A little Henrike update. This is part of an email she sent me the other day. I debated about splashing it on the world-wide web without permission and decided – HELL, YES!

Okay, this is getting ridiculous:

I had a LIVESTRONG Army booth at a regional cancer hospital, where I talked about the whole LIVESTRONG movement and gave away yellow bands when I suddenly realized that someone stole most of my LIVESTRONG magnets, buttons and wristbands. I had about 100 wristbands, 10 magnets and tons of buttons and they’re all gone, can you believe that? Never mind that I received the wristbands for free. I planned on raising some more money with those and they are all gone, now. I can’t believe those people! I was thinking about filing a report with the police, but they pretty much told me that they didn’t have any hope of them finding the thief, since I didn’t see him/her.

This is just wrong.

I’m sorry, Henrike, but I just want people to understand what you’re up against. Forgive a crazy lady? And in all fairness, to anyone reading this, I should tell you that after that previously quoted section in her email Henrike promptly tried to balance it out by giving me some positive news and, as always, generous encouragement.

So remember: You can give to a WONDERFUL cause (the Lance Armstrong Foundation) through an INSPIRING source (DUH – HENRIKE – click HERE to donate – or HERE – or, if you prefer, HERE) and she can actually go to the LIVESTRONG™ Challenge. She IS the International mentor, after all. And time is running out. I’m not harping am I? I don’t want to nag, but it is important… VERY important.

I know, “Shut up, Kate.”

The day before yesterday, Lance Armstrong officially announced his return to professional cycling. The Lance Armstrong Foundation made this announcement:

Lance Ends His Retirement to Promote Global Cancer Awareness

Lance Armstrong has confirmed he will return to professional cycling in order to raise awareness of the global cancer burden. This year alone, nearly eight million people will die of cancer worldwide. It’s now time to address cancer on a global level.

This is amazing and inspiring news to so many. It’s exciting! However, though it may be hard to believe, there’s a downside to this scenario. Most prominently, the “Doping” gossip is already back in full force. Perhaps not such a big deal in the States, but in Europe the talk gets pretty vicious.

And that’s where I introduce (well, re-introduce), LIVESTRONG European Challenge Mentor and LIVESTRONG™ Local Army Leader Europe, Henrike Hirsch. For over six years Henrike has been a fundraiser for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. She has raised money for the LAF in hope for cancer survivors like herself and in fond memory of loved ones lost to this horrible disease. Please bear in mind that while all this money benefits what is undeniably a good cause, NONE of it will be spent in Henrike’s home country of Germany. In good faith, she is spreading awareness in an atmosphere of fear and silence.

She faces challenges that we who try and raise awareness and/or funds in the States will never meet; complete strangers getting in her face and shouting foul invectives – even telling her that she’s “killing people,” threatening and insulting emails – perhaps other things she has been too humble to mention. It is completely baffling to me. You couldn’t meet a nicer person and you couldn’t ask for dedication to a more deserving cause. But this is, sadly, the truth.

Here’s another reality that breaks my heart. Henrike has been the LIVESTRONG™ European Challenge Mentor for three years and if she doesn’t get some funds quickly, she will miss the Austin Challenge. Please bear in mind that she has to find a way to finance ALL her travel expenses, and the money she raises to qualify to be part of the Challenge (being a mentor doesn’t get her any automatic privileges in terms of attending the Challenge) all goes to benefit the LAF.

So here’s the point (Why must everyone always doubt that I HAVE one?): I strongly recommend donating to the Lance Armstrong Foundation – I having nothing but the highest regard for the amazing work the Foundation does – and I have a WONDERFUL way for you to do it. Please help Henrike get to the LIVESTRONG™ Challenge. It’s easy. Just click HERE. OR, you can click on the picture below:

Pretty please? And remember, if you haven’t a lovely thousand dollar donation just sitting around, do not forget that EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS. Let’s say it together, “EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS!!!” Sorry, that was shouting; I get a tad over-excited.

Every little bit helps…

Please don’t miss an amazing event that will play tonight on all three major networks, Stand Up To Cancer.

Read what Doug Ulman, Lance Armstrong Foundation CEO/President, has to say about the broadcast:

Please join me by tuning in this Friday, September 5, at 8 p.m. (EST) to catch Stand Up To Cancer on ABC, CBS and NBC. This first of its kind one-hour telecast will feature celebrities from film, television, sports, journalism and music coming together to raise money for cancer research. Lance Armstrong Foundation supports this effort to raise awareness and funds for the cancer fight and Lance Armstrong will participate in the telecast.

Inspired to act by their own personal experiences with cancer, the Stand Up To Cancer team recognizes that we can no longer rely on the current system alone to give us the breakthroughs we need.

They are calling on the public to help take matters into our own hands, investing in a revolution that will change the way scientists and clinicians work to understand and treat cancer. Stand Up To Cancer is more than a rallying cry. It is a galvanizing force created to urgently move cancer research forward.

