Some of the first blooms to show up around our new house.

More than being a lovely season, it’s been an honest time of “firsts” for me.  One such realization came not too long ago…

Growing up in Central Florida, I was a total Disney kid.  We’d go to the parks all the time and before I hit middle school I knew the words and songs to all of my favorite attractions.  At some point, and I’m not exactly sure when it was, my family fell in love with Tomorrow Land’s “Carousel of Progress.”  Without Googling at all, I can tell you the Carousel of Progress was created as a World’s Fair exhibit a decade or two before I was born.  After gaining popularity and adoration from the fair-goers, it went on to retire at WDW as a permanent attraction.

Tomorrowland, what an amazing idea.

The Carousel of Progress (COP) is what I call a show-ride.  A rollercoaster it is not, but the seats do move.  Well, they rotate.  It’s a rotating theater wherein the audience glides around the track from one set to the next, and then you exit where you started.  The “actors” are all animatronic, as Disney is famous for.  The premise centers on a typical American family over the course of four generations.

On one particular family trip to Disney we had a wacky experience at the COP.   We entered, excited as always by the cool temps and darkness inside (offering much needed solace from a hot and sunny Florida day).  At the end of the first scene as the song cranks up, you expect that the seats are about to start rotating and you’ll head onto scene two.

On this day though, the ride broke down and our seats did not move.  We saw the animatronic man in his old-fashioned kitchen singing, swaying his head around in an awkward movement only possible for  a Disney robot,  While he sings, a shaggy robotic dog wags his tail in time. “Now is the time, now is the best time, now is the best time of our lives. Yesterdays memories may sparkle and shine and tomorrow is still but a dream. Right here and now, you’ve got it made and you’re in the parade! Now is the time…” (It goes on and on like Lambchop’s Singalong).

I’ve seen this “man” speak about his fancy home and all its marvels more times than I can count.

The first line of the first scene in COP is, “Well, the robins are back. That’s a sure sign of Spring.”  The man in his 1800s kitchen looks out the window at a fake robin that whistles via soundtrack. We must have been stuck in there for five or six scene lengths.  Every time we’d hear, “Well, the robins are back. That’s a sure sign of Spring,” we’d crack up! We started reciting his lines with him.  By the time we were freed from the repetitive Carousel, we had basically memorized his whole schtick.

Okay, so I did a quick Google just now.  Wikipedia does a great job of explaining the details, and I found this awesome video: 

*Note, after 1993 they updated the ride, giving it a new song and different dialogue.   You can watch that version here. 

Watching the video, I do admit that I messed up the order of the lyrics a tiny bit.  What’s really troubling though, is realizing they stopped the version I had memorized in 1993.  I turned ten that year.  What kind of young kid goes to Disney and considers such an educational and adrenaline-less attraction to the best?  And how can I still remember all that detail so many years later?

I was one history-loving child nerd, that is certain.

In the early 90s I learned that animatronic robot men associate chirping birds with Spring.   It wouldn’t be until 2013 that I’d finally draw that conclusion for myself.

Bulbs in our front yard.

The pros of growing up in Florida abound from the whole Disney thing, to the beaches, being able to watch shuttle launches and wearing shorts on Christmas.  Florida can be rad.  But an area you really miss out on = seasons.

Intellectually, I’ve understood seasons since a very early age.  I remember classrooms and decor always depicting fall’s leaves, winter’s snow, and spring’s flowers.  I understood that was what others experienced.  But for myself, I only really knew hot and not-hot, and in my life foliage lasted all year long.

My brain understood how the robins being back indicated a new season for other regions, but I had never witnessed that for myself.

Now we live in Western New York, and while I love this area for many reasons, experiencing four very distinct seasons is way up there!  I enjoyed the winter, with its cold temps, snow and ice.  As Spring began to roll around and those snow days turned into rainy ones, I found myself being really bummed.  ”I’m not ready for it to be hot yet,”  ”I want one more big snow,”  and a host of other afraid-to-let-go-of-winter thoughts and complaints were the extent of my Spring-related feelings.

That is until one nice morning not too long ago. I was up early taking the dogs out when I heard the unmistakable sound of birds chirping.  At that moment, it dawned on me that I hadn’t heard the birds chirping for months.  To clarify, I’m not an idiot.  I know that birds migrate.  I know the birds left the area last fall, but I never recognized or noted their absence.  Winter just sorta crept up and happened, Mother Nature’s morning soundtrack subtly changed.  After months of early morning quiet, the chirping birdies that came back created a cacophony of avian songs that was impossible to miss.  Bam! Spring is here.

The backyard along the creek, taken around the time we first moved in.

A couple weeks ago – those neon leaves showed up overnight.

The backyard, taken this week. So alive!

As soon as the birds-spring connection registered in my mind, I found myself saying aloud: “Well, the robins are back. That’s a sure sign of Spring!”  While it made me LOL, I also realized something else… After decades of knowing that line, I finally finally actually understood it!

The birds tweeting about aren’t the only harbinger of the season that I’ve noticed.  The foliage seemed to have come alive overnight.  We moved into our new home last month and all the trees were still bare.  We could see dirt patches that we knew were gardens / landscaped, and of course as the snow all melted we had green grass everywhere.   And then one day I was taking the dogs out for their morning pee and bam! THE TREES HAD LEAVES.  Our bulb garden bloomed over night, just everything.  It all grows so fast, and it just shows up. Boom.

The view of our street when we first moved in.

A gloomy day, but you can see the difference from just a month ago!

For everyone who’s ever lived in a place with seasons, I know you’re thinking that I’m a feral child who was offered cooked food for the first time.  But seriously, this has been one of the biggest surprises of my life.  We always said “April showers bring May flowers” in school, but until now I didn’t really really get it.

Colorful blossoms are everywhere.

Something else great about spring: temperate weather.  In Florida, you get way more unbearably hot days than you ever do “nice” days.   During our first fall in WNY, I really embraced the beauty of 60 degrees and sunny.  I stand by my statement that I love the cold weather, I do.  But even I know now that temps in the 60s with the kind of sunshine that makes everything feel bright without burning you to a crisp is just far more amazing than I ever could have known. I try to always have appreciation for the great things I experience;  I’ve often been told that I have a child-like sense of wonder about the world around me.  The smallest things can just bowl me over, I’m easily excitable.

This whole revelation of Spring really has me feeling like a kid.  From what I gather though, the wonderment of this lovely season never gets old.

It’s the best weather to be outside as much as possible.

The beauty of everything coming to life, the colors, the smells, the energy – it’s amazing.  It’s really brilliant.  And I can’t believe my parents chose Florida of all places to live and I got ripped off on 28 other springs I could have seen.  But hey, at least I’m experiencing it now, right?  And besides, now is the time.  Now is the best time.  Now is the best time of our lives.

