Selflessness and a Marathon

I was hanging out with a good friend of mine last evening.  Jason is a pretty typical, cool, marathon-runner, guy-friend who's started something not so typical.  After running the NYC marathon last year, he decided to something more than just run with his love for athletics.  Two years ago his grandfather was diagnosed with PPA (Primary Progessive Aphasia), which is a little known progressive form of dementia that causes the victim to lose the ability to communicate and comprehend language ... at present there is no treatment, and no cure.  (For those of you that are regular readers of my blog, I know I don't generally write about anything other than my own random opinions and mental tangents, but this really touched me, so I encourage you to continue reading!)

"Papa", Jason's grandfather, had lived his whole life doing for others.  Even in his 70's and 80's he would essentially donate his time outside of his pediatric practice to go to the homes of those who couldn't afford a doctor and treat them for simply whatever they could afford pay him.  When he began to lose his communication abilities, he immediately retired for the good of his patients until he figured out how to rectify and control the issue.  Sadly, the temporary retirement was to become permanent with his diagnosis.  The most horrible part of this disease is that Papa's mind is clear, & physically he's strong, he simply is less and less able to vocalize and comprehend language in the way the rest of us do. 

Seeing the growing frustration of his grandfather, a man whom had been a pediatrician for over 50 years and had always cared for everyone, now having to rely on others to care for him, caused Jason to want to truly make a difference in awareness of, and research on behalf of, this disease.  He decided that the best way to do that was to put himself through a marathon more gruelling and challenging than any other so that physically he would be forced to deal with a small level of the mental challenges his grandfather has to overcome on a daily basis.  He's not even going to allow himself music while running so that his entire being is completely challenged without a way to alleviate the mental and physical stress of running. 
Here's the kicker, Jason has chosen to achieve this goal by running the Great Wall of China marathon ... this May.  He's footing the bill for all of his expenses associated with travel and the marathon itself so that every dime of the money he raises can go to research toward treatment and a cure.  He's also been able to partner up with Northwestern University's Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center, which is the #1 PPA research facility in the United States, so that any money donated on the website he created goes directly to the CNADC for that purpose.  What started a year ago with a goal of $20,000 has now grown to a goal of $50,000 as small donations that keep adding up from people worldwide keep coming in.  He says that he's looking forward to running the Great Wall marathon as he'll be "running with the support of all those battling and affected by PPA."  If his grandfather can push through every day, he should be able to push himself through the one day of this race.  He's not superhuman, people, he's just fire-at-the-core-of-his-being Determined.  Personally, I'm impressed.  I think everyone else should be too.

~ The Girl In The Little Black Dress

For more information on PPA or to check out Jason's website (or to donate!), check out the links below:
www.run4papa.com
http://www.brain.northwestern.edu
www.giving.northwestern.edu/nu/CNADC (PPA Research and Education Fund - Run4Papa)

Happiness is more than (insert appropriate noun or verb here)

Welcome to Valentine's Day weekend!  A time for romance, a time for high expectations of that special someone, a time for flowers and candy and candlelit evenings and ..................... honestly, a bunch of bullshit.  < Disclaimer: I AM NOT GOING TO TRASH ROMANCE WITH THIS BLOG ... feel free to keep reading :) > 
What is it about most holidays that makes the marketing media think that they should put forth a load of advertisements that promote the theory that if you're not receiving the diamond of your dreams or having the perfect date, that your day and life will not be complete?  The jewelrey company Kay, for instance, advertises that "every kiss begins with Kay" ... malarky.  I once heard a comedian say that the majority of kisses began with Miller Light, not Kay, and I'd have to agree.  Basically it boils down to this, why are we so programmed to believe that our lives are unfulfilled without a perfect "special someone" or "special evening" on a specific calendar date, that we lament over it ad nauseum and disregard all the other possible fabulousness that surrounds us?  I will now use my own life as an example.

Special "perfect" moments in my day today specifically were:
Cooking with my 9 year old son (sweet potato and chorizo stew in the crockpot, additionally we made oven baked sweet potato chips with the extra sweet potatoes) ... taught him how to safely chop the veggies and I loved the look of accomplishment and satisfaction on his face when we put it all in to cook.
Standing at the door of my closet after cleaning it out and organizing it (that's going to seriously cut down on my get ready time in the mornings).
Hearing my daughter tell me that I'm the greatest mom for trading cars with her so that I could go to the car stereo place to determine the problem with her CD player in her car.
Finishing the last piece of choreography for the current show I'm working on, and being thrilled with the prospect of setting it and seeing it live.
Jamming out to my favorite playlist driving down the road and then continuing to do so while in the house.
Playing with an absolutely adorable puppy outside the convienence store while his owner was inside purchasing coffee.
Laughter for no reason other than it seemed funny at the time to everyone involved.
An email thank you from a company higher up in a different country.
My son giving me a pink construction paper card that he'd made himelf with "I love you so much a for all the things you do for me here is something for you" handwritten in it.

