...said Rosalind to Touchstone in "As you like it." Touchstone replies, "Ay, now I am in Arden, more fool I." And WHAT A FOOL I was...a petting fool!! There were 9,000 humans at Arden Fair, and I must have met hundreds of them! "Can I pet your dog?" was the most frequently asked question! Good thing Mom said "Yes" every time! Here I am getting all the attention from new friends Lindsay, Varsha, Varsha's sister, Aasthna and Gwen. giving me greeeeeeeeaaaaaat pets. Why are Gwen and Lily just sitting around in the back? I've got lots of tummy room!
AHHHHH....But wait, this was serious business. Right? I'm here to help Mom with the launch of Operation Save Hepsi. We're here to meet people and talk to them about Rheumatoid Arthritis and why Mom needs a stem cell transplant. We had a tent sent up, brochures, buttons...those were highly desireable since they have MY picture on them. There were also BIG PICTURES that Mom took on some of her research cruises to show what she used to do before she was sick. Here's Katie Scanlan (Co-Campaign Chair), Alex and Tori showing off our tent and poster. Notice the bar showing how much money we've gotten is at $0. That's OK though, we have to start at zero and can only go up from there!
oops....BRB!
I generally don't like felines of any kind...but this Zoe is my kind of cat. More pets for Mousse-Mousse. Ahhhhh......
But seriously, we're here to start the campaign. We need to raise $100,000 as soon as possible to buy those stem cells. Let's get going!
First, the Operation Save Hepsi volunteers get their plummage on. 
Then, Hannah, Alex and Tori stop to give me a final pet <smirk> before heading out to mingle in that crowd of 9,000. They handed out lots and lots of buttons and brochures and sent tons of people over to meet Mom.
I think that was the best part of the day...watching Mom talk to people. I told you that she was nervous and anxious about the day - that she had ambivilant feelings about "begging". However, all the people we met were exceedingly kind and encouraging. Most people were very interested in the actual use of stem cells and how umbilical cord blood was going to be used. In fact, the question/comment that she feared hearing the most, "You have RA? But you LOOK so good" was only heard about 20 times. (I was counting even though I appeared to be paying no attention).
In fact, people were more interested in the science of the transplant and the injustice of medical insurance decisions than anything else (except meeting me). Some people put cash into out "Maine Moose" bucket, but Hepsi asked them to either come to a fundraiser or better, make a donation online so that they could get the tax deduction. Most people, to our surprise, weren't that interested in the tax deduction as much as helping saving Mom's life. People like helping people in need.
There were two people that really need to get my special thanks; Diane and Jeff. They stopped by the tent early in the morning where they shared their story of DIane's struggle with chronic cancer. Diane told Hepsi that it's really normal and ok to lie down on the floor and cry your eyes out from time to time. Really...this is normal and should not be construed as anything but a natural reaction to a chronic, life threatening condition. Somedays, sometimes it all becomes TOO MUCH and you just have to cry. And that's ok. Cry, feel bad, and then, when you're done, dry your eyes, pull up your big girl panties and move on. I don't wear panties at all - this is some kind of human metaphor for "shake it off after you've slid all the way a creek bank and into the creek" kind of thing. It seems like good advice. I mean, I love it when Mom lies on the floor to do her exercises....I get to lie there with her and get extra lovin', but when she'd sad, it's different. Not so many pets from her...in fact, I have to pet her, lick those salty tears and just curl up with her until she's done. It's normal. Phew!
Just like it's normal for us to be tired after a big day. I need a nap.
All's well that ends well (today).
(more shakespeare)
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