Father Knows Best

Dear Blogger Family and Friends,

The Pink Crusader extends a warm welcome, big hugs and special salutations to the men in our lives, especially my husband Tony, and my dad (a.k.a. Papa Bear). Happy Father's Day 2007! Hope it is as wonderful as you are.

"Good parents give their children Roots and Wings. Roots to know where home is, wings to fly away and exercise what's been taught them."

-Jonas Salk

From time to time it's not uncommon for me to make reference to my beloved father, a psychiatrist and distinguished lifetime fellow, who has always been (and continues to remain) a good source of knowledge, support and guidance. I respect his advice and generally "go the mountain" several times a week. However, this wasn't always the case.

Growing up a free-spirited child of the 60's in rural Ohio, I was influenced by society's changing landscape which redefined everything from relationships to music to politics to religion to social norms. My views were idealistic and I sincerely believed that all change (moral, social, and political) would lead to the betterment of mankind. In other words, I was young, impresionable and my rose colored glasses were doing their job.

The drunken politician leaps
Upon the street where mothers weep
And the saviors who are fast asleep,
They wait for you.
Music & Lyrics by Bob Dylan - I Want You

Behind the scenes, my Christian parents were also doing their job to provide the stability, education and religious foundation needed to raise five children within a world that appeared to be crashing down around them. So there we were: a typical teenager bucking the establishment, sorting through anti-war propaganda, questioning the existence of God and trying to establish my place in the cultural revolution; and, in the other corner, my bewildered parents were patiently watching, praying and working to hold things together for me, my brother and three sisters.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'
Music & Lyrics by Bob Dylan - The Times They are A-Changing

Eventually, something had to give....and it did on May 4, 1970 at Kent State University, when the Ohio National Guard opened fire on unarmed students peacefully protesting the Viet Nam war, resulting in eight shootings with four fatalities.(Joe Lewis, the brother of a fellow classmate was among the wounded survivors.) Along with the tragic deaths, my idealistic glass bubble was shattered in the process. I grew up fast that day...and threw away the rose-colored glasses in the process. The "real world" was what it was, and not what I wanted it to be. It was time to stop irritating my elders and become a productive member of society.

It ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe
It don't matter, anyhow
An' it ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe
If you don't know by now
When your rooster crows at the break of dawn
Look out your window and I'll be gone
You're the reason I'm trav'lin' on
Don't think twice, it's all right
Music & Lyrics by Bob Dylan - Don't Think Twice, It's Alright

As I continued to mature, things didn't slip through the emotional radar as often as before. I began to notice (in subtle ways), that my opinions, responses and reference points were taking on overtones of my parents. Best part, I recognized it as a good thing and embraced the values that had been lovingly and patiently instilled in me. I realized that I liked being a responsible, compassionate and spiritual young-minded adult. In the end, my parents' love, guidance and support had prevailed, teaching me that it is possible to bring about change as an independent thinker rather than conform to empty rhetoric and building castles in the air.

May you grow up to be righteous,
May you grow up to be true,
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you.
May you always be courageous,
Stand upright and be strong,
May you stay forever young,
Music & Lyrics by Bob Dylan - Forever Young

So today, if you have the good fortune to talk with your dad, give him the spotlight and don't be in a hurry. Take the time to say all those things you have wanted to say, including "Thank-you" and "I'm sorry." And for those of you who have lost your father or remain at odds, look to your heart for closure and don't waste any more time feeling sad, bitter or resentful. You may only go through this life once, but you have many chances to get it right in the process. Don't let time slip away.

How many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head,
Pretending he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
Music & Lyrics by Bob Dylan - Blowin' in the Wind

Personal Note:
I'm happy to announce that the new web site is up and running, compliments of my son, Dalip. Please log onto www.pinkcrusader.org for the latest updates on "The Faces behind Breast Cancer," and to pre-order copies of the book. We will also provide details on the Launch Party, media coverage and book-signing events at this web location in the near future. As always, thank you for your ongoing support.

FYI:

From Judy Bloss - MASTECTOMY HOSPITAL BILL in Congress

A mastectomy is when a woman's breast is removed in order to remove cancerous breast cells/tissue. If you know anyone who has had a mastectomy, you may know that there is a lot of discomfort and pain afterwards. Insurance companies are trying to make mastectomies an outpatient procedure. Let's give women the chance to recover properly in the hospital for 2 days after surgery.

There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which will require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating the "drive-through mastectomy" where women are forced to go home just a few hours after surgery, against the wishes of their doctor, still groggy from anesthesia and sometimes with drainage tubes still attached.

Lifetime Television has put this bill on their web page with a petition drive to show your support. Last year over half the House signed on. PLEASE!! Sign the petition by clicking on the web site below. You need only give your NAME, ZIP CODE and EMAIL.

http://www.lifetimetv.com/health/breast_mastectomy_pledge.html

This takes about 2 seconds. PLEASE PASS THIS ON to your friends and family and, on behalf of all women...THANKS!!

