Le Monde de Fromage de Kate

I’ve been dreadfully remiss in posting. Yes, indeed.

I’m realizing that if I did a search on my site for that very phrase (“remiss in posting”) I’d probably get 563 hits. (Many thanks of gratitude to the Department of Redundancy Department for that statistic.)

It’s just that I’ve been so busy at Chez David & Julianne – doing VERY scientific slumber tests on their guest bed, generously eating all the home cooked healthy food proffered to me – you get the idea. It’s awfully hard work, as you can imagine.

Also, since I left my (BRAND NEW!!!!) camera at Senator Hatch’s office on LIVESTRONG® Day (Wednesday, May 16, 2007!) and have yet to have a chance to fetch it, David has been at my beck and command taking photos for me. I’ve developed a very streamlined system for this: I cry out, “Photographer – PHOTOGRAPHER – Please take a pictures of that cannon ball (or that jail or Peek-a-Boo Radley sitting by the gnomes or Peek-a-Boo Radley in the officers barracks or Peek-a-Boo Radley with the park ranger).” Okay – that’s not entirely true: Sometimes I do not say “please.”

I obviously need and intend to write all about LIVESTRONG® Day, as well as Chez David & Julianne (though I have to be VERY circumspect regarding that subject, as – remember – DAVID MAY HAVE TO KILL ME if I misspeak).

I should also write about Washington, D.C., Maryland (especially Baltimore, Catonsville – “Music City, Maryland,” and Ellicott City). I’ll get to it.

For now I’ll just provide one preview image of LIVESTRONG® Day:

Kermit & Kate, Utah Delegates, LIVESTRONG® Day 2007
Photo and Crane by Fred

In concurrence with my standard “KATE DETESTS AND ABHORS PICTURES OF HERSELF” protocol, I am not going to tell you which individual is me. I will, however, give you one hint: I am not African-American.

Thank you for proving that you were properly attired on LIVESTRONG® Day (more on that later).

Proof of LIVESTRONG®

I’ve decided that now’s not the time to explain how clever and attractive my little brothers really are.

But most importantly, Charles, always remember, especially on this, your natal day:
SO’S YOUR FACE!!!

My dear friend, Gayle (Kari’s sister), said it best, “Anyway, to know her is to love her…” I cannot imagine a single person who could disagree with that statement.

On May 15, 2007, after a long but uplifting day of cancer advocacy training in Washington, D.C., for LIVESTRONG Day® (which was Wednesday, May 16, 2007), I read my email. There was a message from Gayle. It said, in part, “I just wanted to let you know that my fantastic and awesome sister, Kari, has finished her fight with cancer. I will miss her so very much.” Indeed, everyone will miss her.

Kari Kay Terry Mason

March 27, 1968 – May 14, 2007

I thought about Kari and her family a lot on LIVESTRONG® Day. And it couldn’t have brought the “mission” of our efforts into sharper focus. I was part of an advocacy group from all over the country fighting for all stages in the battle through and against cancer: Education, screening and treatment FOR EVERYBODY WHO NEEDS IT, as well as survivorship care, and, if the battle reaches an untimely conclusion, end-of-life care.

Thank you so much, Kari, for being such an inspiration in life and even beyond. Your legacy will continue to motivate and encourage people with your radiant and extraordinary spirit.

If you’d like to read more, please refer to the following:

• Kari’s obituary in The Deseret News
• Kari’s obituary from The Daily Herald.
• Kari’s obituary on Senicare.com.
• Please visit The Kari Mason Fund website:
  

  Kari was a unique individual with a sparkling personality and a selflessness that somehow intensified as her pain increased and her physical condition deteriorated.

  In lieu of flowers, Kari’s family would appreciate donations through this site to help pay medical expenses and support the future needs of her miracle daughter, Ellie.

• When you visit The Kari Mason Fund, please follow the link from “Her story” to a wonderful article about Kari and her family, “Live Like You Were Dying,” featured in Wasatch Woman.

UPDATE, 9/13/2009: It seems that the links to the Kari Mason Fund are not functioning. I’ll check with her family and see if this charity exists any longer.

The link to “Live Like You Were Dying is also non-functioning.”

UPDATE, 11/17/2009: The Kari Mason Fund no longer exists.