XOXO,

HHR

…

Sources for Carousel Of Progress Images:

http://beefydisney.blogspot.com/2012/05/carousel-of-progress.html

http://ohbythewayblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-carousel-of-progress.html

http://www.yesterland.com/progress.html

Much like the President and his State of The Union, I feel like coming here and posting a big ole update about my health and where it stands is something I like to do, and I do on a sorta regular basis.  I mean, it’s totally as legit at the State of the Union, right?

I mention my health in passing, and for the sake of advocacy, understanding, and information – I like to be an open book.  It’s been more than eight years since my battle against Stage III Lymphoma played out publicly in college – but my own health issues and ordeals are not over.  In going through all of that in front of so many others, I realized that by being open, I was helping others.  So many people who’ve dealt with cancer have reached out to me, and I’ve helped how and where I can.   Yes, it’s in small and tiny ways, but good ways nonetheless.  So, when I can… I’ve been able to offer compassion, support, empathy, and love.  And now with my sweet ole blood disease, I am just doing what I know how to do: be a blabbermouth, and if anyone needs help, I’ll do my best.

I have porphyria.

It’s a blood disease.  It’s genetic.  There’s no cure, and you have it forever.

It’s complicated, weird, hard to explain, hard to understand – yes, it’s all of these things… but, it’s manageable.

By far the biggest, best, and most amazing breakthrough in my life as a person with acute porphyria was the DNA test I had done in Hawaii.  I know the exact mutation in my genetic code that causes the blood disease I have.  And if you think you’re special – allow me to trump you.  I am, to date, THE ONLY person to have ever been tested with this exact mutation.  Talk about ONE OF A KIND!

Now.  I know I’m not really all that unique.  The likelihood that members of my family share this specific mutation is very high.  We are likely a one-of-a-kind porphyria family.  And given how genetic diseases and mutations work, well it’s not really that fancy.

So… onto the good stuff:

HOW AM I DOING?

I’m okay.  I’ve had some attacks lately.  Triggers-and-attacks is the cycle of my disease, with lovely periods of calm remission in between.  Triggers for me include stress, illness, medications of certain kinds, alcohol, preservatives, lack of sleep, and more. Around the holidays I was eating tons of processed meat and cheeses, which I love, but which are oh so bad for me.  Add to that the ole Santa Pub Crawl I couldn’t miss out on, and a lot of travel and staying up late, and well – I created my own little perfect storm, didn’t I?

at the santa pub crawl we held in fredonia, much like the real giant santa pub crawl that takes place in buffalo every year!

a totally weird and silly pic from that night

i did too much of this

and delicious as it is, i ate way too much of this kind of stuff during the holidays.

i stayed up all night while visiting my sister for christmas eve. d’oh! i need sleep!

I did.  I made some bad choices… and I payed up for it.  I felt pretty crummy for a good chunk of December.  I modified my behavior though, because I love my body and want to give myself the best shot possible.  Even though some choices seem tough in the moment, in the long run they’re important.

so i abstained from booze for the rest of the holidays, even christmas day and new year’s eve!

outfit repeat, but really – here i am as the d.d. on new year’s!

After a while of clean living and good choices, I seemed to have really pulled out of things.

at duggs’ work’s winter party – we had a blast, and i felt pretty good.

I am feeling better now.  At last month’s visit to my docs, we adjusted my meds.  I am now happily on a new form of medication that I get through a patch.  Isn’t technology rad?  Since porphyria affects my liver and its enzymes and red blood cell production, getting meds into my body without bothering my liver is excellent.  Yesterday I went back again, and we tweaked the doses a bit, so once those get filled and I regulate out… I’m hoping my day-to-day will be even better.  It’s really nice to be on meds that don’t have so many long-term effects on me and side effects, etc.

I’m seeing a couple new doctors, too – and they are really wonderful and very committed to helping me get the treatment I need, when I need it.  I’ve just recently opened up the lines of communication with my local in-town doctor, so the next time an attack happens – I can get into a hospital nearby and get the IV treatments that help me stop an early attack in its tracks.  And now the meds I need, should a serious attack occur, will be known and available (in Hawaii, this was pretty serious – they didn’t have ANY of these meds on the island before I got there… eeks!).

Coming from the military system to civilian world of medical care has been… well, halting.  The expense of my meds alone was enough to crank up my stress to attack-inducing levels.  Finding the right meds, that my insurance will cover, has been a task.  It was pretty crazy there for a little while, but things are looking up for me now.  It’s also been hard to piece together a communicative team of experts.  In the military system, all my docs could see each other’s notes, save for my primary care – they were all in the same building.  So the convenience factor has shifted a bit, it’s been a learning process, but it’s getting there.  I am happy with the team I have now, and I trust their expertise and compassion – very much so.

Otherwise, nothing really new or crazy or wild to report.

I’m still me.  I’m still human.  I try and live life just as me, weirdo wacky Rose… and not as a person afraid to experience life and deal with the affects on my body.  It’s a balance though.  And in every attack I experience, I wise up about my triggers and the lifestyle choices I need to, and should, make to avoid bringing issues upon myself.

So, there you go.

I still have Porphyria.  It’s not going anywhere!  But, everyday I think I get a little better at navigating what it means for me and coping with it all.  And umm, I’ll give a shout-out to my handsome life partner, Duggs (my husband) because he’s been an awesome man to have by my side through all of it.  My whole family is very supportive, and once again – I find myself feeling very blessed to have access to competent medical care.

so this is the most recent pic i could find… oh boy, not so flattering, haha. but as you can see, i look normal and i’m outside and being wacky, laughing, etc. can’t really ask for more than that… so, life is good!

Thanks for reading!  And thanks for following along the wacky and weird and up-and-down journey that is my health.

XOXO,

HHR – Happy Hippie Rose

PS: Just because I share what I go through, please don’t think that my porphyria is all I am or all that I focus on.  I’m a real, breathing, dynamic person.  And since my health is something people who know me worry about… and by being open and posting about it publicly I can help add to the available points of view out there on porphyria (since there aren’t many), reducing stigmas and encouraging others to talk about it, learn more, and so on… I do tend to mention it more often online than I probably do in real life.  But it’s just like anything that’s in a persons focus – real, but only one part of a whole, multifaceted life.  

I Killed A Deer, And I Liked It.  

Yes, I went hunting this past fall.  And yes, I killed a deer.  And when I killed the deer, I liked it.

I was proud of myself (still am), and I was – for lack of a better word – happy about it.   And well, if you happen to know about some of my personal beliefs on animal testing, captivity, factory farming and how much I LOVE animals in general… this new hobby of mine probably seems a bit on the conflict-of-interest side.  But hear me out, I can explain…

I am now a legit hunter!

i am huntress, hear me shoot!