From Cheryl Donlin - Audience Support "Open Journal"

The June 12 KPFT Open Journal that Pink Ribbons Project did on inflammatory breast cancer was a big success. A lot of great information on the topic was shared among the guests and with the listeners. Just a reminder, too, that if people were not able to tune in for the live show, they can still hear the program by going to www.pinkribbons.org, clicking on "Calendar of Events" and scrolling down to the KPFT logo. The logo is a hotlink to the KPFT "Audio Archive" page. Once there, just scroll down to June 12 and look for Open Journal and Pink Ribbons Project, listed on the left. Then you can either listen to the program, or download it for later. Three cheers for technology!

We would really appreciate it if those who listen to the show would go to www.kpft.org, click on "Program Evaluation form" and give the station feedback on our program. That is one of the things that will help ensure that Pink Ribbons Project will have the chance to do other shows in the future. We are counting on our listeners! Thanks much

DAILY REMINDER:
"Fund Free Mammograms"
Go to The Breast Cancer Site at http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/tpc/EEB_0115_BCSm
and help fund free mammograms for the homeless, working-poor, and un-insured women. It costs nothing to you, except one daily click on the pink "Fund Free Mammograms" button. You can even request automatic reminders via e-mail. Please make your free click now, and thanks for your continuing support! The Breast Cancer Site, One Union Square, 600 University Street, Suite 1000, Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 1-888-811-5271

UPCOMING EVENTS: Mark Your Calendars and Save the Dates!

Rosebuds Meetings
Open to all Breast Cancer Patients/Survivors
1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month
5:45 - 7:30 p.m.
JUNE 19

Rosebuds II Meetings
(For those who have had or are at high risk
for recurrence and/or metastasis)
2nd and 4th Thursday of each month 5:45 - 7:30 p.m.
JUNE 28
www.RosebudsSupport.org

The Alice Thomsen Lymphedema Awareness Group of Houston
Meetings are scheduled on the 3rd Tuesday of every other month at the American cancer Society Building,6301 Richmond (between Hillcroft and Fountainview) at 7:00pm. The 2007 dates are July 17th, September 18 and November 20th.
For further information call 281-546-6438.

2007 Komen Houston Race for the Cure Survivor Party
Wednesday, August 22 at the Houstonian from 6-8 p.m.
Anyone who has participated in the “Race for the Cure” and indicated that they are a survivor automatically gets an invitation.
Details to be announced in future posts.

"The Faces behind Breast Cancer" Launch Party
Sunday August 26, at 1:00 pm.
Marriott Westchase, Houston
Details posted in May 27th blog and web site www.pinkcrusader.org

Living Fully with and Beyond Cancer
M.D. Anderson Network's 19th Annual Patient and Caregiver Conference
September 6-8 2007 Registration begins June 11
Marriott Westchase - Houston, Texas
For more info call 1-800-345-6324 or visit www.mdanderson.org/patientconference

Tour De Pink 2007
Pink Ribbons Project
September 9, 2007
at Prairie View A&M University
www.tourdepink.org

2007 KOMEN HOUSTON RACE FOR THE CURE®
Saturday, October, 6, 2007
Sam Houston Park - Downtown
2007 Race Registration Now Open!
Race Fees

$25 Survivors (packet mailed for FREE)
$30 Adults (packet mailed for FREE)
$15 Children under the age of 15 (packet mailed for FREE)
$50 Sleep in for the Cure® (packet mailed for FREE)

Race Day Schedule Time & Event
7:45 a.m. Opening Ceremonies & Memorial Birds
8:00 a.m. Family Walk and Kids K by ConocoPhillips
8:15 a.m. 5K Coed Timed Competitive Run
8:25 a.m. 5K Coed Non-Competitive Run
8:35 a.m. 5K Coed Walk
9:15 a.m. Runners' Awards Ceremony
10:00 a.m. Awards Ceremony and Survivor Celebration
For additional information: www.komen-houston.org 713-783-9188

2007 Breast Health Summit
"SAVE THE DATE" for the 2007 Breast Health Summit to be held on October 18, 2007 at the United Way in Houston. Please pass this information on to others who may be interested. Additional information will be sent out later by both e-mail and postal mail. And of course, if your mailing address has changed, please be sure to forward the updated information to me. I look forward to seeing you in October!
Pat Dames
The Rose-
12700 North Featherwood
Houston, TX 77034
281-464-5150
Fax 281-484-7083
pdames@the-rose.org
www.the-rose.org

"Sharing is Caring"
As always, The Pink Crusader welcomes your comments, stories, poems, and events. Posts are updated every Sunday. Please send your written contributions to thepinkcrusader1@aol.com.

"Fatherhood is pretending the present you love the most is soap-on-a-rope."

- Bill Cosby

Until next week, stay well, stay strong, and keep on dancing to your Father's golden oldies!

Love, Josie
The Pink Crusader
thepinkcrusader1@aol.com