The aforementioned article, “Live Like You Were Dying,” is no longer online. I have, however, requested and received a hard copy from the Wasatch Woman that I will scan and post as soon as possible, as well as a follow-up article about her family from July/August 2008 that they graciously sent as well.

A few months ago I purchased these shorts from the Lance Armstrong Foundation Store:

I show them to you now, because they expose far more of my “legs” than ANYONE will see in public. And probably not even in private; they are my SECRET shorts. One may ask why I purchased them. Well, they were on sale.

Before the peanut gallery starts yapping about how just because it’s on sale it is still not FREE. Yes, yes, I KNOW. Blah, blah, BLAH. I had my reasons.

First of all, I only like to wear all natural fibers (cotton, silk, viscose made of renewable bamboo…) OR magically technological, wicking, UV-blocking, bug-repellent fabric that gives one the ability to fly. True, I’ve not found any garb with that last quality, but I certainly have a great admiration for the others. The shorts pictured above are made of super-duper wicking fabric. Huzzah! I’ll omit any mention of the way I sweat when I’m sleeping that makes such qualities vastly desirable. Except that one.

However, there was something that did bother me just a little when I donned the things (and it was not an audience – I’d assiduously avoided that). Last night it came to me in a flash of not-so-pleasant nostalgia.

Take off the logos, turn the black into an obnoxious shade of blue (a wretched version somewhere between royal blue and ultramarine), turn the fabric into double-knit polyester and you have AN EXACT REPLICA OF MY JUNIOR HIGH PHYSICAL EDUCATION SHORTS. Okay, make them SMALLER, too.

Oh, the memories that brings back. The humiliation of group showers, the minuscule “towels,” the bright yellow double-knit polyester top that went with the shorts, the LONG yellow socks (we had to purchase the whole ensemble at a local sporting goods store according to “school colours” – at least I didn’t have to suffer the humiliation of going shopping with my Mother for my first “cup” – HAH, David and Charles), the “fun runs” (something they probably wouldn’t put hardened criminals through during prison yard time), and the fact that throughout the two years of my junior high career we did little “survey” classes of about three billion different sports – yes, I’ve played field hockey – and I was consistently mediocre at EVERY SINGLE ACTIVITY. Oh wow – we even bowled, did gymnastics (on that one I dipped down from mediocre into harrowing), and a veritable smörgåsbord of physical “recreation” entailing the hitting or throwing of some variety of ball. WAIT – I was an at least slightly better than mediocre swimmer (I’d had lessons).

I’m lost in a fog of reminiscence at this point that I cannot honestly describe as anywhere near enjoyable. In fact, it’s vaguely evocative of sulfur. I suppose that means that junior high was created by SATAN. And I’m only being slightly facetious.

I realize that after junior high (free of the ghastly fetters of the devil?) I played a little volleyball, basketball and softball and maybe improved a TAD, but if I were now to attempt any of the aforementioned activities I would – how shall I say it? – stink up the house. Every time I go bowling, for instance, though please cut me some slack in that I go very rarely, I get worse and worse. I’m downright DANGEROUS now, come to think of it. You have NO IDEA how relieved I am that Emma did not suffer any permanent brain damage from a particularly memorable bowling outing during with I laid her out FLAT with my back-swing. I’m not going to explain the whole thing now or I’ll weep (again). Just know that now, eight or so years later, in spite of my little “faux pas,” she’s exceedingly brilliant. Maybe I knocked something into place.

Well, I’m going to set aside the lasting traumas of my pre-teen years. And my teen years. And some years after that. Let me just inform you that the proceeds from EVERYTHING you buy from the Lance Armstrong Foundation Store directly benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation (and they are having a BIG sale at the moment). That is one of the reasons I have such a wide array of LIVESTRONG® paraphernalia, including the item I’ve pictured here, to be known henceforth as “my junior high LIVESTRONG® shorts.”

Farewell, Sweet Little Lark (1990 – 2007).

I’m sorry if I let you hurt longer then was necessary. I didn’t know you had breast cancer. I didn’t know you were dehydrated, too, on top of your other symptoms because you kept using the “pee pads.” I’m so very sorry.

This week I’ve done some things I never thought I’d have to do alone. Thank you for putting up with what was undoubtedly at least partially misguided attempts to minister to your needs. Bless you for seeming unfazed in the car as we drove to the vet and as they examined you. I came back after they put the IV in and I held you while they injected the medication into the tube. You were still so calm; you must have been hurting. Your tiny head dropped right to my shoulder. It was so fast; I found great solace in that. I’ve seen death, but I’ve never been through that experience before.

