.org/.
And here is why this is as important to you as it has become important to me.
The numbers remain staggering:
1.4 million Americans are expected to be diagnosed with cancer this year.
Nearly 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.
560,000 Americans are expected to die from cancer this year, or more than 1500 each day…the equivalent of 9/11 every two days.
With the support of the Lance Armstrong Foundation we have begun the Lewiston/Clarkston Valley LiveStrong Army focused on raising public awareness for the need to make cancer a national priority, raising money and initiating projects that address cancer issues and providing services locally that respond to the needs of cancer survivors, family, friends and caregivers here in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley. One of nearly two hundred local LiveStrong Armies nationwide we have:
· In cooperation with St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, begun the first Cancer Support Group open to cancer survivors, caregivers, family and friends regardless of type of cancer. The LiveStrong Cancer Support group meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month at SJRMC at 7:00PM.
· In cooperation with the North Idaho Colorectal Cancer Coalition we will be at the Nez Perce County Fair with the Super Colon (yes, a walk through colon complete with polyps).
· We are assisting in the establishment of the Captain Cure Foundation to market Captain Cure Comics for children with cancer and use the funds to meet needs of local cancer patients.
· We will continue to provide speakers, fair and event booths and materials as part of our outreach and education program.
· We hope to provide local medical practitioners with materials to be given at diagnosis which can assist newly diagnosed patients in dealing with the many new issues and feelings they face.
· We are exploring cooperation with Immerman’s Angels to provide direct one-to one contact for the newly diagnosed with survivors by type of cancer, age, location or any other desired variable.
Most importantly, each of you is invited to participate. If you live in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley, consider joining us the third Thursday of each month at 6:00 PM at the Wells Fargo Bank in downtown Lewiston (9th & Main). And spread the word to family and friends that the fight against cancer needs all of us. If you live out of the Valley, look for a local LiveStrong Group or contact me for information.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
LiveStrong Challenge...Portland 2008
June 
contained numerous family highlights. A long visit from sister Michele and her husband Justin was followed by Stephanie and the grandkids...the most welcome visit a grandma can have. Fun, fast, full of love. And time passes too quickly by far. We then all the trooped to Portland where Michele, Stephanie and I rode bicycles on the 70 mile LiveStrong Challenge in support of the Lance Armstrong Foundation. My third LiveStrong Challenge, 2008 was the most special for the shared experience with sister and daughter. And the grandkids met us at one of the rest stops with signs of support and encouragement.
contained numerous family highlights. A long visit from sister Michele and her husband Justin was followed by Stephanie and the grandkids...the most welcome visit a grandma can have. Fun, fast, full of love. And time passes too quickly by far. We then all the trooped to Portland where Michele, Stephanie and I rode bicycles on the 70 mile LiveStrong Challenge in support of the Lance Armstrong Foundation. My third LiveStrong Challenge, 2008 was the most special for the shared experience with sister and daughter. And the grandkids met us at one of the rest stops with signs of support and encouragement. In a single month an exciting and restoring trip with my husband, family visits, extended time with grandchildren and a shared effort for 
a good cause...can life be any sweeter?
a good cause...can life be any sweeter?
Red Rock Adventure
Moab...Canyonlands...Capitol Reef...Escalante...Bryce...Zion - names that ring with stark desert beauty and red rock. Our trip through Southern Utah in May encompassed temperatures in the high 90's to snow. With Al on the Husky, mostly off road, I followed in the truck free to stop, stare and photograph the many wonders through which we passed. Arriving each evening at the motel with adventures to share the motorcycle riders were often dusty and dirty, but always exultant. I always had a camera full of new vistas. And refreshments :-). It was a relaxed and refreshing meander through spectacular country in the company of special friends old and new. Thank-you to Gary and Peggy, Tom, Ken and most especially to Al for a treasured memory.
Monday, May 12, 2008
LiveSTRONG!
LIVESTRONG Day
Tuesday, May 13
WEAR YELLOW to honor and/or remember your loved ones.
For more info: www.livestrong.org
Tuesday, May 13
WEAR YELLOW to honor and/or remember your loved ones.
For more info: www.livestrong.org
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
BLUE WOMAN IN A RED STATE
Idaho was really a footnote to Super Tuesday. The Democrats were caucusing, but in the reddest state. We made the crawl on the television coverage, but never the patter and certainly never the "critical to success" discussion.
Yet Idaho Democrats came to caucuses in droves, led by Idaho youth and spurred by an incredibly organized Obama campaign. It was big, noisy, constantly changing and a messy challenge to manage. But oh, it was inspiring.
And yet. On a personal level it was one of the toughest political decisions I have ever made.
I like Hillary. I like Barack. Without belaboring policy details, in my opinion either candidate would make a fine president.
At first blush, Hillary seems to be ready made for a boomer, feminist woman. And I deeply, personally would like to vote for a woman president before I die. It may seem a limited dream, but something in that vote would validate all the hard work, tough times and supreme effort put in by those of us who fought for and continue to fight for equality.
Any woman, of any political persuasion, my age or older who denies the passion for that opportunity is lying to you (or to herself).