I know what you’re already thinking… “Rose, aren’t you the one who posted on this very blog about refusing to buy cosmetics tested on animals? How on earth have you gotten into hunting?”

Some of my main beliefs/practice related to animals and animal-made products:

• I can’t stand cruelty to animals
• I’m a huge animal-lover, especially my doggies
• I’m opposed to animal testing on cosmetic products
• I don’t buy new leather goods – choosing thrift stores or hand-me-down; the one exception = a pair of running sneaks I bought myself this summer
• I prefer to buy meat, dairy, and free-range eggs from companies whose farming practices I find humane and of high quality

I can’t stand:

• the terrible conditions in the factory farming industry
• the way some notorious corporate slaughterhouses run
• people who neglect or abuse pets
• euthanizing un-claimed domesticated animals in shelters
• breed discrimination
• certain captive animal situations
• …and more.

So why am I okay with hunting?

Hunting is humane. 

If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, you’re not going to agree with my POV on this at all.   Hopefully,  from a logical standpoint, you may perhaps understand my distinctions – even if you don’t agree.  If you’re a meat-eater who thinks that hunting is messed up, or going too far – maybe I can shed some light for you.

My main reasons for being morally okay with hunting:

• I eat the meat, as do many many members in my family
• Meat from wild animals is the original form of “organic” food
• Venison is lean, healthy, a great source of protein, as versatile as beef, and tasty
• By butchering and processing ourselves, we ensure as much of the animal as possible is used
• We respect the animals, thank them, honor them for the food they provide; there is reverence and gratitude in all that we do when it comes to taking a life and appreciating that sacrifice
• Killing a deer quickly and proficiently with a well-placed shot is a painless and instant death
• Too many deer, not enough food for them = many deer perishing with a slow, wasting death of starvation and exposure
• Too many deer = dangerous accidents, like car vs. deer

Like I’ve said – if you’re against consuming meat altogether, you won’t be down with organic meat or see it as good enough.  And I get that, and while I totally respect your point of view, I personally am okay with being a meat-eater.

Getting Personal With What You Eat:

Venison is awesome.  It’s tasty, it’s good for you, there’s so much you can do with it.  After having killed a deer, and helped to gut, skin, butcher and process the meat for many of them (in our family, we all share the work together and split up the meat into portions for each family) – I feel more connected to my food source.  I feel a HUGE sense of pride in being able to provide food in this way, to fend for myself, to become just a bit more self-reliant.  There’s a big survivalist component to hunting, and I have a huge appreciation and affinity for that component of it all.

A Lifestyle; Life Skills: 

Ideally, I’d love to hunt multiple seasons a year (deer, turkey, pheasant, dove, boar, etc), fish more, own some chickens (mostly for eggs and maybe occasionally meat), and have a huge garden to be able to ensure a healthy, clean diet that we are responsible for ourselves.  I love having that closeness and connectivity to what I’m putting in my body.  We’re come so far in our industrialized world, I eat things all the time without knowing what they really are, what’s in them, where they come from.  Getting back to basics feels great on so many levels.

Besides pointing and shooting, hunting involves a lot of work.  We “field dress” the deer, meaning we removed their internal organs in the woods.  These products are one of the best fertilizers, and also provide food for all kinds of wild animals who will come and eat the fresh innards.  We skin the deer ourselves, butcher, and prepare the meat.  I now know how to do all of these things, and they’re great skills to have.  And again, it brings me closer to the food I eat.  I know exactly what’s in every final product from the sausage we made, to our grind, the stew meat, canned meat, and so on.

I’ve also learned a great deal about navigating in the woods, tracking, animal behavior and life cycles, different kinds of predators and how they operate.   I’ve learned how to notice signs of which animals are nearby.  And with my shotgun (yes, I own my own shotgun now too!), I feel more confident than I have ever before with a firearm, and safe ways to own and operate it.  It’s odd, but after hunting season I feel so much more prepared for a home invasion or something adverse like that.   My comfort level with my gun brings me comfort.  And again, it’s a skill set to know what I’m doing in that respect.  The same goes for using knives.

Deer Overpopulation and Death in the Wild:

In the part of the world I live in, there are too many deer.  This is actually a pretty common problem across North America.  Human development has turned grazing fields and bountiful forests into cul-de-sacs and strip malls.  As things stand now, there is not enough food to sustain the deer population.

By “thinning the herd” hunters are able to help control the population and ensure that the deer-to- sustenance ratio is much better for the animals that are currently living.

The notion that animals are like people and die quiet, happy deaths at old age, surrounded by their loved ones, just isn’t reality.  Wild nature is a hard life, and the natural circumstances of death in the wild are not pleasant.  Every year, many deer will die that hard, painful, slow way… from starvation, from exposure to the cold while malnourished.   I’d rather put a bullet into a deer’s neck and drop him in an instant than know a deer died by being eaten alive buy a pack of wolves or a bear.

And while I openly acknowledge that no hunter is perfect – the vast majority of kills that I’ve experienced/witnessed have been well-placed shots that took the deer’s life instantly.  Of course sometimes people miss, and an animal can be hurt.  This is really the worst-case scenario.  There is NO pleasure in hurting an animal and leaving them in pain.  So we will track and track as far as we can to make sure that we’re able to “dispatch” the deer (end it’s life quickly so it doesn’t go on suffering).  Sometimes you can track for hours and never find the deer you’re quite sure you’ve injured, but not killed.  And while sad and frustrating – that’s a rare experience with our hunting group.

The Social Aspects, The Family Traditions:

The entire experience of hunting with my family this year was pretty awesome.   Yes, I shot and killed one deer all on my own – but that’s only one small part of the whole “hunting camp” scene.   The first two weeks of regular deer season in our region opened up on November 17th.  (Regular season meaning shotguns and rifles; bowhunters and those using muzzle-loaders have differing dates, and there’s also a special junior season too). For one branch of my family tree, these two weeks are a lock solid annual tradition.  Some folks who’ve relocated all come back “home,” to WNY, and for a couple weeks we hunt together in a big group.

Laughing, carrying on, telling stories, catching up – just being together – these are all parts of hunting  too.

For me, it was awesome to be a part of this.  To get to know some of my extended relatives a lot better, and to meet others for the first time.  We have a great time together and really enjoy ourselves.  It’s awesome to have a family like mine, and during hunting season I was really reminded of that.   I was the only girl, other than the “grandmas” (two of the oldest matriarchs on that side of the family, 85 and 80 years old each and still come out to hunt and help with the meat).  Being the solo female was really interesting and fun too.  As my uncle said, “we don’t treat you any different – you’re not a girl, you’re a hunter, just like the rest of us.”  As a woman, it’s empowering.  Really it is!   I love meeting other lady hunters, and I like showing the younger generations in our family that gals can get out there and do it too!