I believe you had a good life. Rest in peace, wee little puppy.

I found out today that my great-uncle Ron received a preliminary cancer diagnosis – evidently widespread – insidious and everywhere. He’s only seventy-two.

This is the man who, among so many generous acts throughout life, battled a vicious gander for us when we were kids (I’m not kidding – the thing was savage beast). After herding it away from my cousins (technically they’re my Mother’s cousins, but we were all the same age, so we never could figure out if they were “removed” or whatnot), my siblings and I, the blasted thing continued its mad onslaught. So Uncle Ron, in defense of life and limb, grabbed the thing by the neck and started to swing it about towards the pond we were standing by. Surprisingly, the momentum took him all the way around in a circle which ended with a perfect backwards landing (what’s the opposite of a belly flop?) by Uncle Ron and the Gander INTO THE DRINK. It has to be the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. We’ve said for over twenty years now that if we had footage of the whole spectacle that we’d have won a “funniest videos” show hands down.

All our love, support and good thoughts are with you, My Idahoan Extended Family. I will honour you, too, Uncle Ron, on LIVESTRONG® Day from our Nation’s Capitol. It’s no doubt an honour on which you’d pass. And I certainly would opt for a shorter list (okay – a nonexistent list) of those who I love who are battling, who have survived or who have succumbed to cancer.

Henrike Hirsch (which I presume rhymes with “cherry” auf Deutsch, co-founder of the LIVESTRONG® European Cycling Team, an International collaborative fundraising endeavor raising funds for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, now has her very own website, Rise to the Challenge:

Henrike, a cancer survivor herself, has raised money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation for five years. This is also her second year as a International Mentor for the LIVESTRONG® Challenge in Austin. Here she as as International Mentor (she has THE WHOLE WORLD in her hands):

Henrike is the ONLY One Brave Enough to Wear Yellow

This year, as part of her fundraising effort, she is asking who possibly can to donate $5 to her campaign (in honour of her fifth year as an LAF fundraiser). Please consider donating this nominal amount to a very worthy cause.

And don’t forget Mic! This is team effort. Please remember that we need you as a a link in the chain.

Go HENRIKE!

Ah yes – Henrike also speaks almost perfect English – she even studied a year in Wisconsin – CHEESE-land – and seven thousand other languages (CURSE these multi-lingual Ìber-brainiacs!!! In a nice way, of course). Furthermore, she is DEUTSCH, which is SUPER TOLL!!! If that doesn’t mean what I remember it means, then forgive me; I recollect that it’s a high compliment (something along the lines of “cool”). If not, just let me know, Henrike!

What will I be doing on LIVESTRONG® Day 2007 (May 16, 2007)? Judging from the video below, I will be standing with a group of about two hundred people wearing yellow t-shirts (I TOLD you free T-shirts) behind Lance Armstrong who will be at a podium speaking with great intent, the Capitol rotunda visible in the background. Amen.

Now I must apologize to Mic, because I was to include the following video in the post that announced our www.WeMustAct.org site launch. Whoops. But here is is NOW:

Music Video for Maybe Tonight, Maybe Tomorrow

The link for this song is also in my sidebar. ALL proceeds from the its sale (through iTunes) go to benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation. I know it’s not expensive, but those dollars add up. And in case you didn’t know, you can “gift” songs on iTunes. There’s a little button below the “Buy Album” button that says “Gift This Music”; you pay, and someone else gets the credit to download it (I believe that’s how it works).

Okay – back to LIVESTRONG® Day 2007. Provided on the Lance Armstrong Foundation website are some great ideas for events that you could promote locally in order to honour LIVESTRONG® Day 2007.

LIVESTRONG Day Local Event Ideas

Below are several ideas for LIVESTRONG Day events and activities to implement in your local community on Wednesday, May 16, to help make cancer a national priority.

