Just put on a little lipstick...

I just realized I never published this post... Every three weeks or so I go to west TN for work. I usually spend a day in Memphis and a day in Jackson. I always try to go by and see Kim at work in Jackson, but this time I got Amber to come up and meet us too. We had a delicious dinner at Snookum's Steakhouse with some high school friends - Stacy and Judy. What a wonderful night with great friends! Amber, Laura, Kim, Stacy and Judy - Class of 83'

This year's Race for the Cure will be October 29th in Maryland Farms. My friend and former boss Denise and I will be co-captains this year. This year I will be walking as a 3 year survivor and Denise will be walking as a 1 year survivor. We were some of the lucky ones who caught our breast cancers early. Combining that, with some of the best doctors on this earth who guided each of us through successful surgeries and treatment, we are happy to announce that we are both cancer free! I don't think either of us could have done any of this without our fabulous network of supportive friends and family members. We hope you will join team "Fight like a Girl" and walk with us on October 29th. If you can't be here in person, please send up a prayer and a good thought for those of us walking on that day.

I miss my former co-workers, they are wonderful women who got me through some intense days, and have remained great friends. We recently went out for pedicures, dinner and then decided to head downtown to have a little fun at the piano bar. Everyone needs friends they can giggle with!

Bryan planned a cookout this year for my birthday. The weather was perfect and we had a great turnout. I didn't seem to get any photos of my friends, but I did get these cute photos of the grandgirls and they are pretty cute - so I thought I would share!

Jenni's birthday got a little lost this year. Her birthday fell on the day after Dan's funeral and although we were all together none of us really felt like celebrating. July is a busy birthday month for several family members and good friends. Happy Birthday Jenni, Mam'ma, Dee-Mama, Carolee, Joyce and Amber!

We got a call Saturday night that you never want to get. My brother in law Dan had been killed in a flight accident. Dan has been a pilot and mechanic for the National Guard for about 20 years. Dan loved flying and knew his helicopters inside and out. Dan has served our country in Kosovo and Iraq. I guess when he came home from those tours we all just breathed a sigh of relief, but as we all know too well - there are no guarantees in this life. Dan is a few years younger than me, but I've known him all my life. He grew up on Hill street in Henderson; I grew up on North.  Our lives, like so many in a small town were always intertwined. We went to school, summer camp and church together and our parent's are good friends. We used to laugh about how Bryan and Deanna went away to college to meet new people and broaden their horizons...and both ended up marrying "townies". Dan was a great guy. He proudly loved and served his cou...

Ugh...I cracked a tooth. The tooth that is cracked has a very old filling in it - it's a 8 or 10 year old molar so the filling has probably been there for a long long time. I made a trip to the dentist to get the tooth fixed and my heart was pounding. I kept telling myself, you've survived surgeries and chemo - why are you letting a little dental work get you so nervous?! Anyway, they ended up giving me some nitrous oxide to help me relax and whoa ! I had forgotten how great that stuff was. They could have done anything to that tooth and I probably wouldn't have cared a bit. I told the nurse, I was going to suggest they have nitrous piped in to every chemo room in America!