Sending everyone home with a freezer full of meat is also a wonderful feeling.  We’re taking care of each other.  We’re working together to provide for our families.   And those are good feelings to know.

The Thrill of the Hunt:

And finally, I won’t deny that’s it’s thrilling.  It is.  It’s exciting, it’s fun… getting that shot and seeing the deer go down does bring with it (for me) a real sense of satisfaction.  Beyond all the reasons I’ve explained – but just on the most primitive, simple level of – I tried to do something, I wanted to do something, and I did it!

While waiting in deer stands or tracking through the woods, it’s exciting to try and figure out where the deer are and how you’ll get access to take a shot.  When you see a group of them come out of a tree line and bound across a field, it is rather exciting.  I was actually worried that I’d be a terrible shot because of my adrenaline – and while I did get a rush after the kill, I was pleasantly surprised with how cool and calm I felt once I took the safety off and lined my crosshairs up with the moving deer.

Oh, and I know that there are all kinds of hunters.  Some hunt with bows and think that using guns is “cheating” or “unfair” to the animals.  This is a personal preference thing, and I say to each their own.  Personally, I don’t use scent lures, calls, I don’t bait either.  We do use platforms / tree stands, and I know some folks think that’s unfair too.  Like I said, it comes down to personal preference there.  Based on my experiences this year, and seeing how many deer still got away – I’m perfectly comfortable being in a stand and wearing camo.   Trust me, there’s still plenty of challenge to it all!

…

For all of these reasons, and many many more… I am happy to be a hunter.  In fact, I LOVE IT!

And while I don’t owe an explanation to anyone about my lifestyle choices and my own beliefs, I am happy to share.   Maybe I can offer a point of view someone hasn’t before considered.  Or maybe by explaining it all out, it just helps others to understand me better.   I now love hunting, and if I can inspire anyone else to check it out and give it a try – well that’s cool too!

Deer season for this year is over… but I already have my eye on spring turkey season, and I can’t wait!

lookin’ like one bad mofo

Thanks for reading – I hope on some level you were able to take away something positive from all of this.

XOXO, 

HHR

I drafted a post months ago… in early December, actually.  It’s well-written, it contains a message, and it’s very very me.  But I have not pressed publish.  Why?  Well, lots of reasons.  I was sick for a while in December, porphyria attack.  And then again in January with the flu… the remnants of which seem to not want to truly leave me be.

Work.  The Holidays.  We’re buying a house.

Reasons… kinda, but really they’ve become my excuses.  These are excuses.

You see, this post I wanted to share was about hunting season.  It’s drafted title is, in fact, I killed a Deer and I liked It.  (get it?)

You’d have to be living under a rock to not be in the midst of the gun-control melodrama that’s taken over our collective conscience lately.  The issues, outcries, politicizing, rallying, fear-mongering, paranoia, anger, and all the rest of it have just been a lot to deal with.  As a responsible gun owner, a legally licensed hunter and skilled shooting enthusiast – am I ready for what could happen if I publicly declare that I am okay with guns?  I wasn’t sure.

I’m still not totally sure about how to deal with any potential fallout that could occur.  And I know that’s likely.  I have friends and loved ones deeply entrenched on both sides of every proverbial line in the sand.  And while I’m pretty durn open and honest about who I am, and what I believe. (I mean, my Fb has plenty of pics of me holding and shooting guns… and not just hunting guns, but handguns, and yes – even an AR-15).

In the online blogging silence that ensued, my own internal voice grew stronger.  I do know who I am, and I love who I am.

And I, take it or leave it, am a gal with a gun.  I killed a deer, and I liked it.  I am not irreverent, malicious, cruel or casual in my approach to hunting, killing an animal, taking the meat from his body, and preparing it to be my own food.  In fact, I’m in awe of such power; I’m full of respect and admiration for the processes of life and the insight unto them that I have gained when looking down the barrel of a gun and feeling my finger on the trigger.

This is NOT a battlecry for gun rights.  This is NOT about Newtown or the CIA or our gun laws.

This is just a blog about me.  And at times, I am a hunter.  A happy hippie hunter.  Don’t think it’s possible?  Give my post a read and hear me out.

I’m pushing publish on it now.  I’m ready to be okay being me.

I’m kind of ambidextrous.  It’s just a weird quirk I’ve had all my life.  I surf and skate goofy footed, and start in a track position the way a left-handed person would.  I can paint, shave and do makeup as easily with my left hand as I can with my right.  Without thinking, I usually just use whichever hand is closer by for performing rudimentary tasks.

The biggest point of differentiation is my handwriting though.  While I can chicken scratch legibly with the left, I almost exclusively write with my right hand.  Personally, I believe that I could have been a left-handed writer, but just chose the right out of ease and conformity when learning.  And for years and years, it’s not better practiced.

Sometimes, I get into these weird phases where I practice my left-hand writing.

I think it’s probably some facet of my OCD, or maybe just some weird tangent of my mind… but I get really into it.  So lately, when I watch TV in the evening, I’ve been doing sudoku puzzles exclusively using my left hand to write the numbers.  And then in the margins I’ve been practicing some writing.  In my defense – I’ve been feeling crummy lately, having a bit of a porphyria flare, so I haven’t really felt up to doing a whole lot.

Anyways.  The left hand stuff, is amazing and well, REALLY FUNNY.

It looks like a second grader’s sudoku book, with rough messages saying “Merry Christmas” and my name.  It actually cracks me up.

haha, awesome, right?

these are some durn good numbers – all written with trusty lefty!

Out of boredom writing the same things over and over again, and wanting to practice every letter – I naturally began using the ole “the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”

right hand on top. and the left right below it. so this gives you a pretty solid comparison of how off my left hand is.

I’m sure you’re familiar with it.  It’s a succinct sentence that uses every letter of the alphabet.  It’s an easy way to display a font or style of writing so you can see an example of every letter. After scrawling it out a few times, I got bored with it.

So here’s where things get weird…

I started trying to write my own every-letter sentences, and soon discovered it was kind of a challenge and more fun than I would have thought.  Trying to cram in every letter and come up with unique and colorful words, it’s like solving a puzzle.   (Ohh, “solving” and “puzzle” are both good words for this kind of thing, getting in those Zs and Vs, and Xs and Qs, often present the challenge).  Edited to add: this should go without saying, but I do all my writing withOUT an aide of any sort – no dictionaries, or thesaurus, that’s so cheating! 

At first the sentences started out utilitarian, just getting the job done.  But as I kept going… well, you’ll see, a sort of style emerged, as well as a need for coherent sense to be made of the words as well.

I love quietly watching birds zip by, making an exit from trees to sky.

The sexy queen’s chicken wings do jump with flavor, taste buds zing.

Six wily elk did jump and climb, to graze on a bluff quite very high.