The money raised during this event will go toward building “Dream Teams” made up of scientists, clinicians, technicians and other experts who will focus on a specific cancer problem. Funds will be administered by the American Association for Cancer Research, the largest scientific organization in the world focusing on high-quality, innovative cancer research.

I am inspired by what Laura Ziskin, movie producer and cancer survivor, has put together with her team at Stand Up To Cancer and I know this will make a huge impact.

For more information on Stand Up To Cancer please visit Stand Up To Cancer, The AACR (American Association for Cancer Research), or coverage on the Lance Armstrong Foundation site.

Henrike beat me to the punch. And it’s lovely punch to boot. Delicious. (?)

BUT, something this compelling cannot suffer from over-exposure. Anyhoo, I had planned, as it is only fitting, to follow angels with angels.

I’ve mentioned a very little about the LIVESTRONG Summit in July besides that fact that it was amazing – and that it was. As I’ve said, I was thrilled to finally meet the One and Only Amazing Henrike in person. Hmmm. That makes her sound a little like a circus act, but I mean it in the most sincere un-carnival-like way.

Now imagine what it was to meet person after person – each ALMOST as amazing as Henrike (now she’s my Soul Sister so she remains the MOST remarkable), but it’s hard to suffer in comparison. I saw Vicky Fletcher again. I never took the chance to talk about how she rescued my spirits and my hope on LIVESTRONG Day and the debt I owe her for myself and my family. But I’ll have to get back to that.

So I met person after person – there were inspiring stories, amazing accomplishments and there are wonderfully caring organizations – it was almost overwhelming. And then I met a force of nature. An bona fide, unstoppable force of nature. I’ll put it this way: There were over a thousand people at the Summit. If Jonny Imerman did not meet every single person there I’ll eat my hat (the figurative one that I always wear, naturally). Here’s a brief bio of Jonny from the site of the organization he started himself:

Jonny Imerman is the founder of Imerman Angels. While fighting cancer at 26 years old, Jonny had loving support from family and friends, but never met anyone his age who was a cancer survivor. He wanted to talk to someone just like him, someone who truly understood and remembered – someone who had already beaten the same type of cancer.

Today, Imerman Angels provides that gift for cancer fighters. Imerman Angels introduces each cancer fighter to one survivor who is the same age, same gender, and someone who has already beaten that particular type of cancer. A cancer survivor would be an angel – walking, talking, living proof to inspire the fighter that he/she can beat cancer. This was the beginning of Jonny’s vision. In 2003, Imerman Angels was founded.

Though Imerman Angels started in and is based in Chicago, their database has expanded so that they can connect cancer fighters and survivors “across the United States and the world.” Please visit their website for a wealth of additional information. And if you are a cancer survivor or a cancer fighter, PLEASE JOIN.

Here, too, is a must-read letter from Jonny and a brochure for the organization.

I’ll finish with more from Imerman Angels:

Jonny Imerman…is a survivor of testicular cancer. During his own chemotherapy, he noticed how many people fought cancer without family, friends, and other forms of support.

He created Imerman Angels so that no one would have to fight cancer alone. The cancer survivor would be an angel – walking, living proof that the fighter could win too. What an amazing connection.

What an amazing connection, indeed.

I’m having a very difficult time deciding what to tackle next (I have a mental list – and yes, it’s Kate-typically lengthy). I’m defaulting to CUTENESS. It’s my prerogative as the Aunt who only has Kitten Children.

Oh, my NIEPHEWS. They keep growing, and GROWING and officially number A HALF DOZEN now! It’s mind-boggling. Let’s start with the eldest and youngest first.

Sarah, who I saw “ripped untimely from…[the] womb,” will be twenty (TWENTY) in November. Good honk. Wow that’s a blast from my OWN past. Don’t know quite what cobwebbed recesses of my brain I have just accessed. Good honk?

Beautiful Isabela Sage was born on May 9, 2008 and joined the family of my Baby Brother and my Baby Sister-in-Law a few days thereafter. She is so sweet and lovely and she has SKILZ (if you’re lucky, my Mother might list them for you in an email sent from HER VERY FIRST EMAIL ADDRESS). Only the GRANDCHILDREN (indirectly, at this point) could actually get my Mother truly online.

I love this next picture so much. It’s actually one in a series (that I’ll get on Flickr soon, I promise). An Engineer, a seven-year-old (slightly chocolaty), and a JV Ballroom Dancer. Which is which???

In the middle of July as much of the family as possible took some time at a Midway Homestead Condo to celebrate my Dad’s “retirement” from Brigham Young University (he’s a Professor of Chemical Engineering). Oh – and “retirement” SO belongs in quotes. He won’t stop. He’ll enjoy the “emeritus” title. And evidently he’s taking great delight in the fact that he will not be required to attend faculty meetings (seriously). But he won’t stop. He loves what he does. (Though I assert that it’s what he OVERDOES.) Befitting the occasion he had FANS.

I like the contrast in the following images. Who is the most chocolaty? The youngest? Nope. He only has the tiniest speck on his face.

And when I came back from the LIVESTRONG™ Summit in Columbus, Ohio, Paisley was already there. PARTY!.