I realize that none of these things involve expensive or semi-expensive gifts, or dinners out, or flowery statements of adoration from a significant other.  However, they alone and together make up a pretty fantastic day on this particular weekend that's supposed to be about (according to the marketing media) hearts and flowers and feelings and presents.  I have nothing against Valentine's Day, but I think everyone would do well to remember that the real gifts & stellar surprises are the ones that occur in areas we might forget to notice.  The handmade card of a child, or the happiness of accomplishment on someone's countenance that you've helped.  The simple pleasure of your favorite music, or the great feeling that occurs when you accomplish something that you've procrastinated about.  Laughter with family and friends, or the snuggly "kisses" of a pet.  Happiness for any reason or no reason at all.  Ya ... I'm pretty sure St. Valentine would approve.

Happy Fill-Your-Heart-With-Whatever-Brings-You-Smiles-And-Happiness Day!!


~ The Girl In The Little Black Dress

Societal Facets and Differing Viewpoints

I'm scrolling through the news of the day on Google, and after reading a number of articles two things occur to me ... 1. we are incredibly lucky to live in a society that allows and publishes voices of every opinion, and 2. there are alot of people, companies, and causes out there that allow politics and gossip to permeate their existence when they shouldn't.

Take the current situation of the Susan G. Komen foundation.  Here is this organization whose focus is supposed to be about ultimately eradicating breast cancer through research, prevention & treatment.  Unfortunately they appear to have allowed the voices of the right-wing pro-life AND the left-wing pro-choice to cause them to waive on their ultimate goal.  You can align yourself with either side of the pro-life/pro-choice equation, but everyone agrees that breast cancer is a disease that should be fought on every front.  Many organizations that do great things via providing needed prevention screening, treatment, and even research, have other areas of women's health that they also support that may be more controversial.  That does not mean that the Komen foundation should focus on anything but the area that they're providing the funding for ... the prevention of breast cancer for all women.  Politics was not the reason they began this organization, and it shouldn't now become a part of their decision making process for any reason as it causes the mission of their organization to become blurred.  Stay the course, people!

Example number two: the Obama Administration's fight to have all companies and organizations that offer health insurance to their employees cover contraception, regardless of their religious backing.  Before anyone gets up in arms over this one, let's look at the logical facts.  The First Amendment of the US Constitution states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."  Granted, there's quite a bit of room for interpretation in the wording, but ultimately it boils down to a simple point: government needs to not attempt to control religion, and religion needs to not attempt to control government.  Besides, the government controlled healthcare plan that is open to everyone will be covering contraception.  Why should a religious organization be forced to go against their beliefs by the government, if that same government will ultimately be handling the part that makes them so uncomfortable in the first place?  Seriously, live and let live, and stay out of each others' sh*t!

Another example ... the group One Million Moms getting fired up over J.C.Penny's continued backing of Ellen DeGeneres as their national spokeswoman.  To be honest, I don't really understand how an acclaimed comedian/actress/talk show host would be able to sway or change someone's family values by representing a store that sells clothing, cosmetics and household goods .......... seems a ridiculous waste of perfectly good energy that could be used towards actual issues like the treatement and prevention of juvenile diabetes, or bettering the level of education in this country, or combatting human trafficking.  This is a woman who brings laughter to millions, and supports countless charities and worthwhile causes with not only donations but by giving her voice and time as well, and, while there are some who have issues with same-sex relationships, it should be pointed out that she and her partner are married, committed and monogamous, and have been so for far longer than many heterosexual relationships last in this day and age.  Still don't see what any of this has to do with clothing ....

Back to the original point ... it's truly a wonderful thing to live in a society where, no matter what your opinion, you can be heard.  It should also be remembered that the variety of opinions and viewpoints are what makes all of this worthwhile.  The world would be an awfully boring, flat, uninteresting, unintelligent place if everyone thought, looked and acted exactly the same as everyone else.  There would be no original ideas, no creativity, no passion for anything as it would all be the same as everywhere else.  Just because someone else's voice is different than your own, or their politics are different than your own, doesn't mean that their voice and thoughts aren't valid points that should be respected for the added societal facets they bring to the table.

~ The Girl In The Little Black Dress