The Dempsey Challenge 2016

I volunteered again this year at The Dempsey Challenge in the Reiki Tent.
dempsey2What a wonderful group of people there!  This was my second year volunteering, and I plan to be part of this wonderful event next year as well.

Every dollar raised by Dempsey Challenge participants directly benefits the Dempsey Center.”

As Ina Garten would say: How great is that?

The only glitch was that when I arrived, they only had size 2XL volunteer T-shirts left. And there I was, without my sash. Anyway, I rocked it!

After my volunteer shift in the tent was over, I went to write my parents’ names, Mary and John Maffeo, on the memory wall. They both died from cancer many years ago, but as anyone knows who has lost a loved one knows all too well, time is nothing. It felt as fresh right then as it ever was. As I stood there looking at their names, my eyes teared up, so I hurried to my car to cry in private.

And then I went back. I walked by the river. I talked to some people. I danced with Mary Dempsey, whom I met at last year’s challenge and who, by the way, is a good dancer!

And this year, I got to meet Patrick Dempsey. I even got a selfie and an autograph! (NOTE: Thank you to the teenaged girl in front of me who gave me that idea!)

How great is that?

🙂

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

Get happy

MinionsMaybe you fellow NaNoWriMo-ers  are in need of a break from the endless typing inherent in the race to get 50,ooo words down into a word doc by November 30th.

Option 1: I’m thinking that some laugh therapy sure as hell couldn’t hurt. If you have access to the Disney Channel (34 on Maine Time Warner Cable), Despicable Me (wait for it; this link might take a while to load) is on tomorrow at 10:45AM. You can DVR it and watch it sometime when you are desperate for a break and a laugh.

Option 2: Need something right now? How about a 5 minute Dance Party (for one or more, depending on the tolerance of your family, pets, and/or other housemates). In keeping with the ‘get happy’ theme, you can click on the link to the You Tube video version of Pharell Willams’ Happy Song (from Despicable Me 2). Go ahead. Get jiggy wit’ it.

P.S. I think Option 2 might actually also count as your cardio for the day.

You’re welcome. 🙂