A big thank you to all who supported Team Millie Mil this year as we took on the Race for the Cure. Every year this race takes place at the foot of The Philadelphia Museum of Art on Mother’s Day and it’s so amazing how many people come out to support the cause. It’s just as amazing to see how many people this disease has touched.

It’s my pray that one day I won’t have to get up at 4:30 am on Mother’s Day to pack up and head out this event. Believe me, I won’t be upset if I never have to see another child walking with their father donning a pink sign on the back of their shirt saying, “Walking in Memory of Mommy.”

But, this was also a day of celebration & inspiration! To see a sea of pink standing on the steps of the museum waiting to descend in their triumphant Survivors Parade, marching down those stone stairs with shouts and yells of victory. It leaves you speechless.

This year, our team doubled in size and our fundraising success did the same. I want to personally thank all those who helped us raise $600 this year.

• Anthony W. Trott Family
• Co-Workers of Charles Phy Sr.
• Edelene L. Carroll
• Eric & Renee Rapp
• Deneida Menefee
• F.S. Edmonds Elementary School employees and friends
• Georgia Ann Holmes-Durant
• Gina Kaiser
• Harriet & Leonard Middleton
• Jeanette McVeigh
• James Elliott
• James Humble
• John Holman
• Joyce Stroud
• Juan DeJesus
• Lynette David
• Mary Pace
• Michael Krasulski
• Molly Mclaughlin
• Robert Flanagan
• Sheilah Lewis
• Vicki
• and all those who gave from the heart

I would also like to thank my team, both old and new, for sharing their Mother’s Day with us.

• Mildred Staten (survivor!)
• Kenishia Cook
• Brian Chambers
• Mia Chambers
• Gloria Goodwin
• Diana Harrell
• Dana Jackson
• Charles Phy Sr.
• Kam-Marie Seghit
• Simon Seghit
• Paulette Wilder
• Brenda Williams
• Vanita WIlliams

What a day!

As you’ve probably heard by now, on Mother’s Day, May 9, 2010, the Susan G. Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure celebrates its milestone 20th anniversary! However, what you may not know is that I am taking this "milestone 20" one step further for my Race team, Team Millie Mil, billing 2010 as:

The ROARING Twenty !!

What does this mean? Simply put, I’m going to inspire, empower and unite every member of my team to ROAR throughout our community:

"Bring it on breast cancer… we’ve got the passion and the power to take you down!"

Like the original "Roaring 20s era," as Team Captain I’m setting out to change history — the history of breast cancer — by helping the Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure reach record-breaking levels of Race participation and fundraising.

I’d like you to—and, in fact, need you to — come along with me on this marvelous, fulfilling, life-saving journey as a member of my 2010 Komen Philadelphia Race team.

Doing so is very simple, yet can be one of the most personally fulfilling and honorable actions you take this year.  All I ask is for you to help me reach my 2010 Susan G. Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure fundraising goal of $250.

Yes, I know this is an aggressive goal, but it is no where close to being as aggressive as breast cancer–a disease that strikes one woman every three minutes in this country.  EVERY THREE MINUTES! Imagine, in the time it took you to brush your teeth this morning, a woman heard those dreaded words, "I am sorry but you have breast cancer."

It’s a horrible thought, and one that the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate is fighting to erase from every memory… and to prevent all future generations from even being aware of.  This is why I am asking for your support.

There are two ways you can make a difference.

Join my Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure team

Join me… join US… and I assure you, you will experience:

    * Fun times
    * Meaningful relationships
    * Personal fulfillment
    * A journey you will cherish
    * An opportunity you will look forward to year after year

The power of numbers is immense when it comes to ending breast cancer, which is why as Team Captain, I’ve set a very ambitious goal in terms of the size of our team and our fundraising total. With your help, we can do it — and in the process empower people everywhere, save lives, and help assure our future generations of a breast-cancer free world.

It’s easy for you to join the Race as a member of my team, so please, take a moment to do so now. The sooner we grow as a team and start our fundraising, the faster we can all progress to the ultimate Race for the Cure finish line—an end to breast cancer. Simply:

   1. Click on this link
   2. Register for the 2010 Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure as a member of my Team
   3. Set up your Personal Page
   4. Get started fundraising!

Donate To the Team

Give $1, give $10, $25 or more–whatever you can contribute is appreciated and critical, for when it comes to saving lives and assuring a hope-filled future for generations to come, every penny counts!

You can submit your donations on my behalf:

• Online (the process is simple and the site is secure):  Visit my Personal Page to make a tax-deductible donation online or track my fundraising progress.

Race day is May 9, 2010, Mother’s Day so, if possible, I would like to have all my donations collected and ready to submit by then. 

Thank you in advance for your support.  Please contact me if you have any questions about the Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure or my personal Race participation.

April 18, 2009 at 11:30 am, my mother finished her last Herceptin treatment.  This was the last treatment to help reduce the reoccurrence of the cancer.  It was a joyous morning and we were sad to see the ladies at The Joan Karnell Cancer Center at Pennsylvania Hospital for the last time.  It still amazes me that we have been travelling to the hospital every three weeks for the past year.  Wow!

She had a great group of people to help her navigate the treatment this past year and we are so thankful to them.

Dr. Mintzer was so great with each visit.  He listened to all concerned, told us some symptoms to be aware of so we wouldn’t panic when it happened.  He made sure we were at ease and knew everything about the treatments and the process.  He was great.

Millie was his right hand and also a great person to have on this journey.  She’s Dr. Mintzer’s nurse and we met with her for most of the earlier visits.  We got along great when we found out she and mom shared the same name.  Her beautiful personality is evident is the smile on her face.

