Sixty - it takes 60

I was surprised to hear that it takes 60 volunteers in the meals program every day at Glide Memorial Church here in San Francisco.  Seeing the huge crowds of people that turn out, I was expecting the need for volunteers to be greater.  Still, sixty is a lot of people.  When Christmas or Thanksgiving roll around more people step up, but what about the other days?

 

Every weekday, three meals are served at Glide (Breakfast: 7am - 9am, Lunch: 11:30am - 2pm, and supper: 3:30pm - 5:30pm).  On the weekend breakfast and lunch hours are the same and a bag supper (prepared by volunteers in the morning) is given out. 

 

Yes, Glide is a church and worship and study are certainly a part of what goes on there, but the meal programs are really what so many know about.  As you go through the neighborhood you can see the long lines of people waiting to be fed.  Here's yet another area where you can make a difference.  You need not be a parish member to volunteer for the meal program.  They can always use your help.  Click HERE to signup to volunteer.  Donations are certainly welcome too!  Just click HERE if you want to give.

30 years of AIDS

“Today we add another miracle to the long honor roll of American medicine and science” announced Secretary of Health and Human Services Margaret Heckler thirty years ago today. “Today's discovery represents the triumph of science over a dreaded disease. Those who have disparaged this scientific search - those who have said we weren't doing enough - have not understood how sound, solid, significant medical research proceeds.”

 

Secretary Heckler also made a multi-part announcement. “First, the probable cause of AIDS has been found: a variant of a known human cancer virus. Second, not only has the agent been identified, but a new process has been developed to mass produce this virus. Thirdly, with the discovery of both the virus and this new process, we now have a blood test for AIDS. With a blood test, we can identify AIDS victims with essentially 100% certainty.”

AIDS has been around since 1981 when it was first clinically observed in the United States in gay men. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention didn't have an official name for the disease yet but the mainstream press referred to it as "GRID," gay-related immune deficiency. Later the CDC coined the phrase "4H disease," referring to Haitians, homosexuals, hemophiliacs, and heroin users. By September of 1982 the CDC started referring to the disease as AIDS. It was seven months later that Secretary Heckler made these important announcements.

After thirty years though we still have AIDS.  Yes, there have been advancements, but there still is no cure.  We still need research.  We still need education.  We still need to get rid of the stigma and treat people as human beings.  That is why I support my activist friends who speak up and make a difference.  That is why I support Jason Villalobos every year when he participate in AIDS LifeCycle.  That is my I personally walk each year in AIDS Walk San Francisco.  You can get involved too!  You can make a difference!  To sponsor Jason, click HERE.  To sponsor me, click HERE. 

The scraps of our lives

Since my mother's death last spring, I have spent a lot of time looking through old photos of Mom and going through tons of scrapbooks.  She really did an excellent job of keeping track of our lives with the very latest pictures dating just weeks before she died.  I have been thinking about how wonderful this is.

 

Do you ever wonder about your roots?  Do you have questions about a favorite aunt or uncle from long ago or want to know what your great-grandmother looked like?  Some people try to trace their family tree, but run into all kinds of roadblocks.  I have discovered that keeping diaries and scrapbooks and photo albums will be very valuable in the future.  I have come across old pictures of my grandparents when they were children!  I'm sure you don't want to go through page after page of my baby pictures, but this of course is NOT about me.

 

Of course it can be a lot of fun to look at your old baby pictures or memories from your graduation.  Every one of our lives tells a story and while  I've enjoyed reliving a lot of old moments seeing these old snapshots and clippings, I urge you to keep similar books yourself.  You will really be happy to have those memories.

Raising awareness about brain injuries

Raising awareness and funds for the Brain Injury Association of America, a woman is leaving from San Francisco to run all the way across the country to New York City!  I'm out of breath just thinking about it.  Wow!  Her name is Jessica Goldman and at this very minute she is on the steps of City Hall here for a sendoff ceremony that begins this adventure, which is also an attempt at setting a record or two.

 

I don't know if you have ever heard of the Brain Injury Association of America, but I am learning a lot of wonderful things about them and I suppose the best thing to do here is to direct you to their website at http://www.biausa.org/ - tons of information is available there.  They will also be keeping you updated on Ms Goldman's cross-country trek.

 

This trip to New York is exciting to me for many reasons.  Just look at the distance for one thing and look at the geography between here and New York!  She is also traveling solo.  I doubt if I could be that brave.  Any time someone raises awareness though I think it is a wonderful thing, and to raise money as well makes it all the more wonderful. 

 

Want to follow Jessica Goldman?  Click HERE to see her blog updates.  She also has a facebook page that you can follow HERE.  As for me, I'm not that far from San Francisco City Hall.  I think I'll run on over and see her off in person!

Tie a yellow ribbon round your old dog's leash

Did you ever notice someone walking their dog and on the leash there was a yellow ribbon?  This is becoming more and more common, but just what does it mean? Well first of all it is not a waiver of responsibility on the part of the owner, nor is it an admission of guilt or an excuse to avoid the basic training that any dog should have.

 

If you have ever had a dog of your own, you know that sometimes there are issues of behavior and any dog can also have bad health.  Oh yes and then there are service animals or dogs in training (not necessarily to be service dogs).  These are all reasons why a dog might need his or her space.  These days people seem to forget about personal space and it can be even worse for animals.  After all, they can't speak up and ask you to step away from them.

