Impulse

2910

How’s this for rough:

Depart: Friday, February 19. Destination: Phoenix, Arizona. Detour: Sedona
Return: Wednesday, February 24.
Depart: Monday, March 1. Destination: Kona, Hawaii.
Return: Thursday, March 18.

Not bad.
Nothing like mixing a little business with pleasure.

On January 28, I received an email from a woman named Anne French living in Phoenix. She’s an ovarian cancer survivor, a supporter of the SHOC Foundation and went to high school with my mom. She stated that the Anne Rita Monahan Foundation (ARM) of Phoenix was going to be awarding an individual for his or her exceptional impact on the ovarian cancer community. This woman thought my mom should be nominated.

The award will be given February 20, at an upcoming ARM event. Nomination applications were being accepted through January 30.

I had two days until the deadline.

So I went for it––answered some questions, attached a newspaper article and some other materials written about my mom. And in the 11th hour, Sherie Hildreth was nominated.

This is the response I received from the ARM Foundation:

We have chosen a local women to receive the 2010 Anne Rita Monahan Crusader Award, however all of us were so moved by your mother’s story that we have decided to recognize her, her foundation, and her Hats of Empowerment project at the tea as well.

Hell yeah!

The moment I told my Grandma Reiter about this, we were booking flights to Phoenix to attend the tea.

During this “business” trip, I’ll be making a pit-stop in Sedona…for pleasure. Our close family friends, Rick and Carol Freedman, moved there several years ago. They always ask when I’m coming to visit. Well, now I have an excuse.

Now, for Hawaii! Two and a half weeks in paradise. Dad, Rich, Alison and me.
For nothing more than pleasure.

Mom will be happy.