1. Wear yellow on LIVESTRONG Day and encourage your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers to do the same. Official LIVESTRONG clothing and merchandise can be purchased online at www.store-laf.org. Proceeds from the LIVESTRONG Store benefit the LAF.
3. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper about the issues cancer survivors face and the need to make cancer a national priority.
5. Ask people to stand with Lance and sign a petition to help make cancer a national priority. (Additional materials will be provided to incorporate this activity into your event.)
7. Gather a group and deliver LIVESTRONG wristbands to elected officials in your local community and educate them about cancer survivorship issues.
9. Hold a candlelight vigil in honor of cancer survivors in your local community.
11. Have a local priest, minister or rabbi hold a survivorship spiritual ceremony at a local place of worship.
13. Organize a group to volunteer at your local cancer hospital/clinic or other cancer-related organization.
15. Hold a cancer survivorship rally at a local park, your state capitol or other municipal building.
17. Coordinate a parade in your community honoring local cancer survivors.
19. Dedicate a local park or garden to cancer survivors.

If you have additional LIVESTRONG Day event ideas to share, send an email to livestrongday@laf.org.

There are also wonderful ideas for activities that specifically target the participation of young people:

Ideas for LIVESTRONG Day Events and Activities Involving Youth

Educators across the country inquired about LIVESTRONG Day events and activities in schools. Here are a few ideas to encourage youth participation on LIVESTRONG Day.

1. Encourage all students to wear yellow on Wednesday, May 16, as a show of support for people affected by cancer. Also encourage them to wear a LIVESTRONG wristband. Students also can create a linked wristband chain (made of yellow construction paper) to show support for local cancer survivors.
3. Have students prepare a presentation on Lance Armstrong, the mission of the LAF, and the needs of cancer survivors and their loved ones.
5. Hold a penny drive on LIVESTRONG Day and donate all proceeds to the LAF.
7. If you have a child or teacher with cancer at your school, invite a local oncology nurse or social worker to explain the cancer experience and answer questions.
9. Create a wall to pin descriptions of what LIVESTRONG means to each student. It can also be turned into a photo memory board/wall in honor of or in memory of someone with cancer.
11. Ask students to create artwork or cards that can be given to a local pediatric oncology unit or a child/teacher with cancer at the school.
13. Do a report on a book written by a cancer survivor or a book that addresses an experience with cancer. Here are some recommendations:

• LIVESTRONG: Inspirational Stories from Cancer Survivors from Diagnosis to Treatment and Beyond by the Lance Armstrong Foundation now available in the LIVESTRONG Store.
• It’s Not About the Bike by Lance Armstrong and Sally Jenkins
• Every Second Counts by Lance Armstrong and Sally Jenkins
• Here and Now: inspiring Stories of Cancer Survivors by Elena Dorfman and Heidi Schultz Adams
• No Boundaries: A Cancer Surgeon’s Odyssey by LaSalle D. Leffall, Jr. M.D.
• Voices from the Edge by Michael Hays Samuelson
• The Link to Beating Cancer: The Real Life story of a teenage cancer survivor by John Link

These things are not difficult. Last LIVESTRONG® Day, in addition to “Blogging Against Cancer,” I handed out LIVESTRONG® wristbands to completely random strangers as I ran errands. Some of them put them right on and seemed genuinely touched. Others seemed a little confused, but I did my best to explain. It was worth it.

IMPORTANT: If you want a LIVESTRONG® wristband BUY IT FROM AN AUTHORIZED SOURCE. Right now, I believe that is ONLY through the LIVESTRONG Store. Nike held an approved campaign during which they donated one million dollars to the Lance Armstrong Foundation and raised an additional five million through sales of wristbands a
t their stores. However, their website now directs people to buy them directly from the LAF. Please DO NOT buy LIVESTRONG® wristbands through any of the myriad Internet sites that sell them (usually at inflated prices). They are profiting – illegally and contemptibly – from the sale of an item that should directly benefit cancer research, cancer support, cancer treatment and cancer advocacy through the Lance Armstrong Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Believe me, I wrote many an angry letter to vendors who were selling the wristbands at a inflated price. Their response was that the money that it cost them to SUPPLY their endeavors went into the charity coffers. I countered that if they were so generous, they should donate ALL the money to the cause. I also pointed out that they were violating copyright infringement laws, etc. I scared a few. Unfortunately, there were too many wretched, greedy vendors for me to make much of a difference. So, at this point, I will merely say PLEASE purchase them through the correct channels. If you really, really want one and don’t think you can afford to order some (as you buy them in batches of ten) I will GIVE you one. This is a first come, first serve offer. I will even mail them, as they are small and light.
LIVESTRONG®!!!