Next week’s quail hunt could provide a zesty meal, just forget buying a turkey!

(here’s where the philosophy starts…)

Quarrel not, but exact good and make peace: with a zephyr of justice, a soul ever feasts.

right handed first, with left’s scrawling below.

Always excel on the hard quiz of life by just taking up lessons from every strife.

A quick fix to obtain zen: remove darkness, placing joy within.

Gladly embark on a quest, prepare to joust with zeal, affix your eyes on pride, and victory you shall steal.

Pretty weird, huh?

Anyways, thanks for reading my strange ramblings.  Can you write with your “opposite” hand?  Have you ever tried.  Show me some pics and help to not feel so bad!

XOXO, 

HHR

It’s my EIGHT YEAR CANCER-VERSARY! 

Can you believe it?  It’s been eight happy, wonderful, blessed bonus years that I’ve been gifted since beating Stage III Hodgkin’s Lymphoma back in college.

The funny part about this commemorative occasion is that for the last several years, we’ve been celebrating it on December 5th.  In writing a post for this very blog, I uncovered some old photos, and actually found my radiation completion certificate – and lo and behold, it was dated the 3rd.  So the third of December it is.

The certificate of radiation completion!

This morning when I woke up to some texts and emails from family, I kinda found myself reflecting for a bit.  My moods ranged from full of awe and reverence to downright giddy. On Facebook, I posted an image of my cancer-beating certificate, and I’ve gotten an obscene amount of likes on it, like in the 160s and climbing.  And my dear pal and former-roomie and current co-worker Sasha “Salsa” Freeman Gray has been quite lovely in uploading some of the sillier pics from those crazy cancer days.

I was in college, had already gone through some really crazy health issues (a mis-diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease led me down the garden path of insane meds and eventually a full bowel obstruction which required a surgical resection), when my neck started to look like a sock full of golf balls – at least that’s the easiest way I’ve come to describe it.   I was tired, running slower than usual (literally, I ran a 5k and noted that my time was really slow, even for me), and I was having terrible night sweats.  Eventually I developed a non-producing cough, and around the holidays I just assumed I had some kind of supercold that my immuno-suppressed body couldn’t really fight so well.  It wouldn’t be until February of 2004 that I’d begin the process of diagnostic testing, and actually April when we found out for sure that it was Stage III-BS Hodgkin’s Lymphoma that had taken my collegiate body hostage.

With Sasha, while getting my head shaved. I didn’t want to wait for it to fall out, so I took the matter into my own hands and got my pretty round head buzzed after my first chemo round.

In the process of shaving my head, I of course, had to take pause when I reached the excellent stage of MULLET.

I’ve gotten some interesting questions today – people wanting to know what it was like, how I’ve made the most of my time since, how I’m doing now… so without boring you all to death, I’ll try and give some tidbits:

What is it like to know you have cancer? 

Cancer was wacky crazy and very surreal for most of the experience, with one grindingly serious memory that jumps forward in which I finally absorbed the fact that I indeed had fecking CANCER and that it was hardcore.  Most of the time though, when you have cancer and you’re all chemo-bald, people know what your deal is and they’re very nice to you.  In my ongoing health issues with “Crohn’s Disease” and what we now know to be Acute Porphyria – it’s different. 

The serious realization came about very randomly.  I was driving home, and I was getting on Hodges from JTB (Jax ppl know what I mean), and it just hit me: I HAVE CANCER.  THIS IS SERIOUS.  And it kind of quietly overwhelmed me for a few moments, but by the time I got home I felt “normal” again.

How old were you? 

I was 20 when I was diagnosed, and celebrated my 21st birthday between chemo sessions.  I remember going to the Pepsi 400  (because that’s what it was called back then) on my actual birthday (July 3rd) and when a freak rainstorm came through I was freezing.  My then-boyfriend, Rick Neidringhaus, went and bought me some sweats and a windbreaker for my two favorite drivers: Darrell Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr, respectively.  I still have the pants and actually wear them often!

Sasha and bald-me, circa Fall 2004.

What got you through?

This one is easy: God, faith, family, friends, the entire UNF family, the Greek system, and my incredible team of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and techs – all the good people of Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville who efficiently and effectively saved my life.  I had top notch doctors – I was already a patient at Mayo because of my aggressive “Crohn’s Disease” (since I really didn’t have Crohn’s, my body would never respond to the treatment – rendering me a medical outlier with an extreme case and therefore in need of the best doctors in the land.  Luckily for me, I lived in Jax, FL at the time and had Mayo access just a few miles from home).

I kept a really awesome attitude the entire time.  I bore everyone to death with the stories I tell again and again – but the one that I must tell when I saw a mother and her wheelchair-bound small child park next to me at Publix the day I was officially diagnosed.  Seeing that kid who has likely never walked and likely never will, I refused to feel sorry for myself.  It changed my entire perspective on the situation.  The first 19 years of my life were spent in excellent health, as I lead a life of privilege, freedom and one full of lovely memories and special experiences.  Had I died the day I was diagnosed, I wouldn’t have had a regret or a single sad feeling for myself.  Having cancer is what it is – once that tough lump is swallowed, all that’s left is making the best of it.  So I fought hard, kept my chin up, and did what I always do: plow my way through with some jokes and a lot of laughs, and a firm anchor to God and faith in the ultimate plan He has for my life.

Have these eight years been well-lived?

I mean, according to me – YES.  Heck, yes!  I’ve done some pretty amazing things and I believe I’ve chocked eight years full of an awful lot of life.  I’ve traveled, I’ve helped others, I’ve tried new things, I’ve experienced love, loss, happiness, and pain, full spectrum human experience.  I’ve created art, made others smile, formed friendships in the strangest and most normal of places – and every now and then I hear the “I word,” that I’ve inspired someone else into doing something good or at least having a good attitude about whatever it is he or she has going on.

Knowing that I can actually inspire others is very humbling.

Knowing that I’ve literally been granted 2,992 extra days of this life (heck yes I counted Leap Years) is humbling.

Snorkeling in Hawaii. I’ve had a very happy life, yes!

I ran my first marathon this year, 26.2 miles!

Helping Sandy Relief in NYC last month.

My husband + me, smooching from a deer stand.

Me – hunting just this past week or so!

So what’s it like now?

It’s both far-removed and ever-present.  The scars have faded, but they’re still there; and I still have my very first tattoos – the radiation dots that they marked me with to make sure they hit the same spot every day.  (As far as scars go, I had a couple stitches in my neck from a biopsy, another incision on the left side of my neck from having a lymph node removed, and I have a scar on my chest when I had my port-a-cath taken in and out).  I don’t obsess or worry about relapsing like I once did, and I don’t have to do the often check-ups and scans as I did in those first crucial years of remission.  I passed the five-year milestone three years ago, and that was a BIG ONE.  That’s the “you’re cured” milestone.

