No makeup for cancer (not exactly)

No make up selfies are popping up all over Facebook for cancer awareness. If you are wondering why, then welcome to my thought train. If you have read my blog for long then you already know how I feel about awareness for things everyone already knows about. Today I read an article written by a cancer patient kind of ripping the trend. She was irritated because she feels terrible and doesn't have the energy for makeup ever, and the idea of people "being brave" to post a picture with no makeup rubbed her wrong. Probably because she had no makeup and no hair and was just happy to be breathing. I can't say I blame her.
For me, it reminded me of my husband's cousin Joy. She was recently on an episode of The Doctors. She has a bizarre form of cancer, but that isn't why they had her on. She was there to talk about benefiting from a charity called Lipstick Angels. They are makeup artists who go to hospitals and pamper patients.  They give hand massages, facials, and makeup application to women who are tired from fighting for their life. It may seem trivial to some, but that sort of attention can really lift your spirits. It is a good example of people using their skill and talents to brighten the day of someone else. If you want to see the clip from the episode, it is here.
So, here is my picture with no makeup. It isn't brave. It isn't special. It is just how I look when I have a cold and not enough sleep. It isn't to make you aware of cancer. You are already all too familiar with it. It is to make you aware that you know how to do something that would benefit someone else. Even if it isn't something traditionally done, it can still be helpful. Maybe all you can do is write a check, but that is huge and more than most.

Sick

Have you ever noticed that as a mom you never get sick just after restocking tissues, cold medicine, or after getting all your whites washed? No. It is always the day you needed to go to the store, the day before you completely run out of clean underwear, and just as the last tissue leaves the box. Every single time. One day I will write a book called "Murphy's wife's laws", and this will be chapter one. 

Seasonal allergies finally caught up with me. I've been holding them at bay for a month now, but Monday they won the battle. I've only been really sick two days now and already I look like a less groomed Jennifer Connelly in Labrynth. Is growing eyebrows a super power, and if so, can I exchange it for something cooler like mental long division skills? 

Speaking of super powers, thanks to auto correct, I now know that if I am ever in a lab accident my evil villain name will be Judge Mental. It has a nice ring to it. Judge Mental sentences you to death. Mwahaha! I should start working on my evil laugh just in case. I think I have a gavel around here somewhere. I picture it something like Yzma in The Emperor's New Groove, but after she was turned into the cat with the cute voice. 

Keep in mind that these are my thoughts on cold medicine. I think we can all be thankful that I don't drink or use any recreational drugs. 

Junk Shopping

I've had kind of a stressful week. Well, that's not exactly true. "I've given myself stress this week" is probably more honest. While my kids are at the dentist (Rocky goes all knight in shining armor and covers that for me) I decided to take a side trip to one of my local junk stores. Some people call them antique boutiques, but when your store's name is Lolitta's at Runt Place, I think we all know what kind of store it is.

Here is a sampling of what I didn't buy. 

Meet Enrique, Fabio, and John Henry.

I did pick up this little beauty very cheaply. I know people don't wear these anymore, but when has that ever stopped me? 

It is amazing how fun these little shops are. I may need to spend a day soon hitting a bunch of them. 

What's in a degree

Mike Rowe, champion of us "under-educated" folk, gave another interview challenging the idea that everyone must go to college. Don't get me wrong, college is awesome, and much needed for several careers. No one wants someone in the medical field who didn't go to college. However, did you know that it requires a masters degree to be a librarian? I'm sure there is a lot more to it than knowing the Dewey decimal system, but still, a masters degree? Is there something about that job that requires only rich people or people willing to take on massive debt can do it? Probably not. Not to mention the fact that it is a rapidly declining field.

For many years now America has failed to recognize that many people, like myself, learn more in the field than they ever would in a classroom. For those people, hustling in an entry level job for a year is worth a couple of years of college. Three years in the field trumps a college degree for us. Being an apprentice or intern will teach you more about a job than any college lecture ever could. And yet, "degree required" is standard on job listings these days. 

On the flip side of this, the state of GA is now requiring all students to take some vo-tech classes. One size does not fit all! It never has, and never will. The answer is not to force everyone into the same box. The answer is to stop attaching shame and failure to the different boxes. 

I want my children to work hard towards the career that will best suit them. Maybe that work will be done in a classroom, and maybe it will be done with a toolbox. Either way I will be a proud mother. 

A Challenge

The doctors that my kids see have three offices. This week one of those offices burnt to the ground. Thankfully it happened in the middle of the night, and no one was hurt. I am personally lucky because it wasn't the office we go to. All I could think about was those poor people who had or needed appointments Friday. It occurred to me that they were going to have to try and fit all the practice's doctors and patience into the two remaining locations. The office workers are going to have a rough couple of weeks. Those ladies are going to need some chocolate. So, on my way to a regular errand, I stopped into the grocery store and picked up cheap flowers and a bag of Hershey Kisses. It cost me less than $15. Those people have seen my kids through some medical fires, so it just makes sense to see them through this. The look on the receptionist's face made my day. She let out a long breath and told me about what was on her plate. She thanked me repeatedly and then took it all to the back so everyone could have a little cheering up and chocolate.

                     

I'm not telling this story to brag about what I did. Honestly. I was floating the rest of the day, and that is the best reward. I am telling you to introduce this.
                     

I think most of us have those fleeting thoughts of  "I should take them cookies" or "I'm going to send them a card" or even "I should give them a good Yelp review", but then we don't. Why don't we? Usually because life gets in our way. It isn't on our "to do" list. Well, here is your excuse.
Here are some guidelines:
1. Don't over think the who. Someone will come to mind. Someone you know will have a rough day. Someone you know does stuff for people all the time. There is someone you hardly ever see, but admire. One of these statements probably brought someone to mind. Go with that person, but not if that person is me because Rocky just brought home flowers and chocolate for me. (I inspired him, his inspiration inspired me to post, we are cute like that)
2.You don't have to make it big. Big takes planning, and you are more likely to actually do it if you don't make it complicated. You have to go to the store this week anyway. Add "random chocolate bunny" to your list and drop it on someone's doorstep with a post-it that says "You are awesome!" You are out $2 and 5 minutes and have made someone's day.
3. IF you tell people you did it, don't do it to brag. Do it to encourage others about how easy it is and to give them ideas on how they might could do it too. This one is harder than you'd like it to be because you will be on an awesome excited high after. If it helps you can call or email me and I'll happy dance with you.
4. If putting it on your list isn't getting it done, tell your kid you are going to do it. Those little people are crazy good accountability partners. If you don't have kids, try your parent or close friend who'll ask follow up questions. This trick works best if it is someone who'll give you a hard time if you let it slide.
5. Don't expected it to be returned. Remember that the vast majority of people never follow through with these type of ideas, so you may never reap a reward beyond the wonderful feeling of having brightened a day.
Okay, I think you are ready. Go be random!