LIFESTYLE

But then during our round, we started hearing from other people about the attacks. That these plane crashes were no accident. I remember the hair standing up on my arms and tears flowing from my eyes. Four crashes– 2 into the World Trade Towers, one into the Pentagon, and one into the middle of a field, thanks to many brave people on board that flight including Todd Beamer (do you remember his story- “Let’s roll!”?)

Her name is Ashley Anne Kirilow.

She was was dying of cancer.

Volunteers raised $20,000 for her “charity” called CHANGE FOR CURE.

She started a Facebook Page… had over 4,000 members.

She convinced a cancer awareness organization Skate4Cancer to fly her to Disney World to fulfill what she said was a dying wish.

BUT…

She wasn’t dying.

Not even close.

She shaved her head. And her eyebrows. Plucked her eyelashes. Starved herself. All to make herself look like a Chemotherapy patient.

The whole thing was a sham.

Her comment: “I was trying to be noticed. I was trying to get my family back together. I didn’t want to feel like I’m nothing anymore. It went wrong, it spread like crazy, and then it seemed like the whole world knew. I dug myself a big hole that I couldn’t get out of and there’s nobody to blame but me.” Ashley said.

She says she wants to find a way to give all the money back.

Two years ago today, July 25, 2008, at the age of 47, a man that captivated the hearts of millions of people around the world (and mine), lost his battle to pancreatic cancer. Randy Pausch, Carnegie Mellon professor and alumnus, husband, and father to three beautiful children. What is an academic tradition, to give students a “last lecture,” the notion that: if you knew you were going to die, what would you tell your students… actually became his own last lecture. He called it “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams,” and he delivered this inspirational speech at Carnegie Mellon University on September 18, 2007 to an immensely captive audience, including Randy’s family, friends, students, and colleagues. When he gave the lecture, he had just been given 3-6 months to live.

“You can have anything you want – if you want it badly enough. You can be anything you want to be, do anything you set out to accomplish if you hold to that desire with singleness of purpose.” –Abraham Lincoln

I’d like to dedicate today’s post to all mothers and their children. Today’s post came about as a result of my monthly girls’ dinner that I attended last night. As always, every month, we shoot the breeze over some good food and booze, and chat about everything from current events (Hello psycho Mel Gibson), to the development of our kids. Nine girls catching up is always… well… LOUD.