Just Me

Crown: [LWL], Faerie Queen gacha *rare* (prior event) . Hair: Boon, BNG331 . Makeup: [Natzuka], Falaria **The Couturier’s Dock** . Earrings: Pure Poison, group gift .

I always get a little sad this time of year, no matter how long it’s been. Heck, I don’t even count years anymore, but I think its been about six, maybe seven since my sister in law and best friend Kim died of leukemia way too young. She was only in her thirties with two teenage children and a husband. We always think about how sad it is for the cancer victim, but I can attest, cancer is almost as harsh a sentence to impel upon children and husbands too. Kim lost her battle, but my brother and nieces and nephews have continued to fight the big gaping hole the loss of her inflicted. I am inflicted as well, but I can hardly pretend I was as financially, emotionally and devastatingly pounded into the ground. My brother lost his soul mate, his sobriety, his employment, and his house and he has only just come up for air in the past year. What a struggle, what a warrior he is. A hero really. How could I possibly turn my back on all he has been through? But, the thing is, he is hardly alone. According to the American Cancer Society’s(www.cancer.org) 2013 statistics, one in two males will develop cancer in their lifetime. Women? Not much better, one in three. A quarter of the victims will die. That’s a lot of probability of widow’s, widower’s and orphans, isn’t it? So what? What can you do? You’re just one you?

Jacket: Sonatta Morales *8*, Metropol Fur . Ring: MG, Sugar Heart . Leggings: Maitreya, Couture Disco Gold .

It turns out, no matter what your financial strait, you can do quite a bit. I was reading about a company who took a proactive approach and the CEO approached an employee and said he’d donate 10,000USD to a cancer institute if the man would shave his beard. Hear that? It’s a the trickle of a stream. Getting on board, another employee said he’d shave his head for 1,000 dollars to be donated. I hear a brook, soon 300 more employees jumped on board at 3,000 dollars each donation. I think I hear a river forming. Not to be outdone, the CEO’s mum stepped in, and before it was over there were 400 empoyees shaving their heards for 4000 each. Omgoodness! It’s a deluge! Over 2 million was raised for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. What started as an off the cuff bet galvanized into a powerful statement about people. Why? because, one in two or one in three will one day develop cancer. Everyone is affected by it because it’s an equal opportunity disease, it ravishes babies, children, males, females, any race, any age… any one, even possibly you.

Take from? Yeah I always get dark around this time of year, but it’s a good thing in a way. It gives me the resolve to march on, to fight, to take my head out of the sand for once, and to vow to make a difference. Even if it’s a small one. I always participate in Fashion For Life, but the thing is, if fashion isn’t your thing there are other ways to participate, other events planned. Be active, spread information, give up buying one dam thing, just one dam useless virtual thing that you can’t even touch with your bare hands. Give it up and give it forward, so someone else CAN hold it in their hands. And you know what? We, too, can create a river. A river of hope. Please, don’t stand still, remember one in two of us is counting on you. For more information or to volunteer,please link to: http://relayforlifeofsecondlife.org/