I don’t ever want to lose touch with that experience though.  After all, having been through cancer is a huge definer of who I am as a person.  It shaped me into a MUCH nicer person in general, and a tougher person in many ways.  It gave me a glimpse of my own frailty and left me with a profound appreciation for life and every breath I take.  And with that comes a responsibility to carry out a life well-lived and to do good in this world – and I find myself still trying to grasp at the best ways to keep that promise.

From this experience, what still impacts you today? 

I forever live with inexplicable gratitude in my heart.  For every nurse who held my hand, every doctor who took the time to make sure I received exemplary care… to my loved ones who came with me to chemo, prayed for me around the clock, and supported me in so many ways that words can never express… to the friends, classmates, and total strangers who came together to raise funds to help cover the costs of my treatment, to my Dad for working hard and having a good job that provided excellent insurance for me and money still to cover the costs that even excellent insurance didn’t take care of.

I carry with me a legacy of the hopes, dreams, and the honor of so many people who aren’t as lucky, of those who came before me and the technology that saved my life, of those in circumstances that don’t allow for early detection or top-notch medical care, of those who just don’t win the fight.  And that’s something that’s very real with me, a part of who I am.  We stand on the shoulders of so many giants, and I can’t ever forget that.

Mostly though, I just feel like me: Rose.  A happy wacky tie-dye loving slightly-redneck weirdo who often smiles and laughs everyday, and who is truly loved.  And I’m happy to be me, and I feel blessed to be me – each and every day.

I suppose if there was ever a profound take-away from an experience like mine – it is knowing in every ounce of my being that I am loved.  By my God, my family, those around me then and now, my husband, my friends, my sister, and even strangers – yes.  I am loved.  And being able to come face to face with such colossal concepts as life, death, and love is an honor that I am humbled to have experienced and lived through to write about now.

…

This post is dedicated to all of the many, many people who saved my life.  And to the many more lives that are forever changed by cancer, in all manner of ways – both happy and sad. 

…

Thank you for reading and for your support.

XOXO, 

HHR

mike “loco” hoffman – a man who’s become a hero to many

I met Mike a couple weeks ago while I was downstate volunteering as a Sandy relief worker.  Here was this big imposing tough guy, smiling and giving hugs as he orchestrated volunteers and comforted storm survivors.   What really impressed me was the way he went about things.  Mike saw to it that everything was prioritized based on need and circumstance; a family with a seriously ill child would be higher on the list for generator access than a house of healthy young adults.    Working tirelessly since the superstorm came ashore, he’s a relief leader and morale coach for some of the island’s hardest hit neighborhoods.  Corralling labor volunteers, running area shelters, repairing homes, delivering supplies… Mike Hoffman ensures that no need – no matter how great or how small – goes unmet on his watch.

It’s Just Who He Is:

Known as “Loco” to his friends, Hoffman first made a name for himself as a high school football star at both Port Richmond and Curtis.  Destined for collegiate D-1 greatness, Mike’s dreams were cut short when his mother was diagnosed with brain cancer.  Choosing to care for her while placing his own ambition on hold wasn’t a choice for Mike, it was an instinct. Putting the needs of others far before his own is just who he is.

On the surface he seems like a normal guy: he and wife Amaury have been happily married for more than a decade, they have four beautiful children.  ”Coach Hoffman,” as he’s known to many, has volunteered for the last seven years with Staten Island youth football and baseball teams.

But normal as we know it is long gone in the post-Sandy world of Staten Island.  Putting down a team roster and picking up a volunteer contact sheet, Mike does what he’s best at: stepping up to the plate to help those around him.

mike “loco” hoffman – doing a lot of heavy lifting, physically and emotionally, to help those around him

Rolling Up His Sleeves

Every single day he’s out there working hard.  Digging out homes in areas where flood waters reached heights of twelve feet, delivering donated generators to families in need, demo, ripouts, cleaning up the mud and muck left behind from the storm surge, collecting and distributing donated supplies – if it needs to be done, he’ll pitch in and make it happen.  He’s even gotten his whole family involved.  All of his kids have been out to volunteer with him, even his youngest, who made a huge impact on Midland residents. He’s been on the news and in the streets educating others of the many abounding risks, including: electrocution hazards, structurally unsound homes, debris and dust inhalation, infectious illness from unsanitary conditions, growing mold in waterlogged buildings, hypothermia, muscle-strain, violent looters, and even the ever-increasing issue of disaster-scams.

I so admire the work Mike has been doing, I wanted to get involved in any way I could.  Before I left Staten Island on my last day there, I made him an offer:  ”when I get back home and I have Internet access, power, a fully charged cell phone – I’ll help you in anyway I can. “

loco, organizing volunteers and assigning work that needs to be done

In His Own Words:

This evening, I asked Mike what the biggest need is now:

“As of now, the biggest need is getting the word out.  It’s not a hot topic anymore, people have gotten tired of hearing about it.  The news coverage has dropped off and people are already forgetting about us, they’ve moved on.  Everyone came out and pitched in for a week or two – and while that was great, this thing is far from over for us.  We need volunteers, we need donations, we need help!  And this goes for people here too, if your house got worked on, go help your neighbors out.  There’s still so much work to do, we all need to rally now and keep going.”

Reflecting on how people are coping:

“A lot of people didn’t know what their neighbors’ names were before this thing happened, and now they’re checking in on each other.  I’ve heard plenty of stories about that, people didn’t even know who lived across the street, and now they’re checking in with one another all the time – ‘Hey Mr. Jenkins, I’m going down to get some hot food.  Do you need anything?’ – they’re working together now, we’re all in this thing together.”

Why he does what he does:

“When the landlord calls me, I’m disheartened.  When I see the bills piling up, it’s discouraging.  But then,  I look around and I’m motivated.   I won’t let my personal problems get in the way of what my heart is telling me to do.”

“I just want to lead by example.  My kids look up to me, I’m their role model, and I know they’re going to grow up to be good people – and that’s all I need.  All of my kids have been out there and pitched in, and that means so much to me.  My little nine year old came out and he was a saint – I was worried about his little lungs, so I had him all decked out in the mask and everything – and he was just a firecracker he had so much energy.  He was asking people what they needed, and he was so excited to get it.  He swept the whole street, it was amazing.  It made me feel good as a father.  And then when he wrote that message on the generator it just broke me down, I got emotional.”

the sweet message loco’s youngest son wrote on a generator: we are there for you! Johnny5 son of Mike Hoffman, a help for our nation.

Get Involved! 

