Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Monday, September 21, 2009

Random stream of thought

My husband's mother died about three and a half years ago from pancreatic cancer. I've never had the privalege of meeting her. I'm often conflicted and sad that she missed our wedding and she doesn't get to be a part of our life and the milestones that will come.

With Patrick Swayze passing last week, some of these feelings and my own grief/loss resurfaced. I'm still contemplating reading his memoir or finding a pancreatic cancer research center to support. I heard that pancreatic cancer can be genetic and can show up through generations of families, which TERRIFIES me.

A news article I read about him had a quote from his memoir. It really touched me. I don't put a lot of stock in celebrity relationships, or expect any sort of genuine expressions of affection from them. However, Patrick and his wife met in their late teens and remained together until his death. It moved me. He wrote of his wife: “How grateful I am that you chose to love me,” he writes of wife Lisa Niemi. “I know that because of you, I've found my spirit. I saw the man I wanted to be. You are my woman, my lover, my mate and my lady. I loved you forever, I love you now and I will love you forever more.”

Beautiful isn't it?

Female Genital Mutilation

There was a great article in the Global Post on Saturday about female genital mutilation. Several of the Scandinavian countries are taking some drastic steps to protect girls from some of these dangerous, traditional practices. I think this is a great first step.

Click here to read the whole article: Scandinavia fights female circumcision

Tuesday, September 8, 2009