I am not sure I even begin to recap for you in a coherent way the last few weeks. I’ll do my best, however. It’s been a blur of skydives, hot tubs, hurricanes, Porsches, children, theater, the passing of a childhood friend and new beginnings.
First, I’m thrilled to say it’s been a year that I’ve been writing this column. Time has flown and I’m enjoying the ride! Hope you are, too!
Just after my birthday I lost a friend from elementary school. One I had lost track of and then found again 35 years later, only to have her diagnosed with colon cancer just a bit after we reconnected. I haven’t really processed it yet as it happened during such a whirlwind in my life. Her name was Sheron Harkavy, later becoming Sheron McCarthy. Her husband and children, who live in Murphys, are bright and beautiful and talented, and I’m so sorry they’ve lost their mother. But she left them an extraordinary legacy of love and goodness and kindness. She was an attorney who helped those who needed help, not those who could afford a high-priced lawyer. She loved people and did all she could for them and fought a valiant fight. Her sister has successfully battled cancer multiple times, but Sheron could only endure once, for two years. So here’s to my friend, that I knew all too briefly, and to the grace and dignity and love she shared.
And here’s to a group of women who are doing something about cancer in their own exciting way.
Daredevils and sock puppets come together in Jump for the Cause.
Unfortunately, Katrina and Rita have gotten so much attention that many other worthy events are being forgotten. One is Jump for the Cause — the Women’s World Record Skydiving event to raise funds for breast cancer research.
Can you imagine 165 women in eight planes all having to be perfectly synchronized so they all jump out and then meet up in the air (at 15,000 feet) a way that’s so specific – that if a hand is in the wrong place the jump doesn’t count?! As I write, it will take place in Perris the last week of September. Women are flying in from 14 countries including Great Britain, France, Germany, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Brazil, Italy, Holland, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Russia, and New Zealand.
The mighty Mallory Lewis, daughter of one of TV’s darlings, puppeteer Shari Lewis, began this event in 1999 after her mom lost her battle with cancer. She and these 165 women are raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for breast cancer research at City of Hope. And of course you remember Shari’s most beloved character? Yes, that sassy Lamb Chop with the mink eyelashes. She also takes to the skies herself to help set this skydiving record.
“I just slip into someone’s jumpsuit pocket and I’m ready,” says the adventurous, eternally young, sock puppet. “No parachute for me, sister!”
Lewis says on the first record jump in 1999 she had a problem but didn’t know it – she was coming down with chicken pox. And she also had a six-month old and was nursing, so her mind and body were just “off.” So off that when she landed from one of the practice dives, she found out she had knocked out a dozen or so other skydivers and wasn’t aware of it! She knew she couldn’t continue. But she and friend Kate Cooper, who has more than 7,800 skydives on record, have continued the fund-raising effort. They set the record in 1999 with 118 women; in 2002 with 131 and hope to do it this year with 165.
The oldest participant is Betty Barrett, age 62, who is also a cancer survivor. She also is a competitive swimmer, a springboard diver, cyclist, and in the future she sees herself being a videographer for skydiving formations! Oh, she also plays and umpires field hockey, judges girls’ gymnastics, has a masters in Outdoor Teacher education and a certificate of Advanced Study in computer technology. She’s been part of several record formation skydives and won a gold medal in the one meter spring board diving competition at the World Masters Games this year. And Barbara Duke, of Diamond Bar, is just shy of 50 and is a two-time breast cancer survivor. She’s participated in all three Jump for the Cause events.
Bet you didn’t know this about record skydives: All the participants have to live for 24 hours after the event for it to be official! So unnamed reports have it that people who had an “unfortunate outcome” of their skydive were kept on life support until the record was official! That’s serious competition!
So here’s to those who dare to defy death, even if it’s just a few minutes at a time, all to ultimately really live – their way.
Sixties Rock
It’s a good time to live in Orange County. At least if you’re into music from the Sixties. The Eagles, Gary Pucket (without The Union Gap apparently), BJ Thomas and one of the all-time superstars, Paul McCartney. Go share the Sixties with your kids and grandkids!
Second Time Around
Now, to, as they say, really bury the lead, here’s my own news: I’m engaged! Turned 50 in July and engaged in September – there IS hope! Not that marriage is everything, blah, blah, blah. God knows I’ve spent most of my life without it. But when you finally find someone who floats your boat and makes you smile in more ways than you can count, that’s something to celebrate!! So bear with me for a few months as I’m sure I’ll be waxing on about what it’s like to plan a second wedding, without losing sanity.
If you’re going to give to charity, here’s a place to check out the organization you’re considering. Be very careful about giving to anyone who calls you for donations. You do the choosing, don’t let them choose you.
Check Charity Navigator www.charitynavigator.org or the
Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance (www.give.org), both of which
provide information about charities’ fundraising, programs and expenses.
Who Said It?
It was UCI orthopedics professor Vincent Caiozzo who said, “It’s all human powered, that’s the beauty of it,” referring to his Space Cycle, which creates artificial gravity on a two-person exercise bike.
And what brilliant mind said this? “Grace is the most effective tool. It will bring you trust, appreciation, love and prosperity.”
Til we meet again…