"The good news is you're feeling stuff, you know?"

Today I watched the movie "Boyhood" in preparation for tonight's Oscar awards. It is a movie that was shot over a 12 year time span in which we get to watch the real life transformation of a boy, Mason, and his journey through his youth with divorced parents. It was impossible not to watch this movie without thinking about my own life and my boys own experiences at this point of their lives. While there are multiple relatable scenes throughout the film, the one that resonated most was when Mason was standing with his father pondering life's purpose shortly after a breakup with his girlfriend and right before he heads off to college. His father responds,  "The good news is you're feeling stuff, you know?" Earlier in the movie, Mason's mother proclaimed that her life had quickly turned into one life event after another. School, marriage, kids, divorce (times 3), dream job, kids graduating...and then her thoughts moved to her death as if the estimated 40-some years after her children graduated were to mean nothing. Life was more about moving from one event to the next without the "feeling stuff" as her ex had pointed out.

There is no question in my mind that Mason's dad was right on. It is the "feeling stuff" that allows life to have a sense of living a full life, no matter what our purpose may be. Maybe we may never even discover what our purpose is, but as long as we feel each moment in time, use each and every sense, realize the beat of our heart in that moment, and feel that greater presence of something much grander than ourself...maybe that is it. Like looking in my son's eyes and feeling his excitement when he tells a story. Smelling the chocolate before eating it. Breathing the fresh air and taking in the sites that surround one on a walk. Transcending inward and upward during prayer.

This year's DNR After the Shoe Hunt Party was not just an event. It was full of feeling- think of every emoji you have on your cell phone! For those in attendance, Tara's ability to share her story and teach us (as adults!) important life lessons was chalked full of emotion (You can watch it at http://youtu.be/73vC2Ipc_Fc). The shoe hunting stories, whether Kelly's "too many shoes but he didn't say clothes", Heidi's "Ronda's locked in the bathroom", or Laura's "deal from the Good Will only to get ripped off by the antique mall" beckoned joy. Surely, the friends, family, and atmosphere produced peace. The knowledge of wine and delicious food provided by Sharon Templeton yielded appreciation. And that we could help out an individual with a gift of love and the Chix 4 A Cause organization brought about such joy. An event? Sure...but so much more...with feeling.

Tara talked about "fighting like a girl". You, my good friends, have been "hunting like a girl"...prettier, with emotion, and with a greater purpose. Our efforts that evening allowed Tara and her family to receive  many gifts of love so they may take a family trip as well as have funding for other expenditures. Thank you so much.

To continue your support of Tara, please consider following her at www.caringbridge.org. You can also continue your support of Chix 4 A Cause (www.chix4acause.org) at many future events. And, as always, remember those people and businesses who donated their time and gifts to this wonderful night! Until next year...

Be well!
Paula

Food...the event...how we help.

Cancer…to me is a 4-letter word. Google describes it as “the disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body” and even “a practice or phenomenon perceived to be evil or destructive and hard to contain or eradicate”. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. While we know certain cancer development involves genetic alterations which some may think means they are doomed if in their family history, there is something called epigenetic markers that can give, even the strongest family history, hope. Epigenetics can switch genes on and off. They are influenced by age, the external environment and what we choose to do with our bodies. Thus, epigenetics provides a link between the environment, diet, and cancer development. For example, the food we eat either contributes directly to cancer prevention by preventing cells from abnormal cell division or could even contribute to it.  Take a cruciferous vegetable like broccoli or brussel sprouts (not laden in butter and salt). They contain sulforaphane that belongs to a well-studied group of anti-cancer compounds called isothiocyanates (ITCs). Cruciferous vegetables are packed with ITCs! A cancerous cell is also acidic. If your body is in a constant state of over-acidification, it becomes impossible for healthy cells to regenerate therefore, abnormal cell replication can occur. It’s why drinking soda and most “flavored drinks”, regular or diet, should have no place in your daily life in addition to a list of other acidic-causing foods. The good news- at anytime, genomic and epigenomic damage caused by exposure to cancer-causing agents such as toxins, free radicals, radiation, and infectious agents could be repaired if it occurs before abnormal cell replication.

This year, as has been in every year since the DNR Shoe Hunt began, we have a different theme to the night. We have a food and wine theme. Though our goal is to assist you in pairing your foods with the correct wines with the inspiring wine educator Sharon Templeton, we also hope to provide you with the 80/20 alkaline/acidic balance the research has suggested to keep your cells in a healthy state! That means lots of water and cruciferous veggies. And even some wonderful tea as a to-go thank you! We don't want you to leave acidified!!! We would love to see you there. We also hope you bring  some friends. If you have emailed or called me with 3 people coming with you, your $30 admission will be free!!!

After the tasting, the night will continue with our Shoe & Accessory Hunt Fundraiser Party all to benefit Chix 4 A Cause. Over the years we have been able to assist many people with the diagnosis of cancer with gifts of love. We are hopeful to make this as special as it has been in years past and maybe even more personal. We have heard the stories of how these gifts of love touch those with cancer. Their stories are clear examples of how, though it is true, cancer is evil, as Stuart Scott had said during his acceptance speech when he was awarded the 2014 Jimmy V Perseverance award at the ESPYs in 2014, “You beat cancer by how you live, why you live and in the manner in which you live. So live, live, fight like hell. And when you get too tired, [lie] down, rest and let someone else fight for you.”  We are hear to help in the fight as we are not afraid of a 4-letter word.

RIP Stuart Scott.