If you want to get to know Mike for yourself, and keep up with all the great work he does, check him out on Facebook (Mike Loco Hoffman) and Twitter (@TheMikeLoco).   You can also contact him directly: 917.548.0523 or mikeloco@msn.com to see what his needs are on any given day.  Right now volunteers, specifically for labor, tools, and any supplies/gear that can help out labor crews are in big demand.  Hard hats, goggles, work gloves, dust masks, sledge hammers, axes, shovels, wheelbarrows, crowbars, pry bars – any of those items would be a huge help.

Acquiring tools is really very hard and hanging on to them seems to be even harder.  They’re expensive to pay for, so it takes a lot of money to get just a few things.  Luckily, donations of great tools have come in and Mike’s been able to get access to some.  They just don’t seem to last long, though.  Of course, many items are one-use only or get worn out quickly.  As far as the big and pricey tools, they’re constantly getting stolen.  Mike hasn’t been able to transport them all to his home every night where he can safeguard them – so this has been an ongoing problem.

Some donations have been rounded up, and we’ve been able to rent a truck for Mike!  It’s a U-Haul type truck that he can safely store the tools in and keep locked.  As of now, there were enough donations to cover the cost of the truck for a week.   We’re looking for help keeping it rented – or funding of some kind of storage container that securely locks.

Even if you just wish Mike well and give him some positivity and encouragement – that would be great!

…

As always, I want to thank you for reading!  I know it’s been a lot of Sandy talk lately, and that for some people hearing about the topic so much is tiresome.  For far too many people there is no escaping this topic though – they’re living it.  And it’s for them that I keep talking about it, and it’s for them that I ask you keep listening, reading, and spreading the word.  The more we all pitch in, the faster affected people can get their lives back in order.

XOXO, HHR

a crew i worked with doing ripouts and demo on homes

I’m back in Western New York now.  And while I have so many stories to tell about what I’ve seen and experienced down state in the hardhit areas of Hurricane-Superstorm Sandy – I’m also super busy with work and real life.   I know I’ll carve out some time to publish some well-worded stories about my time there.  And I’d also love to report on the everyday heroics I witnessed, the amazing people I met, and I want to express to others around the nation and world just how serious the situation is there.

It’s BAD.

So much work is yet to be done.  So much help is still greatly needed.

taking a quick break one day in staten island

push it real good – going uphill with a cart full of supplies to be delivered to homes

I’m going to run for now.  But should you be interested in checking out my photos from Staten Island and Long Beach, I’ll post the links to the public albums.

Staten Island Facebook Album

Long Beach Facebook Album

Thanks for reading – and please keep the folks of NY and NJ in your hearts and prayers.  They need all the love and assistance we can muster.

XOXO, HHR

me, all strapped up to do work!

I’ve been here all week working and helping and it’s been a lot of things: crazy, intense, and amazing to see the strength and resilience of those who have been hit the hardest.  I don’t have time for a full-fledged update right now, but I wanted to make sure to get the word out about a few things.

Check out this post I published on Snoo.ws to read about what I’ve been doing. (I work for ICUC, and Snoo.ws is ICUC’s blog – it’s part of my job!).  Also, look for me on social media (www.facebook.com/rose.m.duggan and @RadRoseDuggan) to see pics!

If you want to help now, the needs have shifted from what originally was asked for.  Canned foods and clothing have rolled into NY and NJ in surplus amounts.  So hang on to your winter coat, there are other ways to help.

typical scene on staten island in hardhit areas

NEEDS:

People still do NOT have power.  Their needs are: generators, gas, extension cords, batteries of ALL sizes, flashlights, candles, lighters, head lamps.  Portable stoves or ways to cook without power is rad as well.  And can openers!  Cans everywhere and yet… no way to open them without making a mess.

Homes that have been flooded MUST be gutted, stripped and re-built.  Any TOOLS are needed, work gloves – I cannot stress enough the importance of work gloves and dust masks / respirators.  Shovels of all kinds, axes, sledge hammers, crowbars, the suits you can wear over your clothes to protect your skin from insulation fibers – WORK GLOVES, DUST MASKS.

The air is full of debris and dust from all the demo – it’s crazy.

Clean up: In homes where the storm surged flooded the entire basement and first floor, there is this black mucky mud everywhere you can see.  BLEACH is a needed item.  BLEACH, please send BLEACH!!!  There is also a profound need for cleaners of all kinds, rubber gloves, mops, brooms, scrub brushes, sponges, rags, towels, paper towels or shop towels. Buckets, mops, mops, mops. and BLEACH!

Moving stuff around: If it has wheels, it can be used.  Bags, backpacks, luggage – anything that people without access to cars and gas can use to get around and get supplies around. Wagons and wheelbarrows, bikes, etc. have become necessary entities.

SENDING MONEY:

Of course groups like The Red Cross and other big names have been helping.

If you’re looking for smaller, more direct organizations to get involved with, I would suggest looking for grass roots agents.  The people-driven, community based groups are having a profound impact.  Local restaurants have been donating food and coffee – you could call a locally owned coffee shop in a hardhit area and offer to sponsor coffee for a day to relief workers.

My favorites are:

192 Ebbitts Street, Staten Island NY.  You could send Home Depot, Walmart, K-mart, or Visa/Mastercard gift cards to this address, with “care of Gina” or “care of Frank” on the envelope, and people who can help will be able to get in touch.  Another great contact point for grassroots work is a man named Mike “Loco” Hoffman – find him on Fb or on Twitter @TheMikeLoco.

The Unitarian Church of Staten Island: 312 Fillmore Street  New York, NY 10301; (718) 447-2204 has also been amazing.  Check them out on Fb: https://www.facebook.com/uucsi?fref=ts

Occupy Sandy has been an incredible force in organizing people and dispatching volunteers to where it’s most needed.

And of course, FDNY and NYPD have been helping around the clock.  This Fb group, FDNY Incidents, has been helping people meet needs as well: https://www.facebook.com/FdnyIncidents?fref=ts

And finally… THE HOLIDAYS

I’ll be working on a grassroots project we’ve dubbed “Sandy Claus” working to bring Christmas, Hanukkah  and the holidays to kids/families who’ve been affected by Sandy.  We’ll be working out ways to connect donors to those who could use some cheer.  Stand by in the next week or so for info on that idea to develop!  I will let everyone know.

…

THANK YOU so much to all who’ve shown support, interest, love… all your kind thoughts, prayers, donations and LOVE have gone so far down here.

I’ll check back in soon with more pics and with stories I’ve been hearing all week. 

the only feasible use for such an item is cleaning the teeth of an elephant.

What the HECK am I rambling on about? The final hours of prep are behind me and I’m all but ready to hit the road and head down to NYC and pitch in where I can to help with any Sandy Relief efforts.  I’m a little bit loopy (last night’s all-nighter is catching up with me, yes) and a lot excited.  The past week has been a really amazing time for me… and for humankind.   In just a few short days my idea to help a little with the Sandy Relief efforts going on downstate have evolved into a full out movement, with support coming in from so many directions.  Strangers and loved ones alike have been digging deep to give all that they can, trusting me to make wise choices and do as much good as possible, the most humanitarian bang for their buck.   And here we are… it’s just about go time, and I’m simply dazzled by the goodness of people and the love all over this.