About a month ago I applied to be a delegate for my state to attend LIVESTRONG® Day in Washington, D.C. Well HUZZAH and GREAT CELEBRATION is in order! My application was accepted and I’ve been invited to participate in LIVESTRONG® Day as a representative of Utah. I doubt that I’m the ONLY delegate from Utah, as my application, I decided in retrospect, made me sound slightly CRAZY, though qualified in many respects. They would probably want someone else around from the state to mitigate any insanity.

As delegates we’ll attend a day of advocacy training on May 15, 2007. Then, on LIVESTRONG® Day 2007 – Wednesday, May 16, 2007 – we will meet with our respective Senators and Representatives to share our stories and to share to “urge Congress to support legislation that benefits the cancer community.”

I would like to solicit ideas from anyone with a vested interest in cancer-related issues. Please let me know what issues you’d like be discussed in Washington and will do my best to accommodate you (unless you propose that I go and petition for “National Wear an Armadillo as a Hat Day” – it may already exist, anyway – as a turophile I was relieved to find that “Cheese Sacrifice Purchase Day” and “Moldy Cheese” day BOTH exist – July 29th and October 9th, respectively – and that’s despite the fact that we have an official dairy MONTH and a cheesecake day…). ‘Kay. I should probably get back to the issue and hand.

So, what can you do from home that will help this worthy cause? I would FIRST suggest a lovely donation to the LIVESTRONG® European Cycling Team (not JUST for Europeans, remember – and it turns out that you needn’t be a cyclist either – you can run or walk – or stay home and feel ever-so contented about supporting such a good cause):

The Lance Armstrong Foundation provides the airfare and hotel accomodations for all LIVESTRONG® Day delegates, and the registration fee is fairly nominal (and I am applying for a scholarship for that fee). AND I do believe there is FREE T-SHIRT involved! Because my expenses will be minimal (and you COULD assist me with those costs by buying cheese and books, etc. from my affiliate sites on my right-hand sidebar…), I have committed myself to the larger fundraising effort for the LIVESTRONG® European Cycling Team. I love the fact that it is an International collaborative effort, and if we can reach the lofty goals set by the team, IMAGINE what that money could do for cancer research, treatment and advocacy!

Anyhoo, as my voice will be heard on Capitol Hill, I really would like to express the collective concerns of our community, this state, the US and yes, even the world – while I have this unique opportunity. Otherwise, I might just try and filibuster something for the hell of it.

Oh – David and Julianne? I’m coming to visit you right after LIVESTRONG® Day. SURPRISE!

Now ASHLEY, if you could just get some major grassroots advocacy event going in Kansas so I could get free airfare, I’d REALLY appreciate it. It would make visiting a lot easier…

I forgot an important detail about the LIVESTRONG® European Cycling Team, which endeavors to raise money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation: Not only can you donate money to support the team (pretty, pretty PLEASE – seriously – $10, $5 – $1.75 – ANYTHING makes a difference – and thank you so much for what has come in so far):

BUT, you can also JOIN the team. Here’s some info from the Team Page:

This is the team for you if you’re European, you have European roots or you just want to have fun riding in a team rather than being on your own. You don’t have to be a brilliant athlete to ride with us- the only requirement we have is enjoying yourself while making a difference in the fight against cancer and celebrating the Livestrong idea during the Challenge weekend.

Please support our team as we make a difference in the battle against cancer with my participation in the LIVESTRONG Challenge, which benefits the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

The Lance Armstrong Foundation inspires and empowers people affected by cancer. The LAF believes that unity is strength, knowledge is power, and attitude is everything.

I am a “Euro-mutt” by ancestry, as is almost everyone I know, and since neither being European nor having European ancestry are a requirement anyway, everyone qualifies for the team!

I, myself, have pledged to assist Mic in reaching his goal of raising $25,000 (USD) for the team (and that isn’t just because I’ve not ridden a bicycle since I was fourteen – wait – I road a tandem bicycle a decade or so ago…). But fundraising and building a team are both part of of Mic and Henrike’s venture.

And now that I’ve brought up the athletic option, wouldn’t the tired and arthritic demographic (of which I’m a part) find it easier to support this invaluable cause by following a few simple computer links? Okay, I’m not trying to discourage you if you are a motivated cyclist, I’m just saying that we can ALL take part in the Ride for the Roses!