It’s important to look to the left in that picture. That chocolate-laden finger is actually the source of most of the “decorations” on Paisley’s face (ASHLEY!).

ALL my niephews are hysterically funny, and I could go on and on and ON (and on) all about their cleverness and such, but I won’t. Not, at least, until we get the chosen group shot of all six taken late this July. Ha.

It’s true that I had to use my thesaurus to find that titular word. For those lacking this implement, “salmagundi” is a synonym for “mélange.” Still lost? Okay then – it’s also akin to “gallimaufry.” “Farrago?” Shall I go on? Didn’t think so.

Needles to say (repeat), SO much has happened in the last few months and I shall try to touch upon the important bits when I have a moment – the good, the bad, AND the ugly.

OOOH – this one is impressive: This summer I was the Event Coordinator for the Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis Short Course [I'd link at this time to the corporation website, but somehow between this summer and last it has developed viral something or other and every time I think I've fixed it - well, I have NOT] for the third summer in a row, and this time I ARRIVED WITH MY OWN LUGGAGE – MY OWN PERSONAL TOILETRIES AND CLEAN CLOTHES AND SUNDRIES AND SUCH!!! It was a miracle. Yes, it was; you just don’t get it. It helps you avoid debacles such as this.

I’ve not called the paramedics on anyone in WELL OVER A MONTH. This is a good thing (and in a more profound sense than that Martha Stewart adage).

I’ve been out of town this month A LOT. On one leg of my journey, a secret foray to the Midwest, I was in a location at which they did not allow Internet (you know – a series of tubes) access to “social networking” websites. Sheesh. So instead of taking the opportunity to be truly productive I spent my time pouting about my inability to hurl cyber-bovines at my friends. Oh, yes.

Immediately thereafter I went to the LIVESTRONG™ Summit 2008 in Columbus, Ohio (home of THE Ohio State University). It was utterly and completely amazing. I shall definitely gush about that later. And cry bitter tears because I missed Dr. Sanjay Gupta. THE Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

BUT I did finally get to meet my wonderful friend, Henrike Hirsch (International LIVESTRONG™ Mentor for the Austin Challenge and Local LIVESTRONG™ Army Leader Europe) in person! She exceeded all expectations I had about her impressive amount of compassion, patience and class by putting up with my sleep-deprived, bizarre, Kate-typical antics without batting an eye. And bear in mind we were sharing a room.

She gave me a slew of lovely, tasteful gifts including classy tea and related accoutrements from her home region AND lovely sweets from the same region (including what we might call “licorice allsorts” in English – which I adore – and yes that’s one more reason I could easily be mistaken for an eighty-three-year-old woman) AND she made a handbag with my Utah LIVESTRONG™ Local Army Logo on it. But the pièce de résistance was, in my eyes, an authentic Wee Gnome auf Deutschland! Too, too cool. As is she. Obviously pictures of these items will follow soon.

When I returned home, the Internet was down. I was earnestly trying to troubleshoot the problem. I finally picked up the phone to call tech support. No dial tone. It took me a little while to impress upon my Father that if you have no phone, you have no Internet (when you are using STUPID DSL). Some day I’ll explain how I really feel about our ISP.

And in conclusion, I have joined the ranks of the uninsured but I get to wear two matching shoes now though I am forbidden to “jump” and I have to keep my medical “sandal” (alias: THE FLIPPER) readily accessible if my foot hurts.

WARNING: Too, too cute pictures of my niephews old and new to appear here any day now.

As I’ve not written a jot, smidgen or crumb in e’er so long, I’m wont to put enormous pressure on myself to try and capture everything (and I mean EVERYTHING – could you kindly feign surprise?) in a explicative yet succinct manner (yes, ha ha HA). Alas, the indescribable pressure!

Screw it.

Yes, I know. That was eloquent in its laconic yet – um – powerful composition. HAVEN’T YOU MISSED ME?????

I think I’ll leave you with this hors d’oeuvre for now to tantalize you in it’s festive Kung Fu fighting spirit.

Nope. It’s not me.

I did not want to admit defeat; I refused to give up until the last minute. But the truth of the matter is I have no LIVESTRONG™ Day venue. My last back-up turned me down today. I’m very disappointed, but several very wise women have pointed out that LIVESTRONG™ Day is not just one day. And I intend to try and manifest that idea.

Moreover, I encourage you to observe LIVESTRONG™ Day on your own. Wear yellow. Visit someone having cancer treatments to give them comfort and encouragement. Honour the memory of someone who succumbed to this wretched disease. Celebrate the life of someone who has made it through treatment.

AND, last but not least:

PLEASE go get some sweeties at Vicky Fletcher’s Cookies for a Cure Bake Sale.

• WHERE: In Front of The Orem Wal-Mart SuperCenter, 1355 S SANDHILL RD, Orem, Utah.
• WHEN: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

This one’s for especially for
Grandma Lee and Uncle Ralph.

I’m so grateful that your surgery went well, today, Uncle Ralph. And though I know it’s frightening for her, I’m glad that Grandma finally gets to go home on Friday.