Tuesday's Wagie Ride. With no wagon. But in spirit.

Yesterday, Lee and Em hosted a virtual "Wagie Ride" to honor the memory of Tuesday Whitt...what an AMAZING idea. 

Where we didn't have a wagon, we took the opportunity to spend time with the kids, walking, playing, and despite their screaming and complaining, simply loving them. We went to a place called the "Kid's Kastle", that is covered in memories, and tributes, and donor plaques...the place just oozes with sentiment. And I took the opportunity to think more about Tuesday Whitt, as well as the many kids every year who live with, and die from this terrible disease.

And despite the sad thoughts, I also got excited again, at the thought of raising money, shaving my head again, and helping these kids. Once again I thank you for your donations, big and small, and I ask that those of you who have not donated to the cause please consider it. You have the ability to help some of these kids...even a small donation adds to reaching a cure.

How do you love?

I wrote this on the way home last night. My mom was scheduled for surgery today, but due to a somewhat ironic twist, her surgeon is sick. So now she has been bumped a week, until Friday 13th. I know. Don't say it. So while I am in Cancer mode, I'll just remind you all...to donate just a little would mean the world to some kids yet to have their lives rocked by a terrible disease. Please help. And to those of you who already have, I am humbled by your generosity and faith in me to put this money in the right hands.

Also!! make sure you go see what Lee and Em have planned for to honor Tuesday Whitt tomorrow...what an AMAZING idea.

---

How do you love?

My mom taught me how. She used her happiness, her pain, her youth and naivite, her age and experience, and she loved. The thing about men and love is, some feel like lesser men if they express it, even feel it. My mother forgot to teach me that lesson.

Instead, She described to me the beauty of a tulip, the good in my father, the decadence of a bar of sweet chocolate, the way a movie lifted her. She felt in her whole being these things that showed easily on her face. Then she did everything she could to describe what she was feeling, though I'm sure the words never reached the intensity of the beauty she felt.

As the years passed, as we all do, I found my own pain. Scarred by a woman, disappointed by a friend, leathered by life. It only took a few falls before responses were no longer cheerful, laughs were no longer plentiful, and the lines on my face my face and hands were the record of those who I felt had wronged me. Self-indulgent lines that, for a time, I made no attempt to ignore.

But that's the thing about love, and the real lesson my mother taught me. With the fundamental lessons of being ABLE to love, find love, and BE loved in place, it was only time that stood between me and the ability to amplify those lessons. And when the time was right, I opened my soul to another, and asked her to be mine. She gave me a daughter, and then a son. And as though unconsciously tapping my toes to music faintly rising, I was loving again.

Often I am ribbed for my feminine side, and there was a time when the jeers bothered me, but no longer. For I know what an unbelievable blessing I've been given...to feel, and to love. I'm a man of few talents, but this I can give my kids easily. Just by seeing it on my face, and loving.

I love you, Mom.

Missed you.

Finally headed home. Exhausted, burnt out. Plus, it's so damn dry here it feels like someone emptied a box of Triscuits into my nose.

A man just walked by where I'm sitting, and he was crying. Just walking, and crying.

I think I know how he feels.

LOL... No, I don't. Crying at the airport? What a sissy.

WW - My Toilet Phobia

Airport Bathrooms.


Just to make it clear, this is the #1 reason why I won't travel unless someone threatens me with my job. A "flight delay" doesn't just mean you don't get to take off on time, it means you are sentenced to indefinite usage of a public toilet. May God have mercy on your soul.


I want to encourage you to scroll down just a weeee bit farther to see the announcement I made yesterday...please help if you can.

Thanks again to Angie
for another ragin' Wordful Wednesday...

Also Thanks to 5 Minutes for Mom for "Wordless" Wednesday...I always have such a problem being wordless...

Tuesday's Tribute - Immediate and Dramatic Hair Loss

I awoke recently at 2am for no good reason as I do more and more these days, and discovered this post from MamaKat about yet another family who lost a child to Cancer.

Some of you may know that this subject is near and dear to my heart as I lost my cousin last year to Cancer, and my mom goes in this week for a single mastectomy to ensure a long life with many grandchildren.

Therefore, I choose this Tuesday's Tribute to make 5 statements.

1. There is not one of us that this disease hasn't touched.

2. I don't care who you are, you don't deserve cancer.

3. Kids REALLY don't deserve having to go through all the baggage that comes with this disease...surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, pain, nausea, the loss of their hair and nails...and worse.

4. The only thing that will lead to a cure is continued research.

and finally...my announcement:

5. On March 21, I will be shaving my head again in support of children's cancer research though the amazing national organization called St. Baldrick's.


Can I share with you a goose-bumpy story? Last year as we all gathered to shave our heads in empathy outside the medical center, our organizer motioned for us all to look up at the windows where the children on the oncology ward were standing and waving at us...one female doctor from the hospital was so moved by what was going on outside that she came out, walked to the front of the line, and asked us to shave every bit of the beautiful long auburn hair running down the length of her back. People cried, and laughed, and cheered, and gave everything they could to help try to stop one more child from having to go through a terrible ordeal.

This will be the second year I do this...last year I personally raised over $1600, and our venue, one of hundreds, raised over $60,000. And yes, today I am here to ask your help. There are a number of ways you can get involved.

1. You can join up, raise money, and shave your head like I do. Go here for details.

2. If you are trained, you could volunteer to be a Barber at one of the events.

3. Or if you are unable to participate in those ways, you can simply support me. $5, $10, $25, $100, whatever. EVERY BIT COUNTS. You can donate in your own name, or in someone else's, or even anonymously if you wish. Please visit my St. Baldrick's website here where you can contribute to my venue, see pictures from last year's shaving, and learn more about St. Baldrick's in general.

To Donate on the St. Baldrick's website with credit card, GO HERE.

To Donate Via PayPal, use the button below. Since PayPal funds can't be sent directly to St. Baldrick's, I have set up a PayPal account, where I will compile your contributions, and then use my own credit card to forward your donations to St. Baldrick's. What's more, since PayPal likes to take a piece of your contribution, I will supplement your contribution with my own funds to cover any PayPal fees, so your entire contribution gets to St. Baldrick's.

 
Tuesday's tribute is for shining your light on deserving people, things, heck even the UN-deserving!! I hope you all see this week's tribute as YOUR chance to help all those kids who are suffering from this terrible disease, as well as all those kids who WILL unless we continue the work to find a cure.

---

Yet Another Jay and Deb Production.
To participate in Tuesday's Tribute, Fill out a Mr. Linky below with your name and URL address to your Tribute. Need a details, or a button? Go Here.

A busy week...Great, but busy...

Hello beauties...and Tony...

Just a few updates today.

First, I wrote an article for ParentingPink.com about little girls and learning about money, and it is running this week. So rather than fill your eyes with my drivel here today, will you go see Elizabeth's site? She really has put together an amazingly professional site filled with great parenting information...at least...it WAS great until I got MY paws on it...go see.

Next, I am headed to Vegas for the week for work...no real time to play, just a lot of work and a few scary moments with whichever of you stalkers decide to follow me out there to profess your creepy love.
I know, wishful thinking. Jill Jill, don't disappoint me.
Sorry if I don't have a lot of time to read and comment this week...getting caught up with the 200+ blogs I love when I get back will prove to be a challenge...

Finally, there will be something special happening this week, starting with an announcement tomorrow during my Tuesday's Tribute. You see, I, like many of you saw what happened on Friday, when little Tuesday Whitt lost her battle with cancer. I'm planning a call to action, I hope you'll come see.