And yet. I caucused for Obama. Yes, I like him too. Yes, he seems a little more right on my issues. Yes, he has captured the Kennedy Camelot youthful enthusiam; maybe surpassed it. Yes, I believe he will make a great president. Yes, that is also a history making vote.
But too long in politics, the final balance was swayed by one simple factor; his electability. We simply must have regime change. Maybe I'm asking too much. But I don't just want to vote for the first woman presidential candidate. I want to vote for the first woman president.
Yet Idaho Democrats came to caucuses in droves, led by Idaho youth and spurred by an incredibly organized Obama campaign. It was big, noisy, constantly changing and a messy challenge to manage. But oh, it was inspiring.
And yet. On a personal level it was one of the toughest political decisions I have ever made.
I like Hillary. I like Barack. Without belaboring policy details, in my opinion either candidate would make a fine president.
At first blush, Hillary seems to be ready made for a boomer, feminist woman. And I deeply, personally would like to vote for a woman president before I die. It may seem a limited dream, but something in that vote would validate all the hard work, tough times and supreme effort put in by those of us who fought for and continue to fight for equality.
Any woman, of any political persuasion, my age or older who denies the passion for that opportunity is lying to you (or to herself).
And yet. I caucused for Obama. Yes, I like him too. Yes, he seems a little more right on my issues. Yes, he has captured the Kennedy Camelot youthful enthusiam; maybe surpassed it. Yes, I believe he will make a great president. Yes, that is also a history making vote.
But too long in politics, the final balance was swayed by one simple factor; his electability. We simply must have regime change. Maybe I'm asking too much. But I don't just want to vote for the first woman presidential candidate. I want to vote for the first woman president.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Women's Voices
One of the best parts of having a wonderful, adult daughter is how much she teaches me each time we are together. Last Friday she reinforced my appreciation of her strength and skill in meeting life as a woman. And in doing so gave me the opportunity to see and marvel first hand at the evolution of the women's movement.
As a young adult I spent time, talent and a bit of temper trying to help craft laws, open minds and win hearts to equality for women; in the family, in the workplace and in the world. I am, justifiably I hope, proud of those efforts. Predictably, the passage of years brought changes to the movement and the larger community.
Sometimes, as the next generations of women made their way, it was easy to lose sight of progress. Easy to question if anyone remembered the fight from which they were now benefiting. Even sometimes easy to lose sight of the fact that what we really fought for was choices - legitimate choices.
Then my daughter took me to a MOPS (Mothers of PreSchoolers) meeting. At first blush it was a breakfast, inspirational or informational guest speaker, sharing, support and problem solving group for mothers of preschool children. Most were not employed outside the home. It seemed a context in which I was unlikely to be considering the impact of votes for women, equal pay for equal work, Title IX and the equal rights amendment.
Yet as I sat watching my heart became so full with pride I felt it would burst. What wonderful, complex, talented women. I was indeed watching the success of the women's movement. These women ran their own show. Direct, self-confident, standing up, organizing and leading they embodied the fruition of every long debate about the place of women in the world. The context in which they moved mountains and created community was theirs to choose. But that choice or any other ultimately pales next to their ability to mold life with a freedom imagined and denied to many previous generations.
Is it perfect? Of course not. Are there still battles to be fought, resistence to master? Of course. Does the fight look like it did when I was young? No, it is not even the same fight everywhere or for all women. But from MOPS to MomsRising, the women are present, they are engaged, their voices are raised and they are strong.
What more could an aging feminist ask?
As a young adult I spent time, talent and a bit of temper trying to help craft laws, open minds and win hearts to equality for women; in the family, in the workplace and in the world. I am, justifiably I hope, proud of those efforts. Predictably, the passage of years brought changes to the movement and the larger community.
Sometimes, as the next generations of women made their way, it was easy to lose sight of progress. Easy to question if anyone remembered the fight from which they were now benefiting. Even sometimes easy to lose sight of the fact that what we really fought for was choices - legitimate choices.
Then my daughter took me to a MOPS (Mothers of PreSchoolers) meeting. At first blush it was a breakfast, inspirational or informational guest speaker, sharing, support and problem solving group for mothers of preschool children. Most were not employed outside the home. It seemed a context in which I was unlikely to be considering the impact of votes for women, equal pay for equal work, Title IX and the equal rights amendment.
Yet as I sat watching my heart became so full with pride I felt it would burst. What wonderful, complex, talented women. I was indeed watching the success of the women's movement. These women ran their own show. Direct, self-confident, standing up, organizing and leading they embodied the fruition of every long debate about the place of women in the world. The context in which they moved mountains and created community was theirs to choose. But that choice or any other ultimately pales next to their ability to mold life with a freedom imagined and denied to many previous generations.
Is it perfect? Of course not. Are there still battles to be fought, resistence to master? Of course. Does the fight look like it did when I was young? No, it is not even the same fight everywhere or for all women. But from MOPS to MomsRising, the women are present, they are engaged, their voices are raised and they are strong.
What more could an aging feminist ask?
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