The team over in the treatment center made the needle sticks and hours for treatments go by with a laugh.  They’re wonderful, bright personalities made coming every three weeks a fun trip.  A big Thank You to Jill, Michelle, Chrissie and the rest of the gang over at the treatment center.  You ladies are awesome!  Last but not least, thank you to the valet service.  Toure thanks for the conversations and great service.  We really appreciated it.

To all of you, from all of us, thank you, thank you, thank you!  May God continue to bless you and the work that you do.

 Sunday was a busy day for me.  Monday, my mother was scheduled for her three week treatment and my Aunt Gloria, who has been there from the beginning of mom’s journey, usually brings food and snacks for everyone.  This Monday I wanted to do something nice for her to let her know how much I appreciate her and her support.

She has been asking me for the past year when I would get the business up and going again because she needed her favorite, Patchouli Night scented lotion.  I wanted to surprise her with a bag of goodies, including new breakfast recipes I made, and her favorite body products.

The Creator Makes Herself Creative By Creating

So, Sunday I woke up with the intention of preparing breakfast, lunch and dinner for Monday’s appointment, and for my aunt to enjoy when she got home.  I found a few new recipes I liked, so I thought I would start there.  I also wanted to make shower gel for her.  I knew it wasn’t the lotion she craved, but I rationalized that the scent of the shower gel will soothe her until I get the rest of the ingredients needed to make the lotion.

I went about clearing off my work table and got everything set up to make the shower gel.  While putting things away, I discovered 4 unscented bottles of lotion I made a few months ago.  My brain went to work and I decided to try to incorporate the scent into the bottled batch.

I was able to get the lotion scented and poured, but wondered if it would set up correctly.  I was happy to find out, even if it took most of the day, that it did what it was supposed to do.  Yay!

Love The Way That Feels

I turned on the iPod and went to work.  It felt so good to be back in my creative mode.  For me, the process of creating is what makes the outside world go away.  It makes gray skies blue, and more importantly, it makes my soul sing.  I had to pause when I realized how much I missed making products that means something to the people who use them.  How much I loved to create products because I knew that someone was jonesing for them.  Requesting them.  It felt good to know what I was doing made a difference, even if it’s a minute one, in the flow of someone’s day.

I Love It When A Plan Comes Together

It took all day, but I got all the meals cooked, the shower gel and the lotion made, and her goody bag packed.  When we arrived at the hospital, I hugged her and handed her the bag containing the body products.  Because I went on all week about the surprise dishes I would bring, she naturally thought it was breakfast.  I stood back with a huge smile on my face while she looked in the bag, smiling and expecting this new oatmeal I told her about.  Then she took a closer look and quickly looked up at me.  “What’s this?”  She sniffed the bag and then sat down looking up at me confused.  “Is this what I think it is?”  She reached in the bag and pulled out a bottle of the shower gel.  If we were outside I’m sure she would have screeched at the top of her lungs.  She undid the cap and inhaled deeply.  “Oh yes!  I missed this scent sooo much!  Thank you niece! <scream again> Thank you Jesus for giving her this blend!”

Needless to say, when she realized there was more, and the more was four bottles of lotion, she was in full out happy dance mode.  She looked at her dry hands and happily put lotion on them.  “I knew I didn’t put on lotion for a reason this morning.”  She gave me another huge hug and said how happy she was that I was back.  Being caught up in the creative process and seeing her reaction made me feel the same.

Goody Bag

Once we found our space for the morning, I sat down and unpacked her reusable grocery tote goody bag.  Here’s what I had inside (I hope to have recipes up soon for some).

• bowl of no cooking oatmeal
• breakfast pinwheels
• bowl of Zucchini & Vegetable Pot
• bowl of Slow Cooker Cheese Pizza
• Carrot Cake Clif Bar
• Berries GoMega Odwalla Bar! (my favorite)
• bag of ingredients to make a popcorn snack I adapted
• various 100 calorie snacks
• a folder filled with healthy recipes
• fresh apple carrot juice
• bottle of Crystal Light Raspberry Ice
• 2 16 oz. bottles of Patchouli Nights shower gel
• 4 6 oz. bottles of Patchouli Nights body lotion

It was good to see her face light up with each surprise I pulled out.  When we parted ways at 8th & Market later that morning, she smelled her hands again.  “Mmm, I didn’t even have to reapply when I washed my hands.  They still feel and smell good.” 

I would say my plan was successful.

What’s your creative process like?  Share them in the comments below.

Photo by James Clark

My cousin Toni, who I affectionately call my twin, has come into town from Maryland this week. The occasion is somber, her father passed. She’s very heartbroken over the loss as you can imagine.

She called me at work to give me the news and asked if she could go see mom. Ah…of course! I know mom would love to see her. So, we met up after work and headed home.

Once she hit the door, the laughter never stopped. When we’re together it gets out of control. In a good way. The first thing she asked me to do, once I changed my clothes, was to take her to Paganos Steaks on Ogontz Ave.

They make the best massive beef and chicken steaks. If it’s a steak sandwich she wants, so it’s a steak sandwich she’ll get. I haven’t had a chicken cheese steak in about two years and now looked forward to the treat.

During the drive, I tried to explain that the shop makes a huge sandwich and it usually takes me a few days to eat it. She didn’t believe me.

We watched them make the steaks and then they placed her steak onto the foil to be dressed and wrapped. I looked at her and said, “That’s yours.”

I have to pause here and apologize. I was without a camera and missed a Kodak moment. Her eyes grew to the size of saucers and she last her words. The sandwich was massive! You cannot close this sandwich. Naturally, i laughed while she tried to answer the man behind the counter asking what she wanted on her steak sandwich.

It’s never a dull moment when we’re together. I’m happy I was able to make her laugh a little instead of crying.