 

Sometimes dogs are not good around small children or around other animals.  These are more good reasons to give them their space.  Now or course it is a good general rule of thumb to give any dog you are not familiar with, the space it is entitled to and to not approach or try to pet it.  A lot of people have a hard time remembering this though and so the yellow ribbon is a nice gentle reminder.

 

This didn't just happen overnight.  There is an organization called the Yellow Dog Project and they are worldwide.  You can follow them on facebook HERE or visit their website at http://theyellowdogproject.com  What a wonderful idea this is!  It's only been around for a few years, so help spread the word.

It was on a Holy Monday

It was on a Holy Monday, just one year ago, that Mom entered into eternal life.  I can recall everything from that day and the day before (Palm Sunday) just like it was now.  It's amazing how some things stick with you.  

 

I especially remember the wonderful nursing assistant who, seeing that Mom was in distress, asked my sister and I if we might step out for a few minutes so that she could put some lotion on Mom.  (I found out later that this angel was actually assigned to a different ward that night but came and did this on her break because who had really clicked with Mom and wanted to make her comfortable).  When my sister and I returned to the room later on, the nursing assistant told us she had given Mom a sponge bath and rubbed her down with lotion.  It was obvious too that she had combed her hair and put a dressing gown around her.  I'll always be grateful to this lovely lady who prepared Mom's earthly body for what turned out to be its final hour.  I really think it helped put Mom at ease, knowing that she was "presentable."

 

Oh and I have memories of the night before when Mom was anointed with holy oil and prayers were said for her.  She leaned over to the priest afterward and said "you're going to preach at my funeral, right?"  It amazed me at the time that Mom seemed to suddenly be full of energy and she went on to tell the priest that Abide With Me was her favorite hymn.  We would sing it at her liturgy a few weeks later.

 

My aunt died in Holy Week two years ago and then Mom died in Holy Week last year.  It might make this week especially hard to deal with.  I'm going to use the time though to center on the good things - the positive things - the things that make a difference.  I had such a wonderful mother and I am grateful to her for all she did for me.  I'm grateful too that she is at peace and that I have so many warm memories to carry with me, not just on Holy Monday, but always.  Thanks be to God.

Challenged Athletes Foundation

Sometimes I stumble across the most wonderful organizations or events because some wonderful people are doing wonderful things with them.  Here's an example:  I just learned about the Challenged Athletes Foundation because a friend of mine is involved in a fundraiser for them.  More about that later.

 

If you where born healthy with all of your body parts in order and no illnesses to slow you down, you might not have ever thought about how much some folks would like to participate in sports and athletics but can't for lack of equipment.  I'm not talking about a baseball bat or a ball.  If you have special needs, you just might also need special equipment.  Adaptive sports equipment like basketball wheelchairs cost up to $5,000, while running prosthetics can cost more than $30,000. That's just part of it.  Only one in ten physically challenged people participate in sports and the main reason for that is they simply don't have the resources they need to succeed.

 

Using those special basketball wheelchair can require some instruction.  Learning to swim when you lack a limb (or limbs) requires special coaching.  Insurance typically doesn't cover these expenses. Challenged athletes may very well want to participate in athletics and feel the rush of competition, but they face a major obstacle. The Challenged Athletes Foundation is around to help.

 

My friend Bill McCarty is helping CAF.  Truth be told, he helps a LOT of different causes.  The man is a saint.  I'm not sure how he finds the time or energy to do all he does, but this one is incredible.  CAF needs big dollars because of the high costs involved in the grants it provides.  I'd love to give you great detail, but there simply isn't space here to do it justice.  I do urge you to visit their website at http://www.challengedathletes.org to find out more.  There is a lot of information there including many ways you can get involved.

 

Now, about Bill's fundraising efforts that I mentioned back in the beginning.  You can help him!  Click HERE to go to his personal secure fundraising page.  You can donate any amount from $5 up and it all helps him reach the ambitious goal he set for himself of $6,000.  Tell your friends too.  This is a great way to help a great organization.

It's not laziness

On days when my mother didn't seem to have her usual level of energy, she's say that her "get up and go had got up and went."  Did you ever have a day like that?  You aren't lazy.  Most of the time you can do tons of things - all day long, but not today.  Ugh!  For some people those days become more frequent and they just shrug and say it must be due to old age.  But wait!  It very likely is something else.

 

Yes, it is common for us to slow down with age but not all of us do.  There are many elderly people that we can describe as active.  When was the last time you took stock of your overall health?  Perhaps there is a physical or mental cause of your fatigue.  Did you just eat a big meal?  Overeating can certainly weight you down and give you that feeling of listlessness.  Obese people can often experience fatigue - having to carry a lot of weight is tiring.  There are numerous other possible physical causes.  Are you getting enough sleep, of instance?  You might also have psychiatric issues such as job worries,  drug or alcohol abuse, simple boredom,  relationship problems, or grief.

 

You cannot be productive, and you certainly cannot change the world if you are unable to function.  If you experience a day where your get up and go has got up and went, don't panic.  It might just be a one day thing.  If it seems to be happening more and more though, do something about it!  Look at the possible causes and see if you can eliminate any problem.  Seek professional help though if it turns out to be too big to handle alone.