I mean, I know it’s not all rainbows and puppies, of course.  I have kept in mind why on earth I’m doing all this in the first place.  Hurricane Sandy was a whopper.  And while she was slamming the coast, and in her aftermath, there’s been the entire gamut of human emotion left in her wake.  We’ve heard some stories in the news, on social media, and through the grapevine about people being pretty nasty to one another (and well, it’s election day tomorrow – so we’ve been hearing about the worst of humanity in smear campaigns for months now)… but right now I want to pay attention to the shinier side of that coin.

Tonight friends, this is a story about hope. 

(And even if it’s kinda wordy and long, I think it’s really a good read.)

This is a story about the kindness and heart of people who want to help, and who mean well, and who are willing to do good.

I really had NO idea what I was getting myself into when I volunteered to start pooling together donations.  Truth be told, I thought I’d be shipping some boxes downstate and that would be that.  But now as I know I have a car chock full of love, a new friend for the journey, plenty more to meet before it’s all said and done, and a race against time and mother nature to do as much good as we can – I’m just honored to be a part of this.

Skip is the man I was talking about up top.  He’s a saint.  He just so happened to be working his usual post in our local Fredonia Home Depot tonight when I came in with a long list of ideas and very little clue about the specifics of what I needed.  When I was on the phone asking silly questions about the kinds of masks and what type of broom, Skip decided I needed some help.  He grabbed a cart, did all the heavy lifting, and walked back and forth across that Home Depot with me so many times.  And when I made my ridiculous jokes, he had the wonderful decency to laugh.  He downright chuckled a couple times, like when I suggested splurging on the hot pink duct tape and letting the homeowners deal with it.  Heh.

After Skip helped me to find the best deals, and explained to me the subtle differences between hand cleaners and crow bars, and plastic vs wood handles on tools – I had to sprint out to the parking lot.

skip, helping me shop with good natured patience

skip is the best!

Because, simultaneously, as I was getting goods at Home Depot to help in the hard labor (all covered through donations, mind you) – out in the parking lot I was meeting up with an Angel.  Kathy, from a local Catholic church in town, went so far out of her way to help me.  I called around to churched today to see if any places had stores of clothing or blankets, and while mane did not – a lady who happened to be working at one such place offered to do me one better.  ”I can clean out my house when I get out of work tonight.”  She brought EIGHT  GARBAGE BAGS… yes, EIGHT full bags of winter clothing, boots, and more.  Kids sizes of all kinds, and stuff for teenagers and adults too.

Yup.  Kathy and her family are going down for Sainthood as well.

kathy, thank you so much! tell your kids we appreciate their work and generosity as well!

And this, she explained to me, was her just getting started!  She said she could do more with some extra time… (speaking of which, hold that thought, we have some ideas in the works for long-term projects to keep taking care of those hardest hit long after the media circus dies down and their lives are still left in pieces).

Skip and Kathy are just two of the amazing people who are making this journey possible.  The kind and generous owners, Edward W. Pagano, Jr. and his wife, of our Fredonia Sears hometown store – they’re sending me to Staten Island with 50 pairs of work gloves, and at least 30 dust masks, water bottles, and more.  Sears as a company already donated to Sandy, this is from two small-business owners in the community, just wanting to do their part to help.  The folks at Smith’s True Value in Irving donated a lot as well, gloves and masks too, plastic sheeting, and other supplies.

the first store to get into the spirit and donate to me

peeking into one of the bags from smith’s true value

My friends have been putting money into my paypal account, offering to help in any way they can.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE, Y’ALL.

And just being at the epicenter of so much love, hope, teamwork, and true humanity is honestly one of the most inspiring things I’ve ever experienced.  

I’m meeting a brand new friend tomorrow morning at about 6:00am.   Her name is Kate, and she’s going on this adventure with me! About forty miles from here she’s been experiencing the good of her own “village,” getting donations and all kinds of items ready to go as well.  She’s keeping me company on the ride down and then we’re rolling up our sleeves and getting to work.

Others have called to talk about rides if I go again, or more items I can bring back next time.  I’ve been asked where to send things to, and people have just been WANTING to help.  It’s all so… AMAZING.

Don’t get me wrong.  Hurricane Sandy and the destruction she’s brought to this state, the coastline, and our nation is just jaw-droppingly devastating.  We didn’t stumble upon a gold mine of warm fuzzy feelings unprovoked;  I’m sure that tomorrow as I set eyes on the aftermath for myself, it’s going  to take all this positive energy that’s been percolating to keep me going.  I’m sure there will be tough times to come, and for so many of our fellow brothers and sisters living in the thick of it all right now – they are in some of their darkest days.

All together though, we’ll help brighten things up.

With the thoughtfulness of the Skip, and the encouragement of Eddie (another Home Depot worker who was really kind and helpful, wishing us the best), with the love and nurturing of Kathy, and the warmth from Mary (a local church lady who’s donated some gorgeous handmade blankets for me to bring down)… the resourcefulness of Edward Pagano, Jr., his wife, and the folks at Smith’s True Value for finding so many items they could afford to spare, with the planning of my pal MJ who’s organizing street teams in Staten Island to get the work done… with all these efforts combined, and added to the countless other acts of love, giving, help, thoughtfulness, support, and hard work we are able to create our own force of nature.

home depot = success!

from handmade blankets to gas cans, tools, water, boots, and more – the buick is packed full of donations to hand out

We’re leaving very early in the morning, so I’ll just end things on a fabulous and inspiring note for now.

To everyone who has pitched in: THANK YOU, it means so much to me, and I KNOW it will mean so much to the countless lives we’re going to help as best as we can once we’re down there.  If you’ve been hard hit by the storm and you’re at your wit’s end… know that we love you, we’re thinking of you, and there are so many people – people you’ll never know and will never meet – that are doing all they can for you, and will keep at it until your needs are met and life as it should be, is restored. 

and here i am tonight, whizzing out of home depot – an excited (and yes, very very blurry) bundle of happy energy

Still interested?  We haven’t even left yet – gas and other costs are certain to come up.  Just simply wire me some funds via paypal using happyhippierose@gmail.com.  Any donations are appreciated, and I’ll make sure to post about how the money is spent and how much we’re able to do once we get into the hardest-hit areas.

Good night, God Bless, and tune back in to find out more about how this project all plays out!  I’ll post better pictures of what we’re brining when it’s light out tmrw, and of course you can always track me down on Fb or Twitter